Legislative Activity

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve federal support for state-level stillbirth research and data collection. It authorizes grants for states to enhance surveillance, track risk factors, and build local capacity for analyzing stillbirth data, provided the information remains de-identified. Furthermore, the bill mandates the development of standardized guidelines and educational materials regarding stillbirth awareness and risk factors, developed in consultation with experts and bereaved families.

The Michelle Alyssa Go Act revises the definition of an "institution for mental diseases" under Medicaid to allow federal funding for smaller facilities. Specifically, it excludes mental health facilities with 36 beds or fewer from the IMD exclusion if they meet specific, evidence-based quality standards set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This change aims to increase access to care by making smaller, qualified treatment centers eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.

The Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act establishes a new federal grant program to help states recruit and retain school paraprofessionals. Funds will be distributed to states based on their existing Title I allocations to support local districts. States must use these competitive subgrants to improve paraprofessional wages, offer professional development, and support credentialing, prioritizing high-need and rural schools. The law requires annual reporting on compensation improvements and retention efforts.

This bill, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Reauthorization Act of 2025, ensures continued funding for critical diabetes programs serving Native American communities. It extends the authorization for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians through fiscal year 2030. The legislation secures an annual appropriation of \$160 million for these essential services through that period.

The Federal-State Partnership for Clean Water Act of 2025 significantly increases federal funding authorizations to support state and local efforts in water quality management. This bill boosts dedicated funding for wetlands protection and restoration programs through 2030, guaranteeing a minimum of \$100 million annually for state and local initiatives. Additionally, it authorizes \$500 million annually through 2030 to assist states in managing their core water pollution control programs.

The "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act" expands Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection screening tests starting in 2028. It defines the criteria for these tests, sets payment guidelines, and establishes age and frequency limitations for coverage. The bill ensures that existing cancer screening coverage remains unaffected and allows for waivers of limitations based on recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

This resolution expresses strong support for and officially designates **September 17, 2025, as "Constitution Day."** It recognizes the profound historical importance of the U.S. Constitution as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. The measure encourages all Americans to observe the day with suitable ceremonies reflecting on the freedoms and responsibilities the document grants.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, and military status. This expansion ensures that landlords cannot deny housing based on factors like the use of housing vouchers or military service. The Act also strengthens existing prohibitions against intimidation related to these newly protected statuses.

This constitutional amendment seeks to grant Congress and the states the authority to regulate contributions and expenditures in political campaigns. It specifically allows for the establishment of public financing systems to offset the influence of private money in elections. The amendment ensures that any regulations enacted must not infringe upon the freedom of the press.

The **988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act of 2025** addresses the high rates of suicide risk among LGBTQ youth by strengthening specialized support through the national crisis hotline. This bill mandates that dedicated resources and services, such as a specific dialing option, must be maintained for LGBTQ individuals contacting 988. Furthermore, it requires that at least 9 percent of appropriated funds for the hotline be specifically reserved to ensure these specialized services for LGBTQ youth remain fully operational.

The FAMILY Act establishes a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program administered by a new office within the Social Security Administration. This program provides monthly benefits to eligible individuals who take time off for qualified caregiving reasons, including serious health conditions or victims of violence. The Act also sets forth detailed eligibility requirements, benefit calculation formulas, and job protection guarantees for employees utilizing the leave. Finally, it creates a funding mechanism to support existing state-level paid leave programs that meet federal standards.

The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act establishes a new grant program to boost arts education at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). These funds are intended to increase access to the arts for minority students through financial aid, mentorship, and career development. The bill aims to address the lack of diversity in arts leadership by supporting institutions well-positioned to train diverse arts professionals. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to preserve and promote the work of artists of color while strengthening arts programs nationwide.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase police accountability and transparency nationwide through federal mandates and funding incentives. It reforms standards for prosecuting civil rights violations, eliminates qualified immunity, and establishes national registries for police misconduct and use-of-force data. Furthermore, the Act bans specific dangerous police tactics like chokeholds and restricts the transfer of military equipment to local departments.

This resolution expresses strong support for increasing the number of Latino students and young professionals entering high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It highlights the significant underrepresentation of Latinos in these vital fields despite their growing presence in the U.S. workforce. The bill encourages federal investment in programs that address barriers and promote STEM education pathways for the Latino community. Ultimately, this focus aims to strengthen the nation's high-skilled workforce and economic competitiveness.

The College Students Continuation of Mental Health Care Act of 2025 establishes a system for licensing reciprocity, allowing college mental health providers to offer telehealth services to their enrolled students across state lines. This streamlines care by generally adhering to the provider's home state licensing rules, while ensuring patient safety through required disclosures and identity verification. The Act also encourages interstate agreements to further facilitate this cross-state mental health support for students.

The FAIR Act of 2025 invalidates pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers for employment, consumer, antitrust, and civil rights claims. This law restores the right for individuals to pursue these disputes in court or through collective legal action. The provisions apply to all covered disputes arising on or after the date the Act is enacted.

The National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 establishes a new, mixed-ownership federal corporation chartered to finance major infrastructure projects across the nation. This legislation authorizes the Bank to raise substantial capital and issue significant loans to spur economic growth while prioritizing projects in disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, the bill grants the Bank and its specific investors favorable tax exemptions to encourage participation and operation.

The 9/11 Immigrant Worker Freedom Act establishes a pathway for certain individuals who provided essential services during the rescue and cleanup efforts following the September 11th terrorist attacks to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents. This relief is available to workers and volunteers who meet specific service hour requirements at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or Shanksville sites, or those who maintained contaminated vehicles. The bill also mandates fee waivers for eligible applicants and protects their privacy regarding public benefit usage and future immigration enforcement actions.

The Equal Tax Act aims to increase tax fairness by limiting preferential tax rates for high earners and treating property transfers at death or as a gift as a taxable event. It introduces new rules for capital gains exclusions on inherited family farms and businesses, while also capping the use of like-kind exchanges for non-farming real estate. Finally, the Act adjusts the calculation for the Qualified Business Income deduction based on income thresholds.

The Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act mandates increased transparency for federal vehicle assembly contracts by requiring bidders to disclose detailed information about their plants, wages, and labor violations. It strictly controls where contract work can be performed and prohibits the Postal Service from purchasing new delivery vehicles until specific union neutrality and compliance agreements are secured with the manufacturer. In essence, the bill ties federal vehicle contracts to detailed operational disclosures and commitments regarding fair labor practices and union neutrality.