Legislative Activity

This resolution declares the severe lack of affordable housing a national crisis requiring urgent, coordinated action. It calls upon federal, state, and local governments, alongside private and nonprofit partners, to prioritize the production of new affordable units and the preservation of existing ones. The bill emphasizes the need for smart policies that encourage building, protect tenants, and ensure housing stability for all Americans.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 aims to strengthen existing federal background check systems to prevent prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. This bill primarily mandates that most private firearm transfers must be facilitated through a licensed dealer who will conduct a background check. The legislation includes specific exceptions for family gifts, law enforcement, and temporary transfers under emergency circumstances.

The LIHEAP Staffing Support Act establishes minimum staffing requirements for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure effective program administration. It mandates a baseline of at least 20 dedicated employees, with limits on contractor usage during normal operations. Furthermore, the bill requires an emergency staffing boost to at least 30 employees within 45 days of declaring an energy crisis.

The Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025 reforms federal firearm background check procedures, establishing a formal petition process for buyers when the system delays a decision beyond 10 business days. This bill removes the previous 10-day time limit on background checks under the Brady Act while mandating extensive reporting from the GAO and FBI on the effectiveness and outcomes of these delayed transfers. Furthermore, the Attorney General must report on the law's impact on domestic violence victims within 150 days of enactment.

The Elder Pride Protection Act of 2025 establishes the ELDER Task Force within the Department of Justice to combat abuse targeting older LGBTQI+ individuals. This group is charged with studying the causes of this abuse, developing national best practices, and creating training materials for law enforcement. The Task Force must report its findings and progress to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The TRACE Act mandates that all newly manufactured firearms include a second, hidden serial number, either internally or visible only under infrared light. It also extends the retention period for instant criminal background check records to 180 days and requires licensed dealers to conduct regular physical inventories of their firearms. Finally, the bill removes several past budgetary limitations placed on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The "Don't Miss Your Flight Act" establishes a new grant program managed by the Secretary of Transportation to fund infrastructure improvements connecting to public airports. These grants aim to reduce traffic, increase capacity, and improve access roads, rail, or transit lines within five miles of an airport. Funding is specifically allocated to benefit large and medium hub airports, drawing $1 billion annually from the Highway Trust Fund between 2027 and 2031.

The Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025 establishes a new grant program to improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth through culturally competent care and resource development. These grants strictly prohibit funding for conversion therapy practices. The bill also mandates federal data collection on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and requires a report on the needs of those in foster care.

The "Don’t Settle for Bribes Act of 2025" mandates an immediate pause on all civil lawsuits against a sitting President, President-elect, or presidential candidate until their term or election status concludes. This restriction also extends to the immediate family members and certain business entities controlled by the President or their family. Furthermore, the statute of limitations for any paused lawsuit will be tolled until the presidential stay is lifted.

The Farmers Feeding America Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by updating funding rules based on 2030 data and mandating $500 million in annual funding from 2026 through 2030. The bill doubles funding for food storage and distribution costs to $200 million and extends infrastructure grant eligibility until 2030. Furthermore, it establishes new flexibility for geographically isolated states, allowing them alternative methods for receiving or purchasing necessary food commodities.

The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act aims to reform employment-based immigration by eliminating certain numerical caps for specific visa categories. This legislation amends existing law to adjust how preference statuses are allocated for these immigrant visas. The overall goal is to streamline the process for certain employment-based immigrants.

The POST GRAD Act reinstates the government's authority to issue Federal Direct Stafford Loans to graduate and professional students through June 30, 2025. This legislation amends existing law to extend the availability of these federal loans. Furthermore, the Act allows these changes to take effect immediately by exempting them from standard federal rulemaking and public comment requirements.

The Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act of 2025 updates the WIC program by replacing outdated terminology with "substance use disorder." This legislation mandates the development of specialized, evidence-based nutrition education materials for WIC participants affected by substance use disorder. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to actively reach out to and support these families through training and resource sharing. The Act authorizes $1 million for fiscal year 2026 to implement these new support activities.

The Plain Language in Contracting Act requires federal agencies to write contract opportunity notices for small businesses in a clear, concise, and easily understandable manner. This ensures small businesses can quickly find and comprehend relevant government contract postings on the main federal website. The Small Business Administration is tasked with establishing the rules to implement these clarity standards.

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act) aims to increase awareness of VA loan options among homebuyers. It requires lenders to include comparative information about potential VA loan terms on standard FHA disclosure forms. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a prominent question regarding the applicant's military service.

The Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2025 significantly updates existing fair housing laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This legislation broadens protections to cover discrimination based on association or perceived association with protected groups. Furthermore, it strengthens anti-intimidation measures related to these newly defined protected characteristics in housing matters.

The FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Taskforce within the FBI to investigate and enforce federal laws against severe animal cruelty, such as dogfighting and crush videos. This Taskforce is also responsible for developing training materials for local law enforcement. Furthermore, it must coordinate with other federal agencies and submit annual reports to Congress detailing enforcement statistics, including charges filed and convictions secured.

The JUST Act of 2025 aims to significantly strengthen civil rights accountability and transparency within the USDA. It establishes a new, Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights to oversee compliance and creates an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson to assist program participants. Furthermore, the bill mandates disciplinary action for employee misconduct and shifts the burden of proof in agency appeal hearings to the USDA.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating June 6, 2025, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2025 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." It highlights the devastating scale of gun violence in the U.S., recognizing the thousands of annual deaths and injuries across all demographics. The bill encourages Americans to wear orange on the designated day to honor victims and promote increased awareness and community action regarding gun safety.

The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2025 prohibits the interstate transport of horses using any truck or trailer with two or more stacked levels. This measure aims to enhance animal welfare during cross-state travel by banning multilevel transport configurations. Violators who knowingly break this rule face civil penalties ranging from $\$100$ to $\$500$ per violation.