Legislative Activity

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, contractors, and service members affected by a government funding lapse starting October 1, 2025, receive retroactive back pay for the period they worked without funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits agencies from initiating permanent staffing reductions or furloughs during such a lapse. These provisions are designed to provide financial security and stability to essential government personnel during periods of lapsed appropriations.

The Taiwan International Solidarity Act clarifies that UN Resolution 2758 did not determine Taiwan's sovereignty or representation status. This legislation directs the U.S. to actively oppose efforts by the People's Republic of China to distort Taiwan's status in international organizations. Furthermore, it mandates the U.S. to encourage allies to resist the PRC's attempts to undermine Taiwan's international partnerships. The bill also enhances reporting requirements on these specific PRC interference efforts.

The Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act requires federal financial regulators to issue guidance encouraging banks and lenders to support consumers and businesses impacted by a government shutdown. This guidance must promote flexible loan modifications and prevent negative credit reporting for those experiencing lost income. Furthermore, regulators must quickly inform the public when a shutdown occurs and report on the effectiveness of the guidance afterward.

The Democracy in Design Act mandates that all new federal public building designs must adhere to the historical "Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture" established in 1962. This law requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to issue new regulations, following a public comment period, to enforce these specific architectural standards.

This resolution officially designates the week of September 14 through September 20, 2025, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role community school coordinators play in linking school and community resources to improve student outcomes and neighborhood success. The designation aims to celebrate these essential professionals and raise public awareness of their critical contributions.

The District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act eliminates the President's long-standing authority to assume emergency control over the Metropolitan Police Department. This legislation amends the D.C. Home Rule Act by striking the section granting the President this power. The bill effectively returns full, non-contingent control of the D.C. police force to local D.C. authorities.

This bill, the District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act, transfers primary command authority of the D.C. National Guard from the President of the United States to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. It updates outdated laws to officially name the Mayor as Commander-in-Chief, granting them authority over appointments, calling up the Guard, and disciplinary actions. The legislation also makes numerous technical amendments across federal military codes to ensure the Mayor is the recognized authority for the D.C. National Guard.

This joint resolution terminates the President's declared crime emergency in the District of Columbia from August 2025. Congress asserts that the emergency is unwarranted given declining crime rates and argues against diverting local Metropolitan Police Department resources for federal tasks. The resolution effectively ends the special conditions established by the Executive Order.

The Fresh Start Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help states upgrade their infrastructure to implement automatic expungement or sealing of criminal records. To qualify, states must have existing record-clearing laws that do not penalize applicants for unpaid fines. Grant funds must be used to build data systems that facilitate automatic processing, and recipients must annually report detailed demographic data on record relief efforts.

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act establishes federal grant programs and mandates a five-year phase-out to eliminate the practice of paying workers with disabilities sub-minimum wages. It provides funding and technical assistance to states and organizations to transition employers to paying the full federal minimum wage for competitive integrated employment. The bill also institutes rigorous reporting and evaluation requirements to monitor the impact of these changes on workers with disabilities.

This Act mandates the removal of all references to Senator Francis G. Newlands from the memorial fountain at Chevy Chase Circle in D.C. The Secretary of the Interior must remove the existing plaque and stone tablet bearing his name, and either remove or obscure his carved name on the coping stones. Removed items will first be offered to Newlands' descendants, and if unclaimed, will be added to the Rock Creek Park museum collection.

The Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act establishes strict new rules to protect consumers from deceptive automatic renewal and free trial charges. It mandates that businesses must obtain express, informed consent before billing for renewals and provide clear, easy cancellation methods upfront. Violations of these consent and disclosure requirements will render the renewal void, requiring full refunds, and will be enforced by the FTC as unfair business practices.

The YALI Act of 2025 formally establishes and expands the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) to invest in emerging African leaders through professional development, training, and networking. The bill directs the Secretary of State to increase participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship and mandates the creation of regional leadership centers across sub-Saharan Africa. Ultimately, the Act aims to strengthen U.S. relationships with future African leaders across business, civic, and public administration sectors.

The Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act creates a new pathway for certain immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) history to apply for permanent residency within the U.S. This legislation also establishes strict confidentiality protections for applicants against immigration enforcement actions based on their application information. Furthermore, the bill mandates detailed reporting to Congress regarding the conditions in countries whose TPS designations are terminated. Finally, it ensures that eligibility for this new status does not preclude applicants from seeking other immigration benefits.

The Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act aims to streamline health insurance enrollment by allowing individuals to consent to use their federal tax return information for automatic enrollment into zero-net-premium affordability programs. It strengthens data sharing between the IRS and Health Insurance Exchanges to simplify eligibility checks for programs like Medicaid and CHIP. Furthermore, the bill modernizes verification processes and establishes an advisory committee to guide the implementation of these new streamlined enrollment systems.

The El Salvador Accountability Act of 2025 mandates immediate sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, against top officials in the Salvadoran government due to human rights concerns. It also requires the U.S. Treasury to oppose loans to El Salvador through international financial institutions, unless for humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the bill demands a comprehensive report on the Salvadoran government's use of cryptocurrency for potential corruption or sanctions evasion. All U.S. assistance to the Salvadoran government is prohibited until the President certifies that human rights violations have ceased.

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025, or VALID Act, aims to increase awareness of VA loan options for consumers. It mandates that FHA disclosures include information about assuming VA-backed loans. Furthermore, the Act requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to add a mandatory military service question to the standard mortgage application form.

This bill proposes awarding a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks to recognize the monumental and foundational contributions of her HeLa cells to modern science and medicine. The legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal, which will then be presented to the Smithsonian Institution for display. Additionally, the Act authorizes the creation and sale of bronze duplicate medals to cover production costs.

The American Ownership and Resilience Act establishes an Ownership Investment Facility to provide government leverage to licensed investment companies making "covered investments," primarily focused on supporting Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and worker cooperatives in acquiring business ownership. The Act sets strict operational rules for these investment companies, including capital requirements, portfolio diversification limits, and mandates for independent review of ESOP transactions. Furthermore, it details the licensing process, oversight mechanisms, and reporting requirements to ensure accountability and protect employee interests.

The Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act of 2025 establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area across Maryland and Virginia to protect and interpret the natural and historical resources of the Chesapeake Bay. The Secretary of the Interior will manage the area, acquiring land only through donation or willing sale, strictly prohibiting eminent domain. The Act also creates a temporary 19-member Advisory Commission to guide management planning and coordinate with existing Bay programs.