Legislative Activity

This act, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act, amends federal law to exempt specific less-than-lethal projectile devices from existing firearm restrictions. It clarifies that these devices, designed to avoid serious injury and firing projectiles below a certain velocity, are not classified as firearms under federal statute. This change aims to facilitate the adoption of non-lethal tools by law enforcement.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 incentivizes first-time homebuyers to complete financial literacy housing counseling programs. By completing the required counseling before applying for a loan or signing a sales agreement, eligible homebuyers will receive a 25 basis point discount on their mortgage insurance premium payments. This act aims to promote financial preparedness among new homeowners.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

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.

The American Farmers First Act prohibits the use of the Exchange Stabilization Fund to provide any financial support to Argentina. Any existing contracts violating this new rule must be terminated quickly. Finally, the bill establishes a farmer economic relief program, funded by the proceeds from terminating those contracts, to provide one-time assistance to producers who lost export markets in the 2025 marketing year.

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 Right to Enroll Act of 2025 extends the annual open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges specifically for the 2026 plan year. This legislation mandates that the open enrollment period will run from November 1, 2025, through May 1, 2026.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House that the Department of Agriculture should utilize its existing contingency funds and interchange authority to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains fully funded. The bill specifically urges the administration to immediately use these resources to finance SNAP operations, particularly during potential government funding lapses. This action is deemed crucial to support millions of vulnerable Americans, including children, seniors, and veterans, who rely on these benefits.

The Fair Access to Swift and Timely Justice Act, or FAST Justice Act, allows federal employees or job applicants to file a civil lawsuit in federal district court if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) fails to issue a decision on their appeal within 120 days. This provision provides an alternative remedy when the MSPB's review process causes undue delay. Filing a lawsuit pauses the MSPB appeal, but the original appeal rights remain intact if the lawsuit is dismissed.

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 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.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed mental health services and supports in schools through grants and contracts. These funds will support partnerships to implement awareness campaigns, staff training on trauma and suicide risk, and direct student and family treatment. The Secretary must ensure equitable distribution of funding, which is capped at \$2 million per award, with Congress authorized to appropriate \$300 million annually for the initial years.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 mandates that colleges receiving federal funds update their policies to explicitly prohibit and detail procedures for addressing harassment based on protected characteristics, including technology-facilitated abuse. The bill also establishes a competitive grant program, funded up to $50 million annually, to support campus efforts in harassment prevention, training, and support services. This legislation adds new requirements without superseding existing civil rights protections.

The Federal-State Partnership for Clean Water Act of 2025 significantly increases federal funding authorizations to support state and local efforts in water quality management. This bill boosts dedicated funding for wetlands protection and restoration programs through 2030, guaranteeing a minimum of \$100 million annually for state and local initiatives. Additionally, it authorizes \$500 million annually through 2030 to assist states in managing their core water pollution control programs.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act aims to expedite the negotiation of first-time union contracts, which often face lengthy delays after workers vote for representation. This bill establishes mandatory timelines, requiring parties to begin bargaining quickly and escalating disputes to mandatory mediation and binding arbitration if an agreement isn't reached within 90 days. Additionally, the law mandates a GAO study to track the average time it takes for newly certified unions to secure their initial collective bargaining agreement.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

This resolution expresses strong support for increasing the number of Latino students and young professionals entering high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It highlights the significant underrepresentation of Latinos in these vital fields despite their growing presence in the U.S. workforce. The bill encourages federal investment in programs that address barriers and promote STEM education pathways for the Latino community. Ultimately, this focus aims to strengthen the nation's high-skilled workforce and economic competitiveness.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase police accountability and transparency nationwide through federal mandates and funding incentives. It reforms standards for prosecuting civil rights violations, eliminates qualified immunity, and establishes national registries for police misconduct and use-of-force data. Furthermore, the Act bans specific dangerous police tactics like chokeholds and restricts the transfer of military equipment to local departments.