Legislative Activity

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of stable, family-like placements for children, especially for LGBTQ youth who are overrepresented in foster care. The bill mandates federal guidance, training, and data collection to improve safety and well-being outcomes for all children involved in the system.

This bill, the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, establishes temporary economic recovery payments for eligible recipients of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement, and Veterans benefits. It provides an additional $200 payment monthly to these individuals from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. These payments are designed to be non-taxable and will not affect eligibility for other federal benefits.

This bill, the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, extends the authorization period for a key water recycling program established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Specifically, it doubles the program's authorization from five years to ten years. This action supports continued investment in large-scale water recycling infrastructure.

The Small Business RELIEF Act exempts qualified small businesses from duties imposed under Executive Order 14257. It also mandates that the President refund any such duties already paid by small businesses within 90 days of enactment. This legislation aims to provide economic fairness and relief to small importers.

The Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act aims to significantly reduce prescription drug expenses for consumers. It expands the federal drug price negotiation program to cover more drugs and extends negotiated prices to most private health insurance plans. Furthermore, the bill applies inflation rebates to the commercial market and establishes new annual out-of-pocket spending caps for prescription drugs under private insurance starting in 2027. It also sets specific, lower cost-sharing requirements for covered insulin products.

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a series of commemorative gold, silver, and clad coins in 2029 to celebrate the centennial of the United States Foreign Service. The coins will feature designs representing the importance of American diplomacy and the contributions of the Foreign Service. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins will be paid to the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training to support its historical preservation work. The Treasury must ensure that the minting and issuance of these coins result in no net cost to the U.S. government.

The AIM Act primarily focuses on eliminating numerous existing statutory restrictions and prohibitions that currently limit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in its operations. This includes removing limitations on the use and analysis of firearms trace data and allowing for the consolidation of dealer records. Furthermore, the bill removes requirements for the destruction of background check records and eases restrictions on the ATF's ability to inspect dealer inventories and deny or revoke Federal Firearms Licenses.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 incentivizes first-time homebuyers to complete financial literacy housing counseling programs. By completing the required counseling before applying for a loan or signing a sales agreement, eligible homebuyers will receive a 25 basis point discount on their mortgage insurance premium payments. This act aims to promote financial preparedness among new homeowners.

The Promoting Diplomacy with Australia Act mandates a comprehensive report from the State Department assessing the capacity of the U.S. Mission in Australia. This report must detail planned growth in staffing and operations through 2030, identify resource gaps, and recommend necessary funding to support key U.S. objectives and the U.S.-Australia alliance.

The Global Respect Act aims to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI individuals worldwide. It mandates the President to identify and report foreign persons responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, leading to their inadmissibility to the United States. Furthermore, the Act requires enhanced tracking and reporting of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in the annual human rights reports.

The VISIT USA Act mandates the transfer of $\$160$ million from unobligated balances in the Travel Promotion Fund to Brand USA. This funding is intended to support international tourism promotion efforts for the United States. The transfer must be completed within 30 days of the Act becoming law.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. It introduces new disclosure requirements for studies submitted during public comment periods and mandates greater public awareness of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill establishes the Office of the Public Advocate to improve public involvement and explicitly requires agencies to consider social equity in their cost-benefit analyses. Finally, it streamlines the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review timeline and clarifies judicial review standards for agency interpretations.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a prior reconciliation act. This action effectively revives the original laws that were previously amended by the repealed provisions. The bill seeks to revert existing agricultural and food-related statutes to their pre-amendment status.

The Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and expands federal funding for wildlife crossing infrastructure through 2031. This legislation renames the existing pilot program, authorizes \$200 million annually for the program, and ensures 100% federal cost-sharing for projects led by Indian Tribes. Additionally, it establishes technical assistance to help tribes efficiently access these crucial wildlife safety funds.

The RIDER Safety Act authorizes federal grants for public transit systems to hire unarmed "Transit Support Specialists." These specialists are tasked with increasing rider security through their visible presence, engaging with the public, and handling minor conflicts. Their role is to deter disruptive behavior and connect riders with necessary services, allowing law enforcement to focus on critical incidents.

The No Payola Act repeals existing Senate notification requirements concerning legal processes related to the disclosure of Senate data. Furthermore, it mandates that any Senator who received funds through a private right of action under the repealed law must return those awarded funds to the Treasury.

This bill, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Peoples within the Department of State. It codifies U.S. policy to actively combat international criminalization, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting on these abuses in annual human rights reports and authorizes assistance to support related protection efforts abroad.

The VA Care and Benefits Accountability Act ensures that existing collective bargaining agreements within the Department of Veterans Affairs remain in effect until their specified end dates. Furthermore, this bill nullifies Executive Orders 14251 and 14343, preventing their enforcement or implementation within the VA. This action solidifies current labor agreements for VA employees.

The VA Work-Study Improvement Act expands approved work-study locations to include state/local government agencies and nonprofits that benefit veterans. It establishes a clear standard for the minimum hourly wage paid to participants and mandates the use of electronic timesheets. Furthermore, the bill requires the VA to annually publish detailed data regarding the work-study program's activities and participants.

This resolution amends House rules to allow a majority of Representatives to force an end to a designated district work period. If enough members submit letters to the Clerk requesting the end of the recess, the work period must terminate within two days. This measure aims to increase the time the House spends in session by making district work periods more easily interruptible.