Legislative Activity

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025 permanently bans new oil and gas leasing in federal waters off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. This act prevents the Department of Interior from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in the specified planning areas. This prohibition aims to protect the marine environment and coastal economies of the West Coast from the risks associated with offshore drilling. The Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

The "Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025" establishes an advisory council led by the Department of Health and Human Services to assess the needs of gun violence victims and victim assistance professionals, identify effective support practices, and improve access to resources. The council will gather public input, share findings with Congress, state agencies, and the public, and provide recommendations for legislative action. The goal is to improve support for victims of gun violence by identifying and disseminating information about available resources and best practices. The council will terminate 5 years after the enactment of this Act.

This resolution expresses support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide, recognizing their role in connecting communities with information, resources, and social services. It emphasizes the need for adequate funding to support libraries and protect the rights of library workers. The resolution also reaffirms the public's right to access information and the importance of libraries as vital infrastructure for the future.

The SOAR Act of 2025 aims to improve access to supplemental oxygen therapy for Medicare beneficiaries by removing oxygen equipment from competitive bidding programs, establishing fair payment rates, and ensuring access to respiratory therapists. It mandates specific service standards for oxygen suppliers, requires electronic templates for documenting medical necessity to prevent fraud, and restores clinical inference in claim reviews. The act also establishes a series of beneficiary rights, including the right to choose suppliers, receive clear communication, and have faulty equipment repaired or replaced promptly. Finally, the Act requires annual and monthly notices to beneficiaries regarding their benefits and cost-sharing responsibilities.

The "Small Business Energy Loan Enhancement Act" increases the maximum loan amounts for certain energy-related projects from $5.5 million to $10 million. It requires the Small Business Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the industries and geographic areas receiving these loans. This act aims to provide greater financial support for small businesses investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The "Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act" amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, enabling the Secretary to authorize states to approve qualified organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements for the Forest Legacy Program. It sets specific criteria for qualified organizations, ensuring they can effectively manage and enforce forestland interests. The bill also outlines conditions for the termination and reversion of conservation easement rights and defines "qualified organization" with specific requirements, including accreditation and adherence to conservation purposes.

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 "Expanding Access to Family Planning Act" aims to increase investment in Title X family planning clinics by establishing a dedicated fund within the Department of Health and Human Services. It allocates significant annual funding from 2026-2035 for grants, contracts, and infrastructure improvements for these clinics. The bill ensures that subawards are based on service capabilities and mandates nondirective pregnancy counseling, requiring clinics to offer comprehensive information on all options, including prenatal care, adoption, and abortion.

This bill urges the U.S. to prioritize a world free of nuclear weapons and lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war. It calls for negotiations with other nuclear-armed countries to halt the buildup of nuclear arsenals, reduce/eliminate them, and pursue verifiable arms control agreements. The bill also advocates for policies such as renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons, ending the "hair-trigger" alert posture, and maintaining the global moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to protect communities and workers affected by nuclear weapons through remediation, health monitoring, and economic transition planning.

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 "People Over Parking Act of 2025" allows property owners of new or significantly renovated buildings within 0.5 miles of public transit to decide how many parking spots to include, regardless of state or local laws. This applies to residential, retail, commercial, or industrial buildings that affect interstate or foreign commerce. The bill defines qualifying public transit access points based on fixed guideways, passenger ferry systems, and bus systems.

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 End Kidney Deaths Act introduces a $10,000 per year tax credit for five years, up to $50,000, for individuals who make a qualified non-directed living kidney donation, where the donor does not know the recipient. This credit aims to incentivize kidney donations and will not be considered valuable consideration in violation of organ purchase prohibitions. The Act applies to donations made after December 31, 2026, and before January 1, 2037.

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.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' view that paraprofessionals and education support staff are critical to schools and deserve fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions that allow them to thrive professionally and personally. It advocates for livable wages, affordable healthcare, paid leave, professional development, safe working environments, and a voice in school policies for these essential employees. The resolution also encourages employers to engage in good faith negotiations and refrain from actions that undermine workers' rights during labor disputes. This resolution does not override any existing collective bargaining agreements that provide more favorable terms for paraprofessionals and education support staff.

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 American Innovation Act allocates significant funding to key federal agencies to boost innovation. It increases funding for the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and NASA's Science Mission Directorate, with yearly budget increases based on the Consumer Price Index. These funds are protected from budget sequestration and will not affect PAYGO scorecards.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act aims to strengthen regulations and oversight of licensed firearm dealers to reduce illegal firearm trafficking and enhance public safety. It mandates enhanced security measures, regular inventory checks, and electronic record-keeping for dealers, while also increasing inspection frequency and penalties for violations. The act also broadens background check requirements for both dealers and their employees and seeks to modernize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) operations through increased staffing and data accessibility. Finally, the act repeals limitations on sharing firearm trace data and centralizing records, and it requires reports to Congress on the act's implementation and dealer inspections.

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 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.