Legislative Activity

This resolution designates February as Black History Month, celebrating the heritage and achievements of Black Americans. It recognizes the foundational role of Black labor in the United States, from slavery to modern times, and acknowledges the economic disparities that persist. The resolution also honors key figures and movements that have advanced Black Americans' rights and economic opportunities. It encourages the continued observance of Black History Month to promote awareness of Black Americans' contributions.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to reduce bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states to establish policies prohibiting such conduct based on various characteristics, including race, sex, religion, and disability. It mandates annual notifications, data collection on incidents, biennial evaluations of programs, and regular reports to Congress to ensure accountability and effectiveness. This act does not infringe on existing nondiscrimination laws or freedom of speech but seeks to create a safer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.

The "Second Chances for Rural Hospitals Act" broadens the definition of "rural emergency hospital" under Medicare, enabling certain previously closed rural hospitals to re-qualify. Effective January 1, 2027, it allows facilities that ceased operations between 2014 and 2020 to become rural emergency hospitals. It also modifies payment rules, specifying that increased payments will not apply to facilities located less than 35 miles from the nearest hospital.

The TOTAL Care Act initiates a five-year pilot program within the TRICARE Prime program, allowing female beneficiaries to access obstetrical and gynecological care without needing a referral, including the option to select a TRICARE OBGYN provider as an additional primary care manager. Within four years, the Secretary of Defense must report to Congress on the program's impact on TRICARE Prime enrollment and costs.

The SAFE Act of 2025 amends existing legislation to explicitly prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, reinforcing protections for these animals. This bill seeks to prevent the inhumane treatment of American equines by closing loopholes that allow their slaughter and export for human consumption.

The Social Security Expansion Act aims to increase Social Security benefits, change cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect elderly consumers, and extend eligibility to student children. It also adjusts payroll and self-employment taxes for earnings above $250,000, increases taxes on investment gains, and establishes a new Social Security Trust Fund. These changes are intended to provide greater financial security for beneficiaries and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security system.

The PAST Act of 2025 amends the Horse Protection Act to strengthen enforcement against horse soring, a cruel practice used to create an exaggerated gait. It bans action devices and weighted shoes, increases penalties for violations, and mandates the licensing and oversight of qualified inspectors, prioritizing veterinarians, to ensure fair competition and protect horses. The Act also requires the USDA to publish violation information and sets clear disqualification periods for horses found to be sore, aiming to eliminate soring in specific horse breeds.

This bill redesignates the Robert E. Lee Memorial as the "Arlington House National Historic Site." It changes all references to the site in law and documentation to reflect the new name. The bill also repeals the previous resolutions that designated the site as a memorial to Robert E. Lee.

The Pell Grant Sustainability Act aims to increase the buying power of Pell Grants for lower-income students. It indexes the maximum Pell Grant award to inflation, starting with a \$1,060 increase for the 2024-2025 award year, and adjusts it annually based on the Consumer Price Index. This adjustment is added to the maximum Pell Grant specified in the latest appropriation act, ensuring Pell Grants keep pace with rising education costs. The bill also extends provisions of the Higher Education Act related to Pell Grants indefinitely.

The APLUS Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to update regulations, permitting market agencies to have financial interests in smaller meatpacking companies, defined by specific slaughter capacities. These market agencies must disclose these financial ties to livestock sellers. The Act does not reduce the Secretary's authority to enforce rules protecting producers, competition, and market integrity under existing law.

The "Keep Americans Safe Act" aims to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices by making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess magazines holding more than 15 rounds, with exceptions for law enforcement, government entities, and devices lawfully possessed before the law's enactment. It also permits the use of Byrne grants for buy-back programs of these devices and mandates that newly manufactured devices be marked with identifying information. Violators of this Act will face penalties under existing provisions of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

The Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025 bans cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. and restricts the use of animal testing data for cosmetic safety, with certain exceptions. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to impose civil penalties for non-compliance and preempts states from enacting conflicting regulations. The Act defines key terms related to cosmetic animal testing and cosmetics.

The "Public Health Funding Restoration Act" aims to fully fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund at $2,000,000,000 annually beginning in 2026. This will restore investments in crucial public health programs focused on preventing diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. By ensuring consistent funding, the act seeks to improve healthcare, quality of life, and preparedness for future health crises.

The RESTORE Act establishes the "National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program" to recognize, research, preserve, and honor Freedom Settlements (communities founded by formerly enslaved African Americans after emancipation). It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to property owners, tribal, state, or local governments, and community organizations for preservation, research, and educational activities related to these settlements. The Act also requires a study to identify key sites and establishes a registry of Freedom Settlements. Finally, it authorizes appropriations of \$3,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out the grant program.

The "GUARD VA Benefits Act" reinstates penalties for individuals who charge veterans unauthorized fees for assistance with their VA benefits claims. This bill amends title 38 of the United States Code to ensure that those who exploit veterans by charging unlawful fees face appropriate fines. The aim is to protect veterans from financial exploitation related to their benefits claims.

The Supporting Innovation in Agriculture Act of 2025 introduces a tax credit for investments in innovative agricultural technology, aiming to boost the production, storage, and processing of specialty crops through precision and controlled environment agriculture. This credit covers 30% of qualified investments in projects using technologies like precision agriculture and controlled environment agriculture, effective for construction starting after January 1, 2025, and includes options for direct payment or transfer of the credit.

The "Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act" ensures that members of the Armed Forces and their dependents can access leave and reimbursement for travel expenses related to abortion services and assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization, when these services are not available nearby. It protects the privacy of service members seeking such care and prohibits any adverse actions against them for utilizing these provisions. The bill aims to address barriers to reproductive healthcare created by state abortion restrictions and logistical challenges faced by military personnel.

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 provides a pathway to permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the United States as children and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Title I, the Dream Act of 2025, establishes conditional permanent residency for eligible individuals who entered the U.S. as children. Title II, the American Promise Act of 2025, allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to grant permanent resident status to eligible individuals from TPS or DED countries. Title III outlines general provisions, such as background checks, application processes, and fee exemptions, applicable to all seeking to adjust their status under this Act.

The TREATS Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow telehealth evaluations for prescribing certain controlled substances used in substance use disorder treatment. This removes the prior requirement for an in-person evaluation, enabling remote medical assessments via real-time audio-visual or audio-only communication, in accordance with federal and state laws. The goal of this bill is to increase access to treatment for substance use disorders.

The RAISE Act of 2025 introduces a refundable tax credit for eligible teachers, offering $1,000 plus additional amounts for teachers in qualifying schools with high student poverty levels. It also increases the tax deduction for educators' expenses to $500 and expands eligibility to include early childhood educators. Additionally, the Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide mandatory funding to support local educational agencies that maintain or increase teacher salaries, with a portion reserved for teacher salary incentive grants. These grants can be used for various programs aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and improving educator skills.