Legislative Activity

The October 7 Remembrance Education Act mandates the creation of a high school curriculum focused on the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. This educational tool must detail the attacks, explore the history of antisemitism leading up to them, and address the spread of related antisemitic rhetoric in the U.S. afterward. The curriculum will be developed by the Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and must adhere to established definitions of antisemitism.

This bill ensures that states are reimbursed by the Federal Government for any state funds they use to maintain essential operations of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in federal appropriations. It provides a mechanism for the Federal Government to pay back states that cover WIC costs during a government shutdown. This protects state budgets while keeping vital nutrition assistance running.

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.

The Passenger Rail Liability Adjustment Act of 2025 modifies the effective date for scheduled adjustments to the liability cap for passenger rail services. Specifically, any liability cap change set to occur during calendar year 2026 will be delayed. The new cap amount will only take effect 90 days after the required public notice of the adjustment is officially issued.

The Stop Stealing Our Jobs Act prohibits the President or agency heads from firing, laying off, or removing career civil service employees during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in discretionary funding. This protection ensures job security for the career federal workforce, while explicitly excluding political appointees from coverage. The bill clarifies definitions to specify which employees are shielded and which are not.

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to create and issue guidance for banks and lenders on how to support customers and businesses affected by a government shutdown. This guidance must encourage flexible loan adjustments and prevent unfair negative credit reporting for those experiencing income loss due to the lapse in funding. Regulators must also issue rapid alerts when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

This resolution expresses support for designating October 1, 2025, as "National Animal Rescue Day." The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of animal adoption and the critical work of rescue organizations nationwide. This day aims to encourage spaying and neutering efforts to combat pet overpopulation and promote increased animal adoptions.

The National Gun Violence Research Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase federal research into the causes, consequences, and prevention of gun violence. This bill repeals previous restrictions that limited data collection and research by agencies like the ATF, CDC, and NIH. It establishes a new National Gun Violence Research Program to coordinate efforts, fund grants through agencies like the NSF and HHS, and develop voluntary safety standards through NIST.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures that employees of federal contractors are compensated for losses incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. It requires federal agencies to adjust existing contracts to cover reasonable costs associated with furloughs, pay cuts, or mandatory leave taken by contractor employees. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover these contract price adjustments and mandates public reporting on the compensation provided.

This resolution expresses strong support for recognizing October 2025 as Filipino American History Month. It celebrates the rich history, culture, and significant contributions of Filipino Americans across all sectors of U.S. society. The bill also calls for renewed efforts to study and educate the public about this vital, yet often overlooked, part of the American story.

This bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to ensure continuous flood insurance coverage. It specifically moves the program's expiration date from late 2023 to November 21, 2025. This extension provides Congress with additional time to develop long-term reforms for the program.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from removing civil service employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. If an employee is terminated in violation of this rule during a shutdown, they will have the option to be reinstated with full back pay once funding resumes. This measure aims to protect federal workers from job loss caused by budget impasses.

The Flight Refund Fairness Act establishes clear, strict deadlines for ticket agents to issue refunds to consumers after a flight cancellation or significant delay. Specifically, ticket agents must now return the refund money to the customer within seven days of receiving the funds from the airline. This legislation replaces vague "promptly" requirements with a concrete timeline to ensure passengers receive their money back faster.

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 Ejiao Act of 2025 prohibits the knowing trade, import, and export of donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao products within U.S. commerce due to the devastating impact of the ejiao trade on global donkey populations. This legislation establishes significant civil and criminal penalties for violations, including substantial fines and imprisonment. Furthermore, the Act grants enforcement authority to agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and mandates the forfeiture of illegal goods and related equipment.

The Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025 affirms the critical importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to U.S. national security amidst Russian aggression. This bill mandates that the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense deliver a comprehensive report to Congress detailing emerging military, cyber, and political threats to the Baltic states. The report must also recommend specific actions to enhance U.S. and NATO defense cooperation and bolster Baltic resilience.

This resolution strongly condemns attempts to use federal regulatory power or litigation to suppress lawful speech critical of a political party or the President. It reaffirms the fundamental importance of the First Amendment and warns that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The bill urges government agencies to protect free expression and ensure accountability, not political censorship.

This bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Peace Corps Volunteers who served between August 28, 1961, and December 31, 2026, to recognize their distinguished service and promotion of world peace. The medal will be awarded to the Director of the Peace Corps for display at the agency's headquarters. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

This resolution expresses strong support for recognizing September 22–28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week." It highlights the critical role these institutions play in educating a significant portion of AANAPISI students, many of whom are first-generation and low-income. The bill encourages national acknowledgment and support for the programs and achievements of these vital colleges and universities.