Legislative Activity

The Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of including Saratoga and Washington Counties in New York as part of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. The study will involve consultations with state and local organizations and agencies.

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 SERVICE Act requires federal agencies to submit a report to the Comptroller General and Congress before reducing their workforce by more than 5% in a fiscal year. This report must detail the anticipated financial and mission-related impacts of the workforce reduction. The Comptroller General then assesses the agency's report and publishes their findings on the Government Accountability Office's website.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act introduces a new tax credit to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of homes in distressed communities. This credit aims to bridge the "value gap" that often hinders development in these areas by incentivizing the creation of affordable homes for qualified low- to moderate-income homebuyers. The credit is allocated to developers through state agencies, with specific requirements for affordability, construction standards, and homeowner protection. If the homeowner sells the home within five years, a portion of the profit must be repaid.

The "Protecting Election Administration from Interference Act of 2025" aims to safeguard the integrity of federal elections by enhancing protections for election records, papers, and equipment, mandating that paper records of cast ballots remain the official record. It sets standards for retaining and preserving election materials, allows for the reuse of election equipment, and introduces penalties for reckless disregard that results in the theft, destruction, or alteration of election materials. The Act also enables judicial review for election records and prohibits intimidation of those involved in processing, scanning, tabulating, canvassing, or certifying voting results.

The "Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act" aims to improve the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, and related items during airport security screening. It mandates the TSA to update its guidance in consultation with maternal health organizations to minimize contamination risks and ensure hygienic standards are met during additional screenings. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General will audit compliance and report on screening technologies' impact on these items.

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 "Advancing Grid-Enhancing Technologies Act of 2025" aims to improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric grid through several key provisions. It mandates a shared savings incentive program for developers who invest in grid-enhancing technologies, requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to develop rules for returning a portion of the savings to the developers. The Act also requires transmission operators to report congestion-related costs to FERC annually and directs FERC and the Department of Energy to create a public map of congestion costs. Finally, it directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an application guide and provide technical assistance for implementing grid-enhancing technologies.

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 Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if state laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining procedures in those states. The act outlines specific rights and procedures, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, while also addressing enforcement and exceptions. This law aims to ensure that public service workers have the ability to negotiate for fair wages, hours, and working conditions.

The STOP Bullying Act aims to reduce bullying in schools by establishing a grant program for each state to create and implement an anti-bullying task force. These task forces will study local bullying policies, educate teachers, parents, and students, and examine the impact of bullying on student violence and self-harm. Each task force will include educators, administrators, parents, students, counselors, psychologists, lawyers, and representatives from community organizations, and will submit a final report with recommendations for legislation, administrative actions, and best practices to address and reduce bullying. The goal is to ensure safe learning environments for all students, regardless of background.

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 "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" aims to eliminate tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees' decisions regarding unionizing and collective bargaining. It defines "labor organization activity" broadly, encompassing elections, disputes, and collective actions. The bill mandates detailed reporting of such activities, with significant penalties for non-compliance, and directs the Treasury Secretary to issue implementing guidance. This would apply to expenses incurred more than 240 days after the bill's enactment.

The IDEA Full Funding Act aims to increase federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It authorizes and appropriates specific funding levels for IDEA, excluding section 619, with increasing amounts each year. The funding is determined by both a set dollar amount and a percentage based on the number of children with disabilities and average per-pupil expenditure, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates that the increased funding adhere to "cut-as-you-go" rules, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

The "Protecting Options for Seniors Act of 2025" addresses inconsistencies in Medicare Advantage (MA) plan payments due to hospital wage index reclassifications. Starting in 2026, the Act increases the national per capita MA growth percentage for areas with significant hospital wage index increases, ensuring fair payments to hospitals and maintaining benchmark neutrality. The Act also mandates the separate computation and publication of total payments made to each area hospital under Medicare Parts A and B, promoting transparency.

The "Defending American Diplomacy Act" requires congressional approval for any Department of State reorganization and mandates the Secretary of State to submit detailed plans assessing the impact of such changes. It ensures transparency and accountability by requiring a thorough analysis of potential risks, effects on foreign policy, and workforce implications. The Act also restricts federal funds for the Department of Government Efficiency and official travel by politically appointed officials if reorganizations are implemented without proper authorization.

The "Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act" directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an occupational safety and health standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. This standard aims to protect workers from workplace violence through risk assessment, hazard prevention, incident reporting, employee training, and recordkeeping. The bill also extends these requirements to certain facilities receiving Medicare funds, ensuring broader coverage and compliance.

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using federal funds to remove employees if the removals affect at least 3% of the total HHS workforce or 3% of a sub-agency/division's workforce within a 60-day period.

The "Protect America's Workforce Act" nullifies a 2025 executive order that limited federal labor-management relations programs. It prevents the enforcement of the executive order and prohibits the use of federal funds for its implementation. Additionally, the bill ensures the validity of existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor organizations until their original expiration dates.

The "Transgender Health Care Access Act" aims to improve access to gender-affirming care by expanding medical education and training programs, particularly within community health centers and rural areas. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for developing model curricula, training medical professionals, and supporting community health centers in providing gender-affirming care. The Act prioritizes entities serving transgender populations and areas with limited access to care, and allocates specific funding for these initiatives from 2026 through 2030. Finally, the Act requires a report to Congress detailing the progress and impact of these programs on health equity for transgender individuals.