Legislative Activity

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

This bill, the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, authorizes the Departments of Justice and State to provide technical assistance and training to Ukraine. This support aims to help Ukraine secure the exchange of prisoners of war, release civilian detainees, and facilitate the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. The legislation also mandates support for the rehabilitation of returned children and the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the abductions.

This Act establishes the **Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention**, an interagency group led by the FTC and DOJ, to combat fraud. The task force is charged with developing and implementing a national strategy that includes public education, industry coordination, and enhanced enforcement actions. It will also coordinate with international partners and report annually on its efforts to reduce financial losses from scams.

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act of 2025 establishes strict new standards for the use of non-deadly force by federal immigration personnel, requiring proportionality and de-escalation efforts. The bill mandates identification requirements, restricts the use of certain crowd-control equipment, and imposes new body camera and detailed reporting mandates. Furthermore, it creates affirmative duties for officers to intervene against excessive force and requires annual training on these new policies.

The Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025 prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model under Medicare. This legislation specifically blocks the implementation of the prior authorization requirements associated with the WISeR Model. The goal is to prevent the adoption of this particular payment and service delivery model.

This bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Major Thomas D. Howie for his extraordinary bravery and leadership during the Battle of Normandy. The medal will be presented to his next of kin before being permanently displayed at The Citadel Museum. The Treasury Secretary is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal.

This bill amends the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to create an exception to the standard parole fee for aliens seeking entry to participate in sacred Tribal or religious ceremonies, cultural exchanges, or celebrations. Under specific conditions, the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant parole if a significant public benefit is determined, provided the alien meets enrollment and background check requirements. This provision allows for a reduced $200 fee for these specific cultural and religious purposes.

This resolution designates October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to highlight the widespread and devastating impact of intimate partner violence across all demographics. It recognizes the urgent need to eliminate domestic violence and supports increased funding for intervention and prevention programs. The resolution underscores the severe physical, emotional, and economic toll this abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.

The American Energy Independence and Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill designed to lower energy costs by extending and adjusting key tax incentives across energy production, efficiency, and clean vehicle adoption. It stabilizes support for renewable energy manufacturing, extends deadlines for energy-efficient building credits, and ensures consumer incentives for electric vehicles remain available through 2032. Overall, the legislation aims to provide long-term certainty for energy investments and consumer adoption of cleaner technologies.

This resolution strongly condemns the brutal October 7th attacks by Hamas, demanding the immediate and unconditional surrender of the terrorist group and the release of all hostages, including Americans. It reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense while urging international action against Hamas and condemning the global surge in antisemitism. The measure serves as a formal statement of U.S. policy and support following the attacks.

The October 7 Remembrance Education Act mandates the creation of a high school curriculum focused on the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. This educational tool must detail the attacks, explore the history of antisemitism leading up to them, and address the spread of related antisemitic rhetoric in the U.S. afterward. The curriculum will be developed by the Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and must adhere to established definitions of antisemitism.

The October 7 Gold Medal Act authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the American hostages and victims of the brutal October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel. This medal honors their suffering, sacrifice, and the resilience shown by their families. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the medal, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs. The official gold medal will ultimately be displayed at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

The Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025 aims to increase patient access to physical therapy, recognizing its importance in pain management and recovery. This bill integrates physical therapists into the National Health Service Corps, making them eligible for loan repayment in underserved areas. Furthermore, it mandates that Medicare Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers cover physical therapy services starting in 2027.

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

The Wildfire Recovery Act ensures the federal government covers at least 75% of eligible fire management assistance costs for newly appropriated funds. It also mandates new rulemaking to establish clear standards for increasing federal disaster cost-sharing based on measurable financial impact. Finally, the bill updates FEMA policy to allow state, local, and Tribal governments to seek reimbursement for pre-staging their own equipment before a disaster is officially declared.

The Pray Safe Act of 2025 establishes a Federal Clearinghouse within the Department of Homeland Security to publish evidence-based safety and security best practices for nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and houses of worship. This Clearinghouse will centralize information on security recommendations and available federal grant programs to help these entities prevent and respond to threats. The Act also mandates a GAO report evaluating existing federal security grant programs for these organizations.

This resolution officially expresses support for National Public Lands Day, recognizing the vast spiritual, cultural, and economic value of America's public lands. It encourages all citizens to visit these lands on the designated fee-free day. The measure highlights the significant acreage managed by various federal agencies that support recreation and the national economy.

The America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 establishes a new pathway to permanent residency for certain individuals who entered the U.S. as children, lived here legally for at least eight years as dependents of work visa holders, and subsequently earned a U.S. college degree. The bill also introduces significant "age-out" protections, allowing long-term dependents to retain their original priority dates for visa processing. Furthermore, it clarifies rules for derivative beneficiaries, potentially granting them work authorization in certain dependent statuses.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory, transparent exception processes for health plans that use "step therapy" protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients or their doctors can quickly request coverage for a prescribed medication when specific clinical criteria are met, such as previous treatment failure or risk of harm. Plans must decide on standard requests within 72 hours and urgent requests within 24 hours, and approved exceptions must last for at least one year. Furthermore, insurers must report detailed data annually on exception requests, approvals, and denials to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This resolution strongly condemns attempts to use federal regulatory power or litigation to suppress lawful speech critical of a political party or the President. It reaffirms the fundamental importance of the First Amendment and warns that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The bill urges government agencies to protect free expression and ensure accountability, not political censorship.