Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses strong support for honoring Earth Day and recognizes its historical importance in launching the modern environmental movement. It highlights ongoing challenges like climate change while celebrating recent landmark investments in clean energy and infrastructure. Ultimately, the bill urges the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and encourages all Americans to take sustained action to protect the environment for future generations.

The All-Americans Tax Relief Act of 2025 introduces sweeping changes to the federal tax code, primarily focused on providing financial relief to families and individuals. Key provisions include expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and making the Child Tax Credit fully refundable. The Act also creates several new above-the-line deductions for expenses like daycare, tutoring, and credit card interest, while expanding the medical expense deduction to non-itemizers. These significant tax adjustments are generally scheduled to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

The Maritime Fuel Tax Parity Act extends the existing excise tax exemption for alternative motorboat fuels to include certain vessels operating exclusively between ports on either the Atlantic or Pacific coast. This change ensures that qualifying vessels, such as specific fishing or maritime activity vessels, benefit from the fuel tax break when trading only along a single U.S. coast. The provision applies to fuel sales occurring after December 31, 2023.

The Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act allows homeowners with Federally backed loans in a declared disaster area to request a mandatory 180-day forbearance on their mortgage payments. Borrowers must provide proof of property damage to their loan servicer to access this relief, which prohibits extra fees or penalties during the pause. This protection is available for both single-family and multifamily properties secured by loans purchased or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital and dangerous work performed by power linemen who maintain our electrical infrastructure and ensure public safety. It highlights their crucial role as first responders, often working in hazardous conditions after disasters. Furthermore, the resolution supports the designation of April 18, 2025, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day" to formally honor their service.

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all new oil and gas exploration, development, and production on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This legislation specifically bans the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any new leases or permissions for drilling activities in designated planning areas. The goal is to secure long-term protection for these vital West Coast marine environments.

This resolution expresses strong support for library staff and the essential, expanded community services libraries provide, from social support to digital access. It calls for funding commensurate with these vital roles and defends the right of all citizens to freely access information. Furthermore, the bill supports the civil rights and union voice of library workers against threats and censorship.

The Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act significantly increases the maximum loan amounts available to eligible small businesses under specific Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, raising the limit from $\$5.5$ million to $\$10$ million. This legislation also mandates that the SBA report annually to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas benefiting from these enhanced loan categories. The goal is to provide greater financial resources for small businesses through SBA lending.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to significantly reform Medicare access to supplemental oxygen by removing it from the competitive bidding program and establishing new payment rates. The bill also mandates clearer documentation requirements for medical necessity using electronic templates and restores clinical judgment in claim audits. Finally, it establishes specific rights for oxygen beneficiaries and improves reimbursement for respiratory therapists.

The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025 establishes an Advisory Council, led by HHS, to assess the needs of gun violence victims and service providers. This Council will survey stakeholders, review existing support programs, and identify best practices for medical, financial, and mental health assistance. Its primary function is to compile and widely distribute a comprehensive list of available federal, state, and nonprofit resources to ensure victims can easily access necessary aid.

The Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act) permanently prohibits new oil and gas leasing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. This legislation ensures these specific ocean regions are protected from future exploration and development.

The End Driving While Intoxicated Act of 2025 aims to combat rising drunk driving fatalities by establishing a national standard for ignition interlock devices (IIDs). This bill mandates that states require DWI offenders to use IIDs for a minimum of 180 days or face penalties involving the withholding of federal highway funds. The legislation seeks to leverage the proven effectiveness of IIDs in reducing repeat offenses across the country.

The Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025 seeks to amend federal gun laws by banning devices and modifications that significantly increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic firearms, effectively treating them like machineguns. The bill specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of such accessories and modified firearms after 120 days of enactment. Existing owners of previously modified firearms must register them under the National Firearms Act within that same timeframe to legally keep them.

The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act establishes a dedicated Title X Clinic Fund managed by HHS to ensure stable, increased national funding for family planning services. This legislation allocates \$512 million annually for ten years toward services and an additional \$50 million yearly for facility improvements. Furthermore, the bill mandates that any clinic receiving this funding must provide neutral, non-directive counseling on all pregnancy options—prenatal care, infant care/adoption, and termination—if the patient requests information.

The American Family Act fundamentally overhauls the Child Tax Credit by replacing the annual lump sum with a system of advance, refundable monthly payments delivered directly to families. These monthly allowances vary based on the child's age, with higher amounts provided for younger children. The bill also establishes a separate, smaller credit for other dependents and outlines procedures for annual renewal and reconciliation of advance payments when filing taxes.

The Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act overhauls existing workforce and adult education laws to better connect Americans with modern job opportunities. It achieves this by integrating digital literacy training, establishing new "College and Career Navigators" for personalized guidance, and authorizing increased federal funding for these services. The bill also modernizes adult education goals to emphasize full civic participation and requires greater transparency in state workforce planning.

This resolution urges the United States to immediately prioritize global nuclear disarmament and lead the world back from the brink of nuclear war. It calls on the President to negotiate verifiable arms reduction treaties with all nuclear states to halt the arms race and prevent catastrophic conflict. Key actions include renouncing "first use," ending hair-trigger alert postures, and ceasing the development of new nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the bill demands comprehensive support, cleanup, and economic transition planning for communities and workers affected by past and present nuclear activities.

The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act grants states the authority to allow qualified conservation organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program. This allows states to partner with accredited, conservation-focused groups to enhance forest protection efforts. The bill establishes clear criteria for these organizations and outlines conditions under which easement rights would revert to the state if management responsibilities are not met.

The Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate current research on menopause and mid-life health issues specific to servicewomen and veterans. This evaluation must identify knowledge gaps, including the impact of military exposures on these conditions. Following the review, both departments must submit reports and strategic plans to Congress outlining recommendations for improving provider training and future research priorities.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 establishes a phased increase of the federal minimum wage, culminating in a \$17.00 per hour rate five years after enactment, followed by automatic annual adjustments tied to median wage growth. This bill also phases out the lower minimum wage for tipped employees and workers under 20, ensuring they eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, it sets a schedule to eliminate subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and prohibits the issuance of new special certificates allowing for lower pay.