Legislative Activity

This resolution officially recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for prevention efforts across all demographics. It expresses strong support for designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10th as "World Suicide Prevention Day" to raise awareness. The measure calls for prioritizing comprehensive, tailored strategies to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services nationwide.

The Having Overdose Protection Equipment (HOPE) Act amends existing federal grant guidelines to explicitly allow states and tribes to use funds from the 21st Century Cures Act for acquiring, stocking, and maintaining public access opioid overdose reversal kits. This legislation defines these kits as containing the necessary reversal medication and clear administration instructions. The bill aims to increase the availability of life-saving overdose reversal tools in public settings.

The Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act of 2025 aims to address rising rates and racial disparities in endometrial cancer. This bill mandates the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to intensify research and ensure equitable inclusion of African-American women in clinical trials. Furthermore, it directs the CDC to launch targeted public education campaigns, specifically focusing on informing African-American women about risks and available treatments.

The Congressional Power of the Purse Act is a comprehensive bill designed to reassert Congressional authority over federal spending, emergency declarations, and executive branch financial oversight. It strengthens Congress's ability to prevent impoundment of appropriated funds, mandates greater transparency regarding unspent government money, and imposes strict time limits and review procedures on presidential declarations of national emergencies. Ultimately, the Act aims to increase accountability across the Executive Branch regarding the execution and management of taxpayer funds.

The Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act aims to integrate Puerto Rico into the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) structure, aligning it with other territories like Guam. The bill mandates a transition period where Puerto Rico must submit a plan of operation to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval to join SNAP. During this transition, existing block grant funding may continue for up to five years while the territory moves toward full participation under federal SNAP rules.

The Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025 establishes a pathway for workers involved in a strike or lockout to receive unemployment insurance benefits after a mandatory 14-day waiting period. This legislation also exempts striking workers from the standard requirement to actively search for new employment while they are unable to work due to the labor dispute.

The Nationwide Right to Unionize Act eliminates federal permission for states to enact or enforce "right-to-work" laws by repealing Section 14(b) of the National Labor Relations Act. This action ensures that union security agreements negotiated between unions and employers are governed exclusively by federal labor law. Consequently, state laws that prohibit mandatory union membership or fee payment as a condition of employment will no longer apply where federal law permits such agreements.

The Restore Trust in Congress Act establishes strict new rules prohibiting Members of Congress and their immediate families from owning or trading specific financial assets, referred to as "covered investments," while in office. Covered individuals must divest existing prohibited holdings within a set timeframe or face significant financial penalties, including fines and forfeiture of profits. The legislation aims to eliminate conflicts of interest arising from personal financial trading while serving in federal office.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act seeks to federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, which will retroactively apply to past offenses. The bill establishes an Opportunity Trust Fund, financed by new cannabis taxes, to reinvest in communities harmed by prohibition. Furthermore, it mandates the expungement of non-violent federal cannabis convictions and opens up Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to legitimate cannabis businesses.

The INFORM Act of 2025 mandates that Homeland Security must notify the immediate family of any individual transferred between immigration detention facilities within 24 hours. This notification must include the reason for the transfer and contact information for the new location. The Act broadly defines "immediate family" to cover a wide range of relatives, including step- and foster-family members.

The Fine Arts Protection Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive review of the General Services Administration's (GSA) Fine Arts Program by the Comptroller General. This review will survey the entire art collection, establish its monetary value, and assess the adequacy of current staffing and budget for preservation. The final report will include recommendations on whether the GSA should continue managing this significant public art collection.

The Shielding Students from Wildfire Smoke Act directs the EPA to commission a comprehensive study on how K-12 schools and childcare facilities currently manage wildfire smoke exposure for children. This review will assess existing policies, identify gaps in protection, and recommend actionable strategies to Congress for improving safeguards, especially for resource-limited settings.

This resolution terminates the President's August 11, 2025, declaration of a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Congress asserts that the President lacks the legal authority under the D.C. Home Rule Act to take operational control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Furthermore, the bill notes that local violent crime rates have been declining significantly.

The Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 establishes national standards for food date labels, requiring manufacturers to use specific phrases like "**BEST If Used By**" for quality and "**USE By**" for discard dates, if they choose to include them. This legislation standardizes labeling language across different food products overseen by the USDA and FDA. The Act also ensures that non-compliant labeling is treated as misbranding under existing federal food laws. Manufacturers will have two years from enactment to comply with these new federal labeling requirements.

The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to strengthen the Social Security system through two main avenues. Title I mandates the creation of a new Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to be used for calculating future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Title II modifies contribution rules by counting a small portion of wages and self-employment income earned above the current base limit after 2025, and it adjusts the benefit formula to potentially increase benefits based on these surplus earnings. These changes are designed to ensure COLAs more accurately reflect senior spending and to increase revenue for the system.

This resolution expresses strong support for recognizing August 17 through August 23, 2025, as "Warehouse Worker Recognition Week." It honors the critical role over 1.8 million warehouse workers play in the national supply chain and economy. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledges the demanding and often hazardous working conditions these essential employees face.

The Grocery Reform And Safety Act (GRAS Act) overhauls the regulation of food ingredients by removing the automatic exemption for "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) substances from the definition of a food additive. This legislation mandates formal GRAS notifications to the FDA, requiring companies to submit detailed safety data for review before new ingredients or uses can enter the market. Furthermore, the Act establishes a mandatory, recurring safety reassessment program for existing food ingredients to ensure ongoing public safety.

The EQUAL Parks Act codifies a previous Presidential Memorandum into permanent law, ensuring that federal policies regarding public lands and waters prioritize diversity and inclusion. This legislation solidifies the commitment to making these shared spaces accessible and welcoming to all Americans.

The SWIFT VOTE Act establishes a \$120 million grant program through the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to help local election offices procure and maintain electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks). These funds prioritize offices that commit to using the technology to track and publicly report voter wait times for federal elections. Grantees must ensure e-pollbooks meet certification standards and develop training programs focused on accessible technology use.

The Youth Voting Rights Act aims to strengthen voting access for young Americans by enforcing the 26th Amendment. This bill mandates that public colleges facilitate voter registration, allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register for federal elections, and requires on-campus polling locations. It also establishes grants to encourage youth civic engagement and strengthens protections against age-based barriers in voting, including ID rules and absentee voting.