Legislative Activity

The Head Start Shutdown Protection Act of 2025 ensures that states, local governments, or school districts are reimbursed for any of their own funds used to keep Head Start and Early Head Start programs operational during a lapse in federal appropriations. This legislation protects these vital early childhood education services from disruption caused by government shutdowns. By guaranteeing reimbursement, the Act encourages local entities to maintain program continuity without bearing the financial burden.

The Justice for Exonerees Act aims to increase financial relief for individuals who have been wrongly convicted and imprisoned. This bill raises the maximum compensation award from $\$50,000$ to $\$70,000$. Furthermore, it mandates that this award amount will be automatically adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.

The PrEP and PEP are Prevention Act mandates that essential HIV prevention services, including FDA-approved medications like PrEP and PEP, must be covered at no cost to the patient across private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. This law eliminates financial barriers such as deductibles, copays, and prior authorization requirements for these preventive treatments and necessary related care. The goal is to ensure universal, barrier-free access to critical HIV prevention tools.

This resolution formally honors Paul Kawata for his decades of dedicated service and unwavering commitment to health equity. It recognizes his profound impact as a leader in the fight against the HIV epidemic, specifically championing communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community. The bill celebrates his role in shaping national policy and advocating for justice, inclusion, and dignity for marginalized populations.

The HIV Prevention Now Act secures **\$2.165 billion** in dedicated funding for the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention for Fiscal Year 2026. This appropriation is specifically earmarked to support the center's prevention programs and activities. This funding is supplemental to, and cannot be transferred from, other existing appropriations.

The Strengthening Housing Supply Act of 2025 amends the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to explicitly allow federal funds to be used for the **new construction of affordable housing**. This change broadens the eligible uses for CDBG funds while maintaining existing requirements that the housing benefits low- and moderate-income persons. These new provisions only apply to funds appropriated by Congress after the Act's enactment.

The Ending Homelessness Act of 2025 aims to significantly reduce homelessness by making housing choice vouchers an entitlement program starting in 2029 and immediately expanding the voucher supply for extremely low-income families. The bill also prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income and establishes new, dedicated funding streams for emergency relief and supportive services under the McKinney-Vento Act. Finally, it repeals certain ineligibility criteria for housing assistance and sets priorities for funding based on local policies that encourage affordable housing and decriminalize homelessness.

The American Access to Banking Act aims to streamline the process for launching new financial institutions by simplifying application reviews and improving capital raising efforts. It establishes dedicated support systems, including caseworkers and mentorship programs, to guide applicants through regulatory hurdles. Furthermore, the bill mandates federal regulators to develop public engagement plans to better coordinate with state regulators and industry stakeholders. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to foster the creation of new banks while maintaining strong investor and consumer protections.

This bill, officially titled the Aligning SEC Regulations for the World Bank’s International Development Association Act, exempts securities issued or guaranteed by the International Development Association (IDA) from most standard registration and disclosure requirements under federal securities laws. While generally exempt, the IDA must still file appropriate reports with the SEC, subject to the Commission's oversight. This exemption takes effect after 30 days, unless the Treasury Secretary certifies that the IDA is providing aid to countries supporting international terrorism.

The Employee Paycheck and Small Business Protection Act significantly increases federal deposit insurance coverage for business operating accounts, establishing a special, high limit of up to $100 million per institution. This measure aims to protect the liquidity of businesses, non-profits, and municipalities by ensuring their essential transaction funds are fully insured. Additionally, the bill creates a temporary government guarantee program for these accounts, which can be activated during times of economic instability to maintain financial confidence. The relevant agencies are tasked with developing and implementing these new permanent and temporary insurance frameworks within strict deadlines.

The Medicare Breast Reconstruction Access and Information Act mandates that suppliers performing medically necessary mastectomies must inform patients about their Medicare coverage for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. This information must be provided and documented in the patient's medical file before the surgery takes place. Failure to comply will result in Medicare withholding payment for the mastectomy procedure.

The Medicaid Breast Cancer Access to Treatment Act expands Medicaid eligibility to cover certain individuals who have had breast or cervical cancer. This legislation also mandates that Medicaid coverage must include breast reconstruction surgery following a medically necessary mastectomy. These changes aim to ensure comprehensive care and remove financial barriers for cancer survivors under the program.

This Act directs the SEC to expand its support for small businesses seeking capital, with a specific focus on traditionally underrepresented groups. The SEC must now provide targeted educational materials and host outreach events for businesses owned by women or minorities, those in rural areas, or those impacted by natural disasters. Additionally, the bill mandates annual meetings between the SEC and state securities commissions to improve coordination in supporting small business capital formation.

The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 establishes a new HUD grant program to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-time, first-generation homebuyers. Funds will be distributed to states and eligible entities based on need and the number of qualified buyers in their area. Assistance is capped per buyer and requires mandatory homeownership counseling, with strict rules governing eligible mortgages and primary residency requirements.

The CLASS Act of 2025 aims to protect students' rights in legal disputes with institutions of higher education. It prohibits mandatory arbitration clauses in student enrollment agreements and forbids colleges receiving federal aid from requiring students to waive their right to sue the institution. These provisions will take effect one year after the Act is officially enacted.

The Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act of 2025 prohibits covered government officials and their immediate families from trading, owning, or profiting from digital assets while in office. This legislation specifically bans insider trading of crypto and prevents officials from using intermediaries or complex ownership structures to bypass these restrictions. The Act aims to eliminate conflicts of interest by ensuring high-ranking officials cannot benefit financially from involvement with cryptocurrencies.

The International Financial Institution Improvements Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability in U.S. engagement with the World Bank, IMF, and other multilateral development banks. It mandates clearer public reporting, requires consultation with civil society organizations on lending decisions, and directs U.S. representatives to advocate for stronger human rights, anti-corruption, and climate-related policies. The bill also authorizes increased U.S. financial commitments to development funds focused on Africa and Europe, contingent upon future Congressional appropriations.

The Reduction in Force Review Act subjects federal agency decisions regarding workforce reductions (RIFs) to formal Congressional review, treating them as legislative "rules." Agencies must now submit detailed justification packages explaining the reasons for the cuts, the operational impact, and alternatives considered. This ensures greater transparency and scrutiny over significant staff reductions affecting federal employees.

The Restoring Fair Housing Protections Eliminated by Trump Act of 2025 aims to reverse recent administrative actions that Congress views as undermining fair housing laws. The bill officially redefines the mission of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to actively promote inclusive communities and mandates the creation of a new, robust definition for "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing." Furthermore, it requires HUD to study the impact of AI on housing discrimination and establish a publicly accessible database detailing all fair housing complaints.

This resolution is an inquiry demanding the President provide detailed documents regarding the access granted to staff and advisers of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the systems and data of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP). Congress seeks comprehensive information on personnel backgrounds, specific system permissions, data movement, and the approval processes used for this access. The request also mandates documentation on conflict of interest reviews and current BCFP staffing levels.