Legislative Activity

This bill recognizes May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the significant contributions of these communities to the history and diversity of the United States. It acknowledges key milestones and the ongoing importance of these groups in various sectors, while also addressing historical discrimination and recent legislative efforts to combat hate crimes.

This bill designates May 5-9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week," recognizing the contributions of public school teachers and their support for various educational initiatives. It acknowledges teachers' dedication to improving education through innovative methods and emphasizes the importance of their involvement in shaping education policies. The bill encourages leaders to engage with teachers, ensuring their insights are included in classroom policies.

The Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas such as public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury selection. It clarifies and expands the definition of sex to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The act ensures equal access to shared facilities and prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to justify discrimination. Ultimately, the Equality Act seeks to provide consistent and comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals and women across various sectors.

The "RESEARCHER Act" aims to improve the financial stability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers by directing federal research agencies to develop and implement policies that address issues such as low stipends, healthcare access, housing affordability, food insecurity, and family care costs. It mandates the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to create policy guidelines, requires federal agencies to align with these guidelines, and orders data collection and studies to assess and address financial instability among these researchers. Additionally, the Act requires regular reporting to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these measures.

The "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the presentation of three Congressional Gold Medals to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team for their historic "Miracle on Ice" victory. These medals will be given to the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum for public display. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates to fund the medal production.

The Victims of Agent Orange Act of 2025 aims to address the ongoing health and environmental damage caused by the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. It directs the United States Agency for International Development to provide assistance for healthcare, caregiver support, housing, poverty reduction, and environmental remediation in Vietnam for those affected by Agent Orange. The Act also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to assess the health of Vietnamese Americans and establish centers to provide care and treatment for conditions related to Agent Orange exposure. Finally, the Act requires both agencies to submit quarterly reports to Congress on the implementation of the Act.

The Agent Orange Relief Act of 2025 aims to address the ongoing health consequences of Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War by expanding benefits to children of male veterans with certain birth defects, supporting public research into the health issues of those affected, and providing health assessment and assistance to Vietnamese Americans. This act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a plan to implement the provisions of this Act within 180 days of enactment, and implementation must be completed within 18 months of the Act's enactment. Additionally, the Act mandates quarterly reports to Congress on the progress of its implementation. The Act defines "Agent Orange" as any chemical compound that was part of an herbicide used in support of U.S. and allied military operations in Vietnam.

This bill amends the Social Security Act to limit the amount withheld from monthly benefits to recover overpayments. For overpayments not caused by fraud, the Social Security Administration cannot reduce benefits by more than 10% of the monthly payment. Individuals can request a higher withholding amount if desired. This change applies to existing and future overpayments under Title II of the Social Security Act.

This bill expresses support for designating April as National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). It recognizes the significant contributions of Arab Americans to the culture, economy, and identity of the United States. The bill encourages public celebration of Arab American heritage through appropriate programs and activities.

The "STRONG Support for Children Act of 2025" aims to address and mitigate childhood trauma through two grant programs. The first program supports data analysis and strategy implementation to prevent childhood trauma and improve community support, while the second establishes care coordination grants for trauma-informed services for children aged 0-5 at risk of adverse childhood experiences and their caregivers. Both programs prioritize community-based approaches, data-driven strategies, and trauma-informed practices, with specific guidelines and limitations to ensure effective and ethical implementation. The Act authorizes appropriations for these grant programs and requires evaluations and reports to Congress on their impact.

The Housing for All Act of 2025 aims to combat homelessness and address the housing shortage through increased funding for affordable housing programs, rental assistance, and supportive services. The bill authorizes billions in funding for programs like the Housing Trust Fund, Section 202 (elderly), Section 811 (disabled), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program. It also invests in community-driven solutions like safe parking programs, eviction protection, and mobile crisis intervention teams. Additionally, the act establishes a commission to address racial equity in housing and mandates studies on eviction data to inform future policy.

The "Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act" allows homeowners with federally backed mortgages who have property damage from a declared disaster to request a forbearance on their mortgage for up to 180 days, with a possible extension of another 180 days. During this forbearance period, no fees, penalties, or interest will accrue. Borrowers must submit a written request and documentation of damage to their loan servicer to qualify. This act aims to provide financial relief to disaster survivors by temporarily suspending mortgage payments.

This bill supports the designation of April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about the maternal health crisis affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It recognizes the unacceptable disparities in maternal mortality rates, where Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. The bill urges Congress to address systemic racism and promote equitable access to resources, healthcare, and comprehensive maternal health programs for the Black community, while also supporting policies like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. It aims to amplify Black voices, invest in community-led solutions, and increase funding for Black-led organizations and perinatal professionals.

The Department of Homeland Security Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Act codifies the role of the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring they report directly to the Secretary. It also mandates that the Secretary provide adequate staff and resources to support the Officer's work.

The Great Lakes and National Weather Service Funding Protection Act ensures that funds allocated to the National Weather Service and Great Lakes restoration efforts within NOAA cannot be deferred, transferred, or reprogrammed without explicit authorization from a new law. This act requires the NOAA Administrator to certify compliance with these protections annually to specific congressional committees, ensuring transparency and adherence to the funding allocations.

The "Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act" aims to improve mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups by increasing funding for research, training, and outreach programs. It directs the National Institutes of Health to study mental health disparities, promotes culturally competent healthcare practices, and requires the development of a national outreach strategy to raise awareness and improve access to mental health services within these communities. The Act authorizes increased funding for various programs and research initiatives to address mental health disparities.

This bill nullifies an IRS rule concerning gross proceeds reporting by brokers involved in digital asset sales. By disapproving the rule, the bill prevents the IRS from implementing new reporting requirements for digital asset transactions. This action aims to block increased scrutiny and reporting obligations on brokers facilitating digital asset sales.

The WISE Act aims to strengthen protections and expand immigration benefits for non-citizen survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes. It reforms the U visa program, broadens protections for battered spouses and children, limits the detention and removal of survivors, and enhances access to information and services. The bill also addresses issues related to waivers, step-children, visa caps, and naturalization requirements for survivors of abuse. Overall, the Act seeks to remove obstacles and provide timely access to immigration relief for vulnerable immigrants.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act restricts the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, while providing exceptions for governmental use, certain pre-existing firearms, and transfers to immediate family members. The bill also allows Byrne grants to be used for buy-back programs for these firearms and devices, and establishes penalties for violations, as well as a process for determining which firearms are prohibited, including manufacturer applications and judicial review. Finally, the bill establishes a "Firearm Safety Trust Fund" in the Treasury, using taxes collected by the ATF to fund the requirements of this act.

The "Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025" expands the Earned Income Credit (EIC) by lowering the minimum age, eliminating the maximum age, and increasing the credit amount for individuals without qualifying children. It also makes permanent certain EIC rules for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and possessions with mirror code tax systems and allows taxpayers to elect to use prior year earned income for EIC calculation if it results in a larger credit. These changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.