Legislative Activity

This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and recognizes the profound contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the United States. It honors those who fled the communist regime after April 30, 1975, and reaffirms American commitment to democracy and human rights. The bill encourages all citizens to observe this anniversary and remember the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom.

The Equality Act comprehensively expands federal civil rights protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across key areas of American life. It amends existing laws to prohibit discrimination in public accommodations, housing, credit, employment, and federal funding. The purpose of the bill is to provide consistent, explicit, and comprehensive remedies for individuals facing bias in these essential sectors.

This bill aims to enhance safety for individuals outside their vehicles and for workers in construction zones by updating federal highway safety programs. It mandates improved data collection on roadside and work zone crashes and expands public awareness campaigns to cover disabled vehicles and work zones. Furthermore, the legislation establishes two specialized working groups to develop strategies and share data to reduce fatalities and injuries in these specific high-risk areas.

The No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act prohibits businesses from taking a federal tax deduction for expenses related to direct-to-consumer advertising of certain prescription drugs. This measure specifically targets costs associated with advertising aimed at the general public via television, radio, or digital platforms. The goal is to disallow tax write-offs for these promotional activities, with an exception for ads placed in professional medical journals.

The United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act amends federal law to permit the mailing of alcoholic beverages through the USPS under strict new regulations. These regulations will require age verification upon delivery, restrict shipments to personal use, and mandate that shippers be registered entities. This change does not preempt any existing state or local laws regarding alcohol sales or shipment.

The Advancing Water Reuse Act establishes a new "qualifying water reuse project credit" to incentivize businesses to recycle water. This credit offers a 30% tax break on qualified investments in on-site water recycling systems or infrastructure that supports industrial or commercial water reuse. The tax incentive is designed to encourage the adoption of water conservation technologies until the end of 2032.

The DISASTER Act of 2025 mandates that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) annually report comprehensive data on all federal disaster-related spending to Congress. This report must detail spending by agency, disaster event, and type of aid provided. The goal is to increase transparency, improve future budget decisions, and identify cost-saving mitigation opportunities. The new public reporting requirement takes effect with the Fiscal Year 2027 budget submission.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital and dangerous work performed by power linemen who maintain our electrical infrastructure and ensure public safety. It highlights their crucial role as first responders, often working in hazardous conditions after disasters. Furthermore, the resolution supports the designation of April 18, 2025, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day" to formally honor their service.

The PROTECT 911 Act aims to support the mental health of 911 operators and emergency dispatchers. It requires the government to develop evidence-based mental health guidelines and training materials specifically for these workers. Furthermore, the Act establishes grants for emergency communications centers to implement or enhance behavioral health and wellness programs for their staff.

This Act immediately terminates specific existing presidential executive orders imposing tariffs. It requires Congressional approval via a fast-tracked joint resolution before the President can impose new trade barriers or withdraw existing trade agreement concessions. This ensures major new trade restrictions require legislative authorization, except in cases involving existing anti-dumping enforcement or specific trade dispute rulings.

The Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act significantly increases the maximum loan amounts available to eligible small businesses under specific Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, raising the limit from $\$5.5$ million to $\$10$ million. This legislation also mandates that the SBA report annually to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas benefiting from these enhanced loan categories. The goal is to provide greater financial resources for small businesses through SBA lending.

The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 mandates the FDA to update federal regulations within one year, replacing references to "animal testing" with the broader term "nonclinical testing" in drug development rules. This change aligns FDA regulations with recent legislative updates, allowing for the use of modern, non-animal testing methods in drug approval processes. The interim final rule implementing these changes will take effect immediately upon publication.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow disaster loans to be issued specifically for damages resulting from prolonged power outages. It defines a "prolonged power outage" based on the number of affected properties and the duration or severity of uninsured losses. Furthermore, the legislation permits loan funds to be used by small businesses for purchasing energy resilience systems, such as generators and solar power equipment.

This Act, the Great Lakes and National Weather Service Funding Protection Act, prohibits the deferral, transfer, or reprogramming of federal funds specifically allocated to the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Great Lakes region. These dedicated funds cannot be moved for other uses unless a subsequent law explicitly overrides this protection. The NOAA Administrator must annually certify compliance with this funding restriction to key Congressional committees.

This resolution expresses strong support for library staff and the essential, expanded community services libraries provide, from social support to digital access. It calls for funding commensurate with these vital roles and defends the right of all citizens to freely access information. Furthermore, the bill supports the civil rights and union voice of library workers against threats and censorship.

The FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act establishes a program for FEMA to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest paid on specific disaster recovery loans. This reimbursement is capped at the lesser of the actual interest paid or the interest calculated using the Federal Reserve's prime rate. The law mandates FEMA to quickly establish procedures for states to apply for reimbursement of qualifying interest paid up to nine years prior to enactment.

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.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE Act) prohibits the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (over 10 rounds). The bill establishes a formal process managed by the Attorney General and ATF to list prohibited firearms, while grandfathering existing possessions under strict transfer rules. Furthermore, it permits states to use federal Byrne grants for voluntary buy-back programs targeting these newly restricted items. Violations carry significant fines and potential prison sentences.

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 "DHS Special Events Program and Support Act" formally establishes a special events program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess and provide security support for certain pre-planned events that are not designated as National Special Security Events. This program allows federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials to request a special event rating to receive security and situational awareness support from DHS. The Act mandates annual reports to Congress on the program's activities and periodic assessments to ensure its effectiveness, as well as directs research and development of technologies to enhance security at mass gatherings.