Legislative Activity

This resolution supports designating May 10, 2025, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day." It highlights the severe mental health disparities and lack of access to care within AANHPI communities. The bill encourages federal agencies to improve culturally and linguistically appropriate services to better address the unique needs of these diverse populations.

The Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025 aims to address the significant mental health disparities and high suicide rates within Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. The bill mandates the creation of a national behavioral health outreach strategy tailored to the diverse AANHPI population to reduce stigma and increase culturally competent care. Furthermore, it requires comprehensive systematic reviews and reports on the AANHPI youth mental health crisis and strategies to increase the number of AANHPI behavioral health professionals.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that group health plans and insurance policies provide comprehensive coverage for medically necessary treatment related to congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must include services needed to restore normal function and appearance, including necessary dental and orthodontic support. Plans must apply cost-sharing rules no more restrictive than those for other medical benefits, excluding purely cosmetic procedures.

The COMPOST Act officially designates composting as a recognized conservation practice under federal farm conservation laws. This change allows farmers to utilize existing conservation program benefits for activities related to creating and applying compost on their farms. The legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish clear standards for what qualifies as on-farm composting, including using organic waste from nearby communities only if it results in a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, this bill aims to improve soil health and water retention through the formal promotion of composting.

The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" for federal retirement purposes under both the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). This change adds specific IRS, Postal Inspection Service, and VA police roles to those eligible for enhanced retirement benefits. The bill also establishes procedures for current officers to elect to have their prior service counted under these new definitions, which may require a payment from the employee and their employing agency.

The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025 modifies the collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by streamlining existing statutes. This act removes outdated subsections related to bargaining and renumbers the remaining relevant section. Importantly, these changes do not affect the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authority regarding incentive pay or expedited hiring processes.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 declares that practices attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity for payment constitute an unfair and deceptive business practice. Citing professional consensus on the ineffectiveness and harm of such "conversion therapy," the bill prohibits its provision and advertising. Enforcement authority is granted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the law allows both the U.S. Attorney General and State Attorneys General to file civil actions against violators.

The Reproductive Data Privacy and Protection Act restricts law enforcement from using intercepted communications or compelled records that contain reproductive or sexual health information to investigate or prosecute individuals seeking or providing related care. This bill mandates specific sworn statements in wiretap applications and court orders, and in demands for electronic records, affirming that sensitive health details will not be used for such purposes. The Act broadly defines reproductive and sexual health information to ensure comprehensive protection.

The PFAS Alternatives Act aims to protect firefighters by funding research and development for next-generation turnout gear that eliminates harmful PFAS chemicals. The bill establishes grants through NIOSH to create safer, PFAS-free protective equipment and separate funding for training programs on the proper care of this new gear. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to reduce occupational illness and injury among fire and EMS personnel.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 4 through May 10, 2025, as Wildfire Preparedness Week. The measure aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of wildfires and promote essential fire safety and community preparedness education. It highlights the need for proactive measures, such as evacuation planning and better land management, to mitigate the growing threat posed by these destructive events.

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting January 1, 2026. This coverage is specifically for testing or treatment related to COVID-19, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or during a declared public health emergency. The bill outlines payment structures, generally covering 80% of the cost, and prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The **Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry and secure critical supply chains. It establishes new centralized oversight for maritime policy, creates a dedicated Maritime Security Trust Fund financed by new vessel taxes, and mandates significant federal investment in domestic shipbuilding and workforce development. The legislation also imposes stricter cargo preference rules and tax incentives to ensure U.S.-flagged vessels dominate international commerce and defense sealift operations.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act expands the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to explicitly cover all public employees, including those working for federal, state, and local governments. This change brings public sector workers under the general protections afforded by OSHA. While the expansion takes effect generally within 90 days, states without an existing OSHA plan are given a three-year transition period before federal oversight applies to their employees.

The FACTS Act establishes grant programs for schools to partner with health experts to combat synthetic opioid misuse among secondary students through prevention and recovery efforts. It also creates a federal Interagency Task Force to coordinate the national response and amends education laws to mandate specific opioid-related planning and staff training at the state and local levels. Finally, the bill enhances federal data collection on synthetic opioid presence and use in K-12 environments.

The Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act expands the tax code rules that limit corporate deductions for excessive executive compensation. This bill broadens the definition of "covered individuals" whose high pay is subject to these limits, including certain past top executives. The changes aim to prevent companies from deducting multi-million dollar bonuses for highly compensated employees and grant the IRS authority to issue clarifying regulations.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill grandfathers existing weapons but imposes new requirements for their secure storage and mandates dealer involvement for future private transfers. It also allows federal grant money to be used by states for buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). The bill extends key tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and removes a major restriction on this tax treatment. Furthermore, it establishes new government offices and an Advocate for Employee Ownership to provide technical assistance and resolve disputes, while ensuring ESOP-owned businesses retain small business status for federal programs.

The Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act establishes a federal grant program to expand legal services for immigrants facing deportation. This initiative aims to build the necessary legal infrastructure and workforce to ensure high-quality representation, recognizing the critical impact legal counsel has on case outcomes. The Attorney General will administer competitive grants to state/local governments and nonprofits to hire, train, and retain immigration defense staff. Congress authorizes $100 million for this program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of investigations. It grants the Attorney General explicit authority to file civil actions seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day, and mandates that collected fines help cover temporary animal care costs. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to establish a formal agreement for coordinated enforcement.

The Fairness to Freedom Act of 2025 establishes a guaranteed, government-funded right to counsel for all individuals in immigration proceedings who cannot afford a lawyer. It creates an independent Office of Immigration Representation to manage and deliver this high-quality legal defense across the country. Furthermore, the bill ensures this new system is adequately funded by tying its minimum budget to the scale of federal immigration enforcement spending.