Legislative Activity

The "Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act" amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to bolster law enforcement's ability to counter transnational repression and related terrorism threats. It mandates the development of a training program for state, local, and tribal law enforcement to identify, record, and share information on transnational repression, as well as to protect potential targets and victims. The Act also calls for research and development of technology to enhance participation in these training programs and requires a report to Congress on its implementation. Transnational repression is defined as actions by a foreign government or its agents intended to coerce, harass, or threaten individuals in the U.S.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in Iran's energy sector and those who provide financial support for its destabilizing activities. It mandates sanctions on foreign entities involved in processing, exporting, or selling Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, while also establishing an interagency working group to coordinate and enforce these sanctions. The Act also amends existing legislation to require the identification of individuals involved in sanctionable activities or sanctions evasion related to Iranian oil and gas sales.

The Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that significantly increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, effectively treating them like machineguns. The bill specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of such accessories and modified firearms after 120 days of enactment. Existing owners of previously modified firearms must register them under the National Firearms Act within that same timeframe to legally keep them.

The American Family Act fundamentally overhauls the Child Tax Credit by replacing the annual lump sum with a system of advance, refundable monthly payments delivered directly to families. These monthly allowances vary based on the child's age, with higher amounts provided for younger children. The bill also establishes a separate, smaller credit for other dependents and outlines procedures for annual renewal and reconciliation of advance payments when filing taxes.

This resolution is an official request demanding the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services immediately provide Congress with documents concerning the seizure of legally-protected taxpayer and child privacy data by the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). Specifically, it seeks records detailing DOGE's access to sensitive worker and financial data stored in the National Directory of New Hires and the Federal Parent Locator Service. The inquiry focuses on the legality, security protocols, and scope of these large-scale data requests, particularly those exceeding 40 million records.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act mandates the TSA to develop and regularly update strict hygienic guidelines for screening breast milk, formula, and baby drinks at airport security checkpoints. These rules must be created in consultation with maternal health experts to minimize contamination risks during any necessary testing. Furthermore, the Inspector General will audit compliance with these new safety standards within one year of enactment.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 updates federal housing tax credit allocations to reflect current economic realities and boosts minimum state allotments. It reforms tenant eligibility rules to stabilize tenancy and enhance protections for vulnerable residents, including victims of abuse. The bill also provides disaster relief for property owners, increases incentives for housing the extremely low-income, and directs greater resources toward Native American and rural housing needs. Finally, it streamlines administrative processes and signals a future focus on data transparency and discouraging restrictive local zoning.

The Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a new, streamlined grant program within the Department of Justice to support small local and Tribal law enforcement agencies (under 175 officers). These funds are specifically designated for officer training, mental health resources, and recruitment/retention bonuses. The law mandates a rapid application process and includes strict accountability measures, such as audits and public reporting of bonuses. Congress is authorized to appropriate up to $50 million annually for this program through fiscal year 2031.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees across the nation. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to review state laws to ensure they substantially provide these minimum rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively. If a state fails to meet these standards, the FLRA will administer federal labor relations rules for the uncovered employees. The Act also prohibits strikes or lockouts that would measurably disrupt emergency or public safety services.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes federal criminal penalties for the intentional sharing of both real and digitally forged nonconsensual intimate images, with stricter penalties for images involving minors. It mandates that covered online platforms create a clear process for victims to request the removal of such content within 48 hours. Failure by platforms to reasonably comply with these removal requests will be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

This resolution of inquiry formally requests the President and the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor to provide the House of Representatives with specific documents. These documents must detail the economic impact of recent federal workforce reductions, particularly those stemming from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on local economies and unemployment rates. Additionally, Congress seeks information regarding the effect of newly imposed tariffs on the cost of imported goods.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, culminating in a \$17.00 per hour rate five years after enactment, followed by automatic annual adjustments tied to median wage growth. This bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and workers under 20, ensuring they eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it sets a schedule to eliminate subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and prohibits the issuance of new special certificates allowing for lower pay.

The End Kidney Deaths Act establishes a new federal tax credit for individuals who make non-directed living kidney donations. Eligible donors will receive an annual \$10,000 tax credit for five consecutive years, totaling a potential \$50,000 benefit. This provision is designed to incentivize altruistic donation while ensuring the credit is not considered payment for the organ.

The Religious Workforce Protection Act aims to support religious workers facing long green card backlogs by allowing extensions of their nonimmigrant status beyond the usual five-year limit until their permanent residency application is processed. It also modifies job flexibility rules for certain delayed applicants and exempts religious workers who left the U.S. due to the five-year R-1 visa limit from the mandatory one-year foreign residence requirement before reapplying.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act restores key federal tax deductions for employees, effective after 2024. This legislation makes union dues fully deductible "above the line," meaning they reduce Adjusted Gross Income without itemizing. Additionally, it allows itemizers to deduct certain other job-related business expenses that were previously limited.

The Expanding Access to School Meals Act of 2025 aims to simplify school meal programs by eliminating the "reduced-price" meal category for both breakfast and lunch. It significantly expands eligibility for free school meals by raising the federal poverty level threshold to 224% and allowing automatic certification for children receiving Medicaid benefits. Additionally, the bill enhances financial support for schools by allowing retroactive reimbursement claims and increasing the multiplier for the Community Eligibility Program.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act aims to disallow businesses from deducting federal income taxes for expenses incurred while attempting to influence employees regarding union organization or activities. This change is intended to stop companies from subsidizing anti-union campaigns through tax write-offs. The bill also establishes new, significant reporting requirements and penalties for businesses and third-party consultants who engage in these influence expenditures.

This bill establishes the Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025, directing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate at least five medical facilities as specialized hubs for cutting-edge treatments. These Centers of Excellence must focus on research, training partnerships, and clinical evaluation of innovative therapies for covered conditions like PTSD and chronic pain. The legislation specifically names substances such as MDMA and Psilocybin as part of the therapies to be explored, supported by dedicated annual funding.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act significantly overhauls federal regulation of gun dealers by mandating enhanced physical security, stricter inventory tracking, and increased record-keeping requirements. The bill repeals outdated restrictions on the ATF, increases licensing fees, and establishes new regulations for online firearm transfer facilitators. Furthermore, it strengthens enforcement by increasing penalties for compliance failures and mandating more frequent inspections for high-risk dealers.

Sammy's Law aims to empower parents by requiring large social media platforms to provide secure access for third-party safety software to monitor and manage their children's accounts. This legislation establishes a national standard for this specific data access, while granting enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The law mandates strict data handling and deletion requirements for the third-party safety providers who register with the FTC.