Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating February 2026 as Hawaiian Language Month, or *ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi* Month. It recognizes the historical suppression and recent revitalization of the Native Hawaiian language. The bill commits to preserving and promoting *ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi* and urges public celebration of the month.

The Rare Earth Magnet Market Revitalization Act establishes financial incentives to boost domestic production of rare earth magnets and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. The bill also prohibits the importation of rare earth magnets and related components from designated "covered nations." Furthermore, it authorizes financial assistance for non-covered nation production and restricts the export of electronic waste containing these critical materials.

This bill amends existing law to rename and strengthen the Institutes of Tropical and Pacific Islands Forestry. It mandates minimum staffing levels—50 personnel for the Puerto Rico institute and 30 for the Pacific Islands institute—and ensures both have adequate resources. The goal is to substantially advance the science, research, and knowledge exchange activities conducted by these vital forestry centers.

This bill amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to grant certain eligible states the option to receive their allocated federal funds as cash instead of commodities. States choosing this option can then directly purchase food commodities from the private commercial marketplace. This provides flexibility in how states procure food assistance resources.

This act establishes the **Atomic Civilians Recognition and Compensation Act** to honor and provide financial support to certain civilian workers involved in U.S. atomic and nuclear weapons programs. It creates the **Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal** for eligible individuals who participated in atomic testing, cleanup, or WWII radiation exposure. Furthermore, it establishes a **$75,000 compensation program** for eligible cleanup workers who subsequently develop specific listed cancers.

The Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act establishes a grant program to fund the complete destruction of firearms by state, local, and Tribal governments. Eligible entities can apply for competitive grants to cover costs associated with destruction equipment, services, and training. Grantees must certify that all firearms and components are fully destroyed and maintain detailed records of the process.

The CARE for First Responders Act expands crisis counseling assistance to include emergency responders and public safety telecommunicators following major disasters. The bill establishes a comprehensive mental health program providing 24/7 confidential support, including a dedicated hotline and peer counseling. Additionally, it creates a grant program to fund mobile crisis units offering on-site mental health services to first responders during disaster response.

The Feeding Rural Families Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to clarify the definition of "State" within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This change specifically ensures that both the urban and rural parts of Hawaii are explicitly included under the SNAP definition.

This bill, the Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act, updates and increases the authorized funding for education grants to Alaska Native-serving and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. It specifically sets a maximum grant period of three years for these educational awards. The legislation authorizes $10 million for FY 2026, increasing to $15 million annually from FY 2027 through 2031.

This act mandates the Department of Defense to establish a policy requiring immediate notification to parents and Congress upon the discovery of suspected child abuse or neglect within military childcare and youth programs. Covered programs must notify parents within 24 hours and relevant congressional committees and representatives within 72 hours of an allegation. This ensures transparency and timely communication regarding the safety of military dependents in care settings.

The Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act amends existing legislation to strengthen support for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and culture. This bill specifically revises grant requirements for Native Hawaiian art and culture, ensuring that governing boards are composed of recognized Native Hawaiian cultural experts serving fixed terms. These changes aim to enhance the integrity and representation within the administration of cultural development funds.

This Act, the Indo-Pacific Partner and Ally Tariff Repeal Act, terminates tariffs imposed on goods from 40 specific Indo-Pacific allies and partners. Congress finds that these tariffs undermine collective efforts against the Chinese Communist Party's coercive actions. The bill immediately repeals the tariffs established under Executive Orders 14257 and 14326.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating September 2025 as "Hawaiian History Month." The designation aims to recognize the rich history, culture, and significant contributions of Native Hawaiians to the nation. Furthermore, it reaffirms the Federal government's trust responsibility to support the well-being and cultural vitality of the Native Hawaiian community.

This resolution officially recognizes the significant economic and cultural importance of coffee to the United States, highlighting its role in supporting millions of jobs and contributing billions to the economy. It expresses strong support for designating September 29, 2025, as "National Coffee Day." The measure also acknowledges the complex global supply chain and domestic growers essential for meeting American demand.

The Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act establishes a dedicated federal initiative to protect vital tropical crops like coffee, bananas, and mangoes from devastating pests and diseases. This law authorizes new research and extension grants focused on developing science-based solutions for these specific agricultural threats. Furthermore, it extends the program's funding authorization through the year 2030.

The RTCP Revitalization Act aims to significantly increase and guarantee funding for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through the Commodity Credit Corporation. This legislation removes previous administrative hurdles and eliminates annual payment caps for individual producers when program demand is high. The bill establishes mandatory, increasing funding levels for this support program through fiscal year 2031 and beyond.

The Rural Behavioral Health Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance behavioral healthcare access in rural areas by modifying Medicare coverage rules. This bill specifically removes the existing exclusion that prevents Medicare payment for services provided in facilities primarily focused on treating mental diseases. This significant change is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

This bill, the Promoting American Competition in Aquaculture Research Act, reauthorizes critical federal aquaculture assistance programs with dedicated funding set through Fiscal Year 2030. It also updates the administrative rules for these awards by clarifying how indirect (overhead) costs are calculated. The legislation ensures continued support for American aquaculture research and competitiveness.

The Keep Seniors Fed Act makes technical amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 regarding how income is calculated for food assistance eligibility. Specifically, it mandates that income received under Title II of the Social Security Act must now be counted when determining eligibility for benefits. These changes will take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.

The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to strengthen the Social Security system through two main avenues. Title I mandates the creation of a new Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to be used for calculating future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Title II modifies contribution rules by counting a small portion of wages and self-employment income earned above the current base limit after 2025, and it adjusts the benefit formula to potentially increase benefits based on these surplus earnings. These changes are designed to ensure COLAs more accurately reflect senior spending and to increase revenue for the system.