Legislative Activity

The HOME Act of 2025 aims to protect renters and homebuyers from unfair housing practices. It prohibits excessive price increases during housing crises, directs investigations into market manipulation, and establishes a unit within HUD to monitor housing costs. The Act also addresses unfair tenant screening practices and limits Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investments to ensure renter protections. Finally, it mandates a review of anti-competitive behaviors in the housing market.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to include state, federal, and local governments as employers, thereby extending OSHA protections to public service workers. This change ensures that public employees receive the same workplace safety standards and protections as those in the private sector. The Act will take effect 90 days after enactment for most entities, and 36 months after enactment for states without an approved state plan.

This resolution acknowledges the 50th anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon, honoring the Vietnamese American community's contributions to the U.S. and their pursuit of freedom and democracy. It recognizes the sacrifices of the South Vietnamese and U.S. militaries during the Vietnam War, while reaffirming the U.S. commitment to human rights and freedom for all, including in Vietnam. The resolution encourages Americans to remember Black April and celebrate the Vietnamese American community.

The TRANSPORT Jobs Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and publicize a plan, in consultation with other departments, to help veterans find employment in supply chain jobs. The plan will identify barriers faced by veterans, challenges employers face in hiring them, and recommend actions to help veterans become supply chain employees. This includes identifying regions with the greatest need and highlighting skills veterans possess. The goal is to improve outreach, training, and mentorship programs to increase veteran participation in the supply chain workforce.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The "No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act" disallows tax deductions for advertising and promotional expenses for prescription drugs marketed directly to consumers, excluding ads in professional journals and periodicals. This applies to covered entities, including drug sponsors and outsourcing facilities, and affects expenses incurred after the Act's enactment. The goal of the bill is to reduce the amount of direct-to-consumer drug advertising.

Recognizes the crucial role of linemen in maintaining the nation's energy infrastructure and public safety. It also supports designating April 18, 2025, as National Lineman Appreciation Day to honor their contributions and dangerous work.

The "PROTECT 911 Act" aims to improve the mental health and well-being of public safety telecommunicators by directing the Secretary to create and share best practices for addressing PTSD and related issues. It also establishes a grant program for emergency communication centers and eligible entities to develop or enhance behavioral health and wellness programs, including peer support initiatives and training. This will provide resources and support to address job-related mental health challenges faced by 911 operators.

The DISASTER Act of 2025 requires the Office of Management and Budget to submit an annual report to Congress detailing all federal disaster-related assistance spending, including obligations for response, recovery, and mitigation, starting with the fiscal year 2027 budget. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of disaster spending by agency, account, specific disaster, and type of assistance, and will be publicly available in a searchable format. The goal of this act is to improve transparency and inform budget decisions related to disaster relief.

The "Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act" increases the maximum loan amounts for certain energy-related projects from $5.5 million to $10 million. It requires the Small Business Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas receiving these loans. This act aims to provide greater financial support for small businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act" aims to combat the rise in organized retail theft and related crimes by amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to include provisions that target the theft, fraud, and illegal redistribution of goods. It also establishes an "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, share information, and track trends related to organized retail crime. The center will work to support training and technical assistance to combat organized retail crime and organized supply chain crime. Finally, the Act requires the evaluation of existing federal programs to identify ways to expand support for state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

The "FDA Modernization Act 3.0" mandates the replacement of animal testing references with "nonclinical testing" references in specific sections of the Code of Federal Regulations, aligning with the FDA's efforts to modernize drug development and evaluation. This change aims to promote innovative, non-animal testing methods for assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and biological products. The Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement these changes through an interim final rule within one year.

The Great Lakes and National Weather Service Funding Protection Act ensures that funds allocated to the National Weather Service and Great Lakes restoration efforts within NOAA cannot be deferred, transferred, or reprogrammed without explicit authorization from a new law. This act requires the NOAA Administrator to certify compliance with these protections annually to specific congressional committees, ensuring transparency and adherence to the funding allocations.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow small businesses to receive disaster loans for damages caused by prolonged power outages. These loans can be used to purchase energy resilience systems and replace spoiled food and drink. The bill defines "prolonged power outage" based on the number of affected homes and businesses, the extent of uninsured losses, and the duration of the outage.

This resolution expresses support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide, recognizing their role in connecting communities with information, resources, and social services. It emphasizes the need for adequate funding to support libraries and protect the rights of library workers. The resolution also reaffirms the public's right to access information and the importance of libraries as vital infrastructure for the future.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act restricts the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, while providing exceptions for governmental use, certain pre-existing firearms, and transfers to immediate family members. The bill also allows Byrne grants to be used for buy-back programs for these firearms and devices, and establishes penalties for violations, as well as a process for determining which firearms are prohibited, including manufacturer applications and judicial review. Finally, the bill establishes a "Firearm Safety Trust Fund" in the Treasury, using taxes collected by the ATF to fund the requirements of this act.

The American Family Act establishes a refundable child tax credit with monthly advance payments, providing up to $300 per month per child, and creates a $500 tax credit for other dependents. The amount of the credit is reduced based on the taxpayer's income, with initial reductions starting at $150,000 for joint returns. The IRS will make monthly advance payments and establish an online portal for taxpayers to manage their payments and provide necessary information. This act terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024 and aims to provide regular financial support to families.

The Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025 mandates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to complete a high-resolution survey and map of the Great Lakes lakebeds by 2030, coordinating with various stakeholders. The collected data will be made public and integrated into nautical charts. The Act allocates $50 million annually from 2025 to 2029 for this initiative.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide resources to local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. These grants can be used for de-escalation training, mental health support for officers, officer recruitment and retention, and other community safety programs. The Act prioritizes a streamlined grant application process and emphasizes accountability and transparency in the use of funds, with \$50 million authorized annually from 2027 through 2031.