Legislative Activity

The Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to reissue misused benefits to veterans or their successors and to recover misused funds from fiduciaries. Recovered funds will be paid to the beneficiary or their successor, and the bill outlines procedures for payment in the event of the beneficiary's death. The total reissued amount is capped at the total misused benefit amount, and the VA will establish methods for determining negligence in misuse cases, without requiring a determination for each instance.

This bill expresses support for Wildfire Preparedness Week, a national event focused on educating the public on fire safety and preparedness. It highlights the significant impact of wildfires in the United States, including the acres burned and the need for preventative measures. The bill supports resources and educational programs that teach communities to prevent wildfires through early warning systems, reducing human-caused ignitions, and safe evacuation practices for people and animals. It also commits to providing financial support to communities affected by catastrophic firestorms.

The "Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act" modifies Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, broadening the definition of "covered individual" to include more employees and modifying the definition of "publicly held corporation." This change prevents companies from deducting excessive employee remuneration, applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations and guidance to implement these changes and prevent companies from avoiding the rules.

The SHIELD Act aims to increase legal representation for individuals facing deportation by establishing the Immigration Legal Services Staff and Infrastructure Development Program. This program will award competitive grants to state and local governments, community-based organizations, and educational institutions to expand the workforce, strengthen legal services, and build infrastructure to support high-quality legal representation. The Act prioritizes training legal professionals, supporting local governments, and addressing representation gaps in underserved areas, while also establishing accountability measures and requiring grantees to report on their activities. The Act authorizes \$100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2027 to implement this Act.

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act seeks to reinstate protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by repealing the 2017 law that opened the area to oil and gas development. It further designates approximately 1.5 million acres of the Refuge as wilderness, ensuring its preservation under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This area will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the Wilderness Act.

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.

This resolution expresses support for honoring Earth Day and its role in promoting environmental awareness and action. It recognizes the historical impact of Earth Day on environmental protection and highlights ongoing challenges like climate change. The resolution urges continued action, referencing recent legislation and emphasizing the need to address environmental injustices and promote environmental literacy. It also encourages the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and urges Americans to observe it through various environmental activities.

The Vote at Home Act of 2025 aims to expand access to voting in federal elections by promoting vote-by-mail and automatic voter registration through state motor vehicle authorities. It prohibits states from imposing unnecessary conditions on vote-by-mail eligibility, requires states to mail ballots to registered voters before federal elections, and ensures accessible ballots for individuals with disabilities. The act also streamlines voter registration processes when applying for or updating a driver's license, while implementing safeguards to protect voter information and election integrity. Finally, the bill ensures that blank and completed ballots for federal elections will be carried expeditiously and free of postage.

The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act aims to improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program by refining eligibility criteria, streamlining the serious deficiency process, and authorizing reimbursements for additional meals or snacks in certain childcare settings. It mandates a review of the serious deficiency process, emphasizing fairness and consistency, and requires the establishment of an advisory committee focused on reducing unnecessary paperwork for program participants. Additionally, the Act adjusts reimbursement calculations and promotes the use of technology to modernize and simplify program administration, ultimately supporting working families and enhancing the economic viability of childcare programs.

The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to increase meal and supplement reimbursement rates by 10 cents for eligible child care facilities. It also updates language regarding consultation and modifies reimbursement calculations for family or group day care home sponsoring organizations.

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.

This bill supports the designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to recognize her lifelong commitment to activism, including co-founding the United Farm Workers Union and advocating for civil rights. It celebrates her achievements in improving Latino voting access, ensuring safer working conditions, and promoting feminism and women's equality. The bill also acknowledges her numerous awards and ongoing work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

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 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 "Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025" outlaws devices that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm's firing rate or simulate machine guns. It redefines "semi-automatic firearm" and requires current owners of affected devices to register them. There are exceptions for governmental entities, and lawful transfers of registered devices are permitted.

The "Raise the Wage Act of 2025" aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be annually adjusted based on the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees until it matches the standard minimum wage, while ensuring they retain all tips. Additionally, it increases and then eliminates the subminimum wage for newly hired employees under 20 and individuals with disabilities, promoting fair wages for all workers.

The Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate existing research and identify gaps in knowledge regarding menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life women's health among servicewomen and veterans. It requires a report to Congress with findings, recommendations for improved training for healthcare providers, and a strategic plan to address research gaps and identify potential treatments. The Act also encourages further research into the impact of military service, including combat exposure, on menopause and perimenopause, as well as the impact of these conditions on mental health.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" permits employees to deduct union dues and other employee business expenses above-the-line, bypassing previous deduction limitations. This change is achieved by amending sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 62(a)(1) and 67(g). These amendments will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Cool Roof Rebate Act of 2025" establishes a rebate program, running through September 30, 2030, for eligible households to receive financial assistance for the purchase and installation of cool roof products. Rebate amounts vary based on the type and performance of the cool roof product installed, with higher rebates for products that meet more stringent solar reflectance and thermal emittance criteria. The Act also requires a report to Congress on the program's impact and authorizes appropriations for both the rebate program and updates to the Cool Roof Calculator. To be eligible, households must have an income less than 200% of their ZIP Code's median income and reside in a high-risk area according to the CDC's Heat and Health Index.