Legislative Activity

This bill aims to strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness by updating its funding authorization under existing law. It removes outdated, specific funding caps, allowing for appropriations "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the Council's mission. The legislation also renumbers and retitles a section to specifically encourage greater State involvement in addressing homelessness.

The Protect our Parks Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Interior to immediately ensure full staffing, including all maintenance positions, across the National Park Service. This Act also requires the reinstatement of any NPS employees involuntarily removed between January 20 and February 25, 2025. Furthermore, it authorizes the continuation of existing, funded National Park Service projects under several key federal acts.

The Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement Act (PRICE Act) establishes a new competitive grant program to fund improvements in affordable manufactured housing communities. These grants will support essential repairs, infrastructure upgrades, and resident services for communities that are resident-controlled or committed to long-term affordability. Priority will be given to projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents and ensure the sustained affordability of the housing.

The Stop Predatory Investing Act targets large-scale single-family rental property owners who own 50 or more homes. This legislation disallows these "disqualified owners" from deducting interest paid on loans for these rental properties and bans them from claiming standard depreciation deductions. Exceptions allow for interest and depreciation deductions only if the property is sold to an individual owner-occupant or a qualified affordable housing nonprofit.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2025 reauthorizes the HOME program for five years with increased funding and reforms to administrative rules and eligibility. The bill strengthens accountability through stricter property inspections and penalties while offering greater flexibility for local jurisdictions and homeowners facing hardship. It also establishes a new federal loan guarantee program to finance affordable housing construction and preservation.

The Helping More Families Save Act establishes a pilot program to help families receiving housing assistance save money as their income increases. This program creates interest-bearing escrow accounts where the amount of any rent increase due to higher earnings is deposited. Families can access these savings after a set period or upon achieving self-sufficiency goals, without jeopardizing their eligibility for other federal aid programs.

The Save Our Forests Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the management of our national forests by immediately boosting Forest Service staffing levels. This legislation mandates the hiring of new personnel and the reinstatement of employees dismissed between January 20 and February 25, 2025. Furthermore, it ensures the continuation of authorized Forest Service projects funded under existing major conservation and infrastructure laws.

The Farm Ownership Improvement Act establishes a temporary, five-year pilot program for direct farm ownership loans to help farmers and ranchers secure financing. This program allows the Secretary of Agriculture to use flexible financial assessment methods when evaluating a borrower's ability to repay. The Secretary must track the program's success and report annually to Congress with a recommendation on making the program permanent.

This Act aims to immediately restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support refugees across the region. It repeals previous legislative bans on UNRWA funding and directs the Secretary of State to resume payments promptly. The bill mandates regular reporting to Congress detailing UNRWA's progress in implementing accountability reforms recommended by the Independent Review Group.

The Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2025 aims to increase the participation of private landlords in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, particularly in high-opportunity neighborhoods. It establishes new incentives, such as one-time payments and security deposit assistance, funded by the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund. The Act also modernizes inspection standards, requires the use of specific Small Area Fair Market Rents, and mandates annual reporting on the program's effectiveness.

The Do No Harm Act amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to ensure that federal anti-discrimination, labor, and equal access laws take precedence over religious freedom claims in specific circumstances. This legislation clarifies that RFRA protections cannot be used to override requirements in federal contracts or agreements involving government funding. Furthermore, the Act explicitly limits the application of RFRA to challenges against government actions, precluding its use in private litigation between non-governmental parties.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement laws allowing for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill mandates specific due process protections for individuals subject to these orders and ensures that any issued ERPO is recognized and enforced across all states and tribes. Furthermore, it updates federal law to prohibit firearm possession by anyone subject to a qualifying court order and requires that these orders be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The HELP Copays Act mandates that financial assistance provided by third parties, such as non-profits or drug manufacturers, must count toward a patient's deductible, copayment, and out-of-pocket maximums. This change ensures that patient cost-sharing requirements are met even when external aid is used to cover prescription drug costs. The new rules generally apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the National Labor Relations Act to bolster worker organizing rights and impose stricter penalties on employers who violate labor laws. It redefines joint employment, makes it harder to classify workers as independent contractors, and bans class action waivers. The bill also establishes mandatory arbitration for first contracts and allows employees to sue employers directly for serious unfair labor practices.

This bill establishes the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies to investigate the history and impact of these federal policies on Native American communities over a six-year period. The Commission is empowered to gather testimony, review federal records, and work with specialized subcommittees to address the resulting social, cultural, and physical harm. Furthermore, the legislation strengthens NAGPRA to ensure the return and respectful reburial of associated cultural items.

The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 establishes new minimum fleet sizes for the Air Force's fighter aircraft inventory and delays the enforcement date for these higher requirements until 2030. The bill mandates strict quarterly reporting on new aircraft procurement and distribution, while prioritizing the assignment of new, advanced fighters to existing operational squadrons. Furthermore, it places a freeze on reducing the number of Air National Guard fighter squadrons through 2030 and requires an annual plan to ensure the Guard's fleet recapitalizes at the same pace as the active force.

The Native ELDER Act aims to significantly improve services and support for Native American elders by establishing a new Tribal Advisory Committee within the Administration for Community Living. This committee will advise on policy and government-to-government consultation regarding Native Americans under the Older Americans Act. The bill also mandates technical assistance for Title VI grantees and requires comprehensive reports on caregiver support models and in-home service needs for Native elders.

This resolution formally condemns the recent mass termination of 2,400 Department of Veterans Affairs employees, which was carried out without justification or analysis of the impact on veteran services. It highlights the resulting disruption to critical healthcare and support programs and calls for the immediate reinstatement of all affected personnel.

The SAFE Lending Act of 2025 aims to protect consumers from abusive practices in electronic and small-dollar lending. It requires small-dollar lenders to register with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, ensures state laws apply to online and national bank loans, and restricts the distribution of sensitive financial information. The Act also expands consumer control over bank accounts by limiting remotely created checks and overdraft fees on prepaid accounts. Finally, the Act mandates a study on the impact of small-dollar lending on economic opportunity for Native American tribes.

The Public Health Funding Restoration Act aims to restore funding to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which supports various public health programs. By amending the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the bill allocates $2,000,000,000 annually, starting in fiscal year 2026, to bolster initiatives focused on disease prevention, mental health, and immunization efforts. This restoration seeks to enhance public health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and improve the nation's ability to prevent and respond to future health crises.