Legislative Activity

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act moves TSA personnel from their special management system into the standard federal employee system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by a set deadline. This transition aims to grant TSA employees the same workplace protections and benefits as other federal workers while ensuring current pay and service time are protected. The bill also mandates several reviews by the Comptroller General and requires consultation with employee representatives regarding the implementation process. Finally, it preserves existing anti-strike laws and addresses specific concerns for Federal Air Marshals.

The Women's Retirement Protection Act aims to address the significant retirement savings gap disproportionately affecting women by strengthening spousal protections in defined contribution plans. The bill mandates new consent requirements for distributions and beneficiary changes to safeguard a spouse's interest in retirement assets. Furthermore, it establishes grant programs to boost financial literacy for women and specifically assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in securing their rightful retirement benefits via court orders.

The Insurance Fraud Accountability Act aims to significantly reduce fraudulent enrollment in health plans under the Affordable Care Act. This bill establishes much stiffer financial and criminal penalties for agents and brokers who knowingly provide false enrollment information. Furthermore, it mandates a new verification process on federal Exchanges to ensure consumer consent and proper data accuracy before commissions are paid. The legislation also tightens oversight on the entire enrollment chain involving agents, brokers, and marketing organizations.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to combat bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states that accept federal funding to establish clear anti-bullying policies, define prohibited conduct based on protected characteristics, and implement systems for reporting and tracking incidents. This legislation mandates that local districts inform all stakeholders about prohibited conduct and establish formal complaint processes. Furthermore, the bill requires regular state and federal evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these measures in reducing harmful behavior while respecting existing non-discrimination laws and free speech rights.

This bill aims to strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness by updating its funding authorization under existing law. It removes outdated, specific funding caps, allowing for appropriations "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the Council's mission. The legislation also renumbers and retitles a section to specifically encourage greater State involvement in addressing homelessness.

The Credit for Caring Act of 2025 establishes a new, non-refundable tax credit for working family caregivers who incur qualified expenses for a dependent with long-term care needs. This "Working Family Caregivers Credit" equals 30% of eligible expenses exceeding $2,000, up to a maximum annual credit of $5,000. To qualify, caregivers must have earned income over $7,500 and the care recipient must be certified by a healthcare practitioner as needing long-term care. The credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with Modified Adjusted Gross Income over $150,000 (joint filers) or $75,000 (all others).

The Tariff Transparency Act of 2025 directs the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to investigate and report on the economic effects of proposed or announced tariffs on trade with Mexico and Canada. This comprehensive report must detail the impact of potential duties on consumer prices, the fallout from retaliatory measures, and the costs associated with ongoing trade uncertainty. The USITC is required to submit its findings to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to aggressively tackle the national housing crisis through multiple avenues. It seeks to make housing more affordable by injecting massive funding into federal programs and incentivizing local regulatory reform to boost construction. Furthermore, the Act aims to reverse historical inequities by establishing new assistance for first-generation homebuyers and overhauling community reinvestment rules for banks. Finally, it strengthens anti-discrimination protections and enacts significant reforms to the federal estate and gift tax structure.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2025 reauthorizes the HOME program for five years with increased funding and reforms to administrative rules and eligibility. The bill strengthens accountability through stricter property inspections and penalties while offering greater flexibility for local jurisdictions and homeowners facing hardship. It also establishes a new federal loan guarantee program to finance affordable housing construction and preservation.

The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 establishes a \$100 billion federal grant program to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-generation and first-time homebuyers who meet specific income limits. Funds will be distributed to states and eligible entities to help qualified buyers purchase primary residences using eligible mortgage loans. Recipients must complete mandatory housing counseling, and assistance generally must be repaid proportionally if the home is vacated within five years.

The Save Our Forests Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the management of our national forests by immediately boosting Forest Service staffing levels. This legislation mandates the hiring of new personnel and the reinstatement of employees dismissed between January 20 and February 25, 2025. Furthermore, it ensures the continuation of authorized Forest Service projects funded under existing major conservation and infrastructure laws.

The Protect our Parks Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Interior to immediately ensure full staffing, including all maintenance positions, across the National Park Service. This Act also requires the reinstatement of any NPS employees involuntarily removed between January 20 and February 25, 2025. Furthermore, it authorizes the continuation of existing, funded National Park Service projects under several key federal acts.

The Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act aims to significantly restrict the detention of pregnant and postpartum noncitizens in immigration custody. It mandates immediate testing for pregnancy upon intake and establishes a strong presumption against detention unless extraordinary, case-by-case public safety risks are proven. Furthermore, the bill strictly limits the use of physical restraints on pregnant detainees and requires comprehensive medical care, including reproductive health services, alongside detailed public reporting on detention statistics and restraint incidents.

The Do No Harm Act amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to ensure that federal anti-discrimination, labor, and equal access laws take precedence over religious freedom claims in specific circumstances. This legislation clarifies that RFRA protections cannot be used to override requirements in federal contracts or agreements involving government funding. Furthermore, the Act explicitly limits the application of RFRA to challenges against government actions, precluding its use in private litigation between non-governmental parties.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement laws allowing for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill mandates specific due process protections for individuals subject to these orders and ensures that any issued ERPO is recognized and enforced across all states and tribes. Furthermore, it updates federal law to prohibit firearm possession by anyone subject to a qualifying court order and requires that these orders be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

This Act aims to immediately restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support refugees across the region. It repeals previous legislative bans on UNRWA funding and directs the Secretary of State to resume payments promptly. The bill mandates regular reporting to Congress detailing UNRWA's progress in implementing accountability reforms recommended by the Independent Review Group.

The Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025 reinforces the independence of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from political pressure. This bill explicitly prohibits the FCC from taking punitive action against broadcasters based solely on the viewpoints or opinions they air. It ensures that broadcast licenses and business transaction approvals cannot be conditioned on changing content or political speech. However, this protection does not shield broadcasters from enforcement actions related to fraud, obscenity, or incitement to lawless action.

The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 establishes new minimum fleet sizes for the Air Force's fighter aircraft inventory and delays the enforcement date for these higher requirements until 2030. The bill mandates strict quarterly reporting on new aircraft procurement and distribution, while prioritizing the assignment of new, advanced fighters to existing operational squadrons. Furthermore, it places a freeze on reducing the number of Air National Guard fighter squadrons through 2030 and requires an annual plan to ensure the Guard's fleet recapitalizes at the same pace as the active force.

This bill aims to reform mining practices on federal lands by setting royalties on mineral extraction, introducing stricter permitting and environmental regulations, and establishing a fund for reclaiming abandoned mines. It requires mining operators to pay annual fees and royalties, obtain permits for mineral activities, and provide financial assurances for land reclamation. The bill also prioritizes the protection of sensitive lands and mandates tribal consultation before mineral activities begin. These changes are intended to balance resource extraction with environmental protection and ensure fair compensation for the use of public lands.