Legislative Activity

The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 seeks to significantly reform and strengthen benefits for coal miners suffering from black lung disease by clarifying eligibility rules, improving access to medical evidence, and increasing financial support. The bill also permanently establishes the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor and modernizes various technical and definitional aspects of the Black Lung Benefits Act. Overall, this legislation aims to make securing benefits easier and faster for disabled miners and their families while increasing accountability for coal operators.

The UPLIFT Act establishes a new, refundable residential energy tax credit for taxpayers facing significant increases in electricity, natural gas, or propane costs. This credit, capped at \$1,200 or \$2,400 for joint filers, is only available when energy price inflation exceeds 2% year-over-year. The benefit is subject to an income-based phase-out for higher-earning households.

The Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act of 2025 seeks to combat illegal firearms trafficking to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It transfers regulatory control of certain munitions exports from the Department of Commerce back to the Department of State. The bill also mandates comprehensive reporting, strategy development, and increased tracking of U.S. firearm exports to designated "covered countries."

This Act addresses the significant unemployment disparities faced by young African Americans by strengthening pathways into registered apprenticeship programs. It establishes a Diversity and Inclusion Administrator within the Department of Labor to promote greater participation from underrepresented groups. Furthermore, the bill authorizes a competitive grant program to help entities create or expand apprenticeships, requiring applicants to submit plans specifically aimed at increasing African American enrollment.

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act directs the USDA to reform its food purchasing practices to support a more just, healthy, and sustainable food system. This is achieved by mandating the purchase of foods that prioritize equity, resilient supply chains, worker well-being, and climate mitigation. The bill also establishes reporting requirements, a set-aside for specific producers, and pilot programs to help smaller and targeted producers participate in USDA contracts.

The Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025 ensures that veterans whose benefits are misused by a fiduciary will have those funds promptly reissued by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill mandates the VA to make a good faith effort to recover the misused funds from the fiduciary after reimbursing the veteran. Furthermore, it establishes procedures for payment if the veteran dies before reimbursement and requires the VA to assess potential negligence in benefit oversight.

The Protect America's Workforce Act nullifies a specific Executive Order issued in March 2025 concerning exclusions from federal labor-management relations programs. This legislation ensures that any existing collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions remain fully in effect until their stated expiration dates. The Act also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the overturned Executive Order.

The Empowering App-Based Workers Act aims to increase transparency and accountability for digital labor platforms that use electronic monitoring and automated systems to manage workers. This bill mandates detailed disclosures regarding data collection, algorithmic decision-making for pay and assignments, and itemized receipts after each job. Furthermore, it establishes strong enforcement mechanisms, including a 25% cap on "take rates" for ride-hail services and prohibits certain pre-dispute arbitration agreements.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act strictly prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools, establishing national safety standards and requiring immediate parental notification after any restraint incident. It mandates that states create detailed plans, publicly report incident data broken down by student demographics, and utilize federal grants to fund training and prevention strategies. The bill creates a private right of action for families harmed by violations and ensures oversight across various federal school systems.

This bill establishes new federal requirements for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) contracting with Medicare Part D and Medicaid plans, effective in 2027. It mandates specific payment standards for pharmacies, requires PBMs to pass manufacturer rebates directly to patients and plan sponsors, and strictly prohibits steering patients toward specific pharmacies. Additionally, the legislation enhances transparency by expanding drug price reporting requirements for all types of pharmacies within the Medicaid program.

The Endometriosis CARE Act aims to improve the understanding and management of endometriosis through increased research funding and data collection at the NIH. The bill also mandates studies to identify barriers to treatment access and requires the development of public education campaigns and provider information resources. Furthermore, it calls for a comprehensive study on disparities in endometriosis prevalence, detection, and treatment outcomes.

The PFAS Accountability Act of 2025 establishes a federal legal right for individuals significantly exposed to PFAS to sue responsible parties. This Act creates a cause of action for harm caused by exposure and shifts the cost of necessary medical monitoring to the manufacturers. Furthermore, it encourages industry-funded research into the safety of these persistent chemicals.

This bill, the Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act, establishes new rules for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employees. It mandates specific reimbursement rates for pharmacies and prohibits PBMs from engaging in anti-competitive practices like steering patients to affiliated pharmacies. The legislation also institutes civil monetary penalties and potential debarment for PBMs that fail to comply with these new requirements.

The Ban on Self-Interested Contracting Act (BASIC Act) establishes a new criminal prohibition preventing special Government employees from knowingly receiving large federal awards from their own agencies or related parties. The Act also mandates increased transparency by requiring the publication of certain position data and financial disclosure reports for these employees. Finally, it creates a public, searchable database detailing covered special Government employees.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act raises the federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Effective July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans will increase to \$50,000, and the aggregate limit will rise to \$200,000. This aims to provide greater financial support for advanced degree candidates.

The Labor Enforcement to Securely Protect Workers (LETS Protect Workers) Act significantly increases civil penalties for violations across major federal labor laws, including child labor, wage and hour, and workplace safety standards. It strengthens enforcement mechanisms for mine safety violations and retaliation against miners, while also establishing new penalties for employer unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, the bill enhances enforcement for health plan parity and makes certain recordkeeping failures under OSHA and FLSA continuing violations.

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act aims to prohibit the use of no-knock warrants by federal law enforcement officers, requiring them to announce their presence before entry. Furthermore, it conditions federal funding for state and local law enforcement agencies on their compliance with the same no-knock warrant prohibition. This legislation seeks to increase accountability and safety during warrant executions.

This concurrent resolution commends state and local governments for championing reproductive rights as human rights following the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. It declares that denying abortion care leads to severe health risks and highlights the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes across the U.S. The resolution urges states to repeal abortion restrictions and affirm that reproductive rights are fundamental human rights.

The ROBINHOOD Act establishes a new 20 percent excise tax on certain secured business loans and lines of credit exceeding $400,000 in adjusted gross income. This tax applies when the loan is secured by capital assets, excluding residential mortgages and farmland loans. The borrower is responsible for paying this annual tax to the Treasury.

The Right to Read Act of 2025 amends federal education law to establish a comprehensive "right to read" for all students, ensuring access to evidence-based instruction, effective school libraries, and diverse reading materials. The bill defines key terms like "effective school library" and mandates that states and local agencies detail plans to support these resources and protect students' First Amendment rights regarding information access. Furthermore, it authorizes significant new funding to improve literacy programs, support school librarians, and mandates national data collection on school library resources.