Legislative Activity

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act aims to prohibit the use of no-knock warrants by federal law enforcement officers, requiring them to announce their presence before entry. Furthermore, it conditions federal funding for state and local law enforcement agencies on their compliance with the same no-knock warrant prohibition. This legislation seeks to increase accountability and safety during warrant executions.

This bill establishes a national requirement for all U.S. Senate and House elections to use a ranked choice voting system, replacing traditional runoff elections. It mandates specific ballot designs, sets out a multi-round vote tabulation process, and prohibits separate runoff elections for federal offices. The legislation also provides federal funding to states to help implement these changes, which take effect for elections held on or after January 1, 2030.

This bill exempts specific, carefully defined less-than-lethal projectile devices and their ammunition from the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. It also removes these qualifying devices from regulation under the National Firearms Act. The legislation establishes clear criteria, including velocity limits and design restrictions, to ensure the exemption applies only to tools intended for de-escalation rather than lethal force. Manufacturers can request official classification for their products to confirm eligibility for these tax and regulatory benefits.

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 Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by reducing massive visa backlogs and prioritizing family reunification across various categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying certain family members as "immediate relatives," and creating new pathways for permanent partners and refugees to join their loved ones. Ultimately, the bill aims to keep families together, speed up legal immigration processes, and address past discrimination in the visa system.

The AI Talent Act establishes specialized hiring teams within federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to recruit top technology and AI talent. This legislation allows for the development and use of position-specific technical assessments to better evaluate candidates for competitive service positions. Ultimately, the goal is to streamline and improve the federal government's ability to hire essential technical expertise.

The Next Generation 911 Act establishes a new federal grant program to support states and Tribes in deploying modern, multimedia-capable Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems nationwide. This legislation tasks the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with coordinating implementation, providing technical assistance, and overseeing the distribution of funds. Grantees must submit detailed implementation plans focusing on interoperability, reliability, and cybersecurity to receive funding. The Act also mandates the creation of a dedicated Cybersecurity Center and an advisory board composed of public safety professionals.

The First Home Savings Opportunity Act of 2025 establishes a new tax-advantaged savings account to help individuals save for a first home down payment. Contributions to this "down payment savings account" are tax-deductible up to $10,000 annually, subject to income limitations. Withdrawals for qualified first-time homebuyer expenses, such as down payments or closing costs, are tax-free. Non-qualified withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax plus an additional 20% penalty.

This bill, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to convene a technical conference on strategies to shield residential and small commercial utility customers from rising energy costs driven by large loads like AI data centers. Following the conference, FERC must submit a report to Congress detailing recommendations and best practices. The goal is to ensure utility costs remain manageable for everyday families and small businesses.

The HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance provided by non-profit organizations and drug manufacturers must count toward a patient's deductible, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription drugs. This change ensures that patient assistance dollars directly reduce the amount a patient must pay before their coverage fully kicks in. The legislation specifically applies to specialty drugs and those subject to utilization management. These provisions will take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for Design for Recycling (DFR) initiatives. DFR encourages manufacturers to design products using maximum recyclable components to limit waste and reduce environmental impact. The bill highlights the significant economic and environmental benefits of increasing recycling and supporting the domestic recycled materials industry.

The Right to Read Act of 2025 amends federal education law to establish a comprehensive "right to read" for all students, ensuring access to evidence-based instruction, effective school libraries, and diverse reading materials. The bill defines key terms like "effective school library" and mandates that states and local agencies detail plans to support these resources and protect students' First Amendment rights regarding information access. Furthermore, it authorizes significant new funding to improve literacy programs, support school librarians, and mandates national data collection on school library resources.

The Parental Workforce Training Act establishes a $10 million childcare grant program to support parents participating in job training. Local workforce development boards will receive competitive grants to help eligible individuals cover childcare costs while they engage in employment and training activities. This initiative aims to remove childcare barriers for parents seeking to enhance their job skills.

This act amends the Natural Gas Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to apply new environmental and environmental justice standards when approving natural gas pipeline projects. FERC must now quantify greenhouse gas emissions and specifically evaluate impacts on environmental justice communities before determining if a project serves the "public convenience and necessity." The bill mandates that FERC weigh significant environmental effects against project benefits and require mitigation for adverse impacts.

The Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to increase housing accessibility through several tax incentives while simultaneously rescinding significant funding previously allocated for immigration enforcement. Key provisions establish new tax credits for first-time homebuyers, builders of starter homes, and the conversion of commercial buildings into affordable rentals. Additionally, the bill introduces a Renter Tax Credit for those spending over 30% of their income on rent, with an option for monthly advance payments.

The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025 significantly amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to broaden the definition of homelessness, particularly for children and youth. It mandates increased public reporting of homelessness data through required HMIS disclosures by HUD. Furthermore, the bill modifies grant scoring criteria and planning requirements to better ensure services reach vulnerable populations and align with local needs.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act aims to overhaul immigration detention by establishing mandatory, high standards based on ABA guidelines and increasing transparency through rigorous, unannounced inspections. The bill prohibits the use of private, for-profit detention facilities within three years and ends the mandatory detention of most noncitizens, prioritizing release or community-based alternatives. Furthermore, it establishes new due process rights, including timely custody hearings, a presumption of release, and prohibitions on detaining children or using solitary confinement.

This resolution commemorates World AIDS Day and recognizes significant progress made in combating HIV/AIDS globally and domestically through programs like PEPFAR and the Ryan White Act. It highlights ongoing challenges, particularly disparities in impact, while encouraging continued robust funding for research, prevention, and treatment efforts worldwide. The resolution supports the goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 through zero new transmissions and zero discrimination.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act focuses primarily on improving pediatric drug development and ensuring patient access to necessary treatments. This legislation mandates new research requirements for molecularly targeted pediatric cancer drugs, strengthens FDA enforcement of pediatric study completion, and extends incentives for developing drugs for rare pediatric diseases. Additionally, the bill updates organ transplant network functions and establishes an Abraham Accords Office within the FDA to enhance international regulatory cooperation.

This resolution congratulates Korson's Tree Farms of Montcalm County for being selected to provide the official 2025 White House Christmas Tree after winning the National Christmas Tree Association contest. It recognizes this significant achievement as the first Michigan grower in 41 years to earn this honor. The bill also highlights the importance of Michigan's thriving Christmas tree industry.