Legislative Activity

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

This Act officially redesignates the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and establishes an adjacent National Preserve, both managed by the Secretary of the Interior. The legislation authorizes the acquisition of necessary lands, without using eminent domain, to define the boundaries of these new units. It also mandates the creation of a joint management plan, establishes an Advisory Council with significant Tribal representation, and transfers specific federal acreage into trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The FRIDGE Act of 2025 aims to boost U.S. agricultural exports by addressing critical infrastructure gaps in foreign markets. This legislation authorizes dedicated funding and technical assistance to help developing nations improve their cold storage and supply chain capabilities. By fortifying this global infrastructure, the bill seeks to reduce spoilage of American food products and open new international trade opportunities.

This resolution expresses strong support for the nation's public K-12 schools and condemns any efforts to defund or dismantle the Department of Education. It affirms the crucial federal role in ensuring equitable funding and support for students, especially those with disabilities and from low-income families. The resolution warns that weakening the Department would severely disrupt vital programs serving millions of students nationwide.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains operational during a lapse in appropriations by automatically accessing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This mechanism allows essential FAA operations, research, and grants to continue at the previous year's funding level until a new budget is enacted. The bill prevents disruptions to aviation services by providing a stable, temporary funding source during government shutdowns.

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 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 Romance Scam Prevention Act establishes new federal requirements for online dating services to protect users from fraud. If a service bans a user for fraud risk, they must notify members who previously messaged the banned individual with specific details and safety warnings. The FTC is tasked with enforcing these national standards, which aim to prevent romance scams across online platforms.

The HELPER Act of 2025 establishes a new FHA mortgage insurance program to help first responders, educators, and law enforcement officers purchase homes. This program offers qualifying first-time homebuyers the potential for a zero down payment mortgage. A key feature is the elimination of monthly mortgage insurance premiums, though an upfront premium will still be charged.

This resolution celebrates the 100th anniversary of Delta Air Lines, acknowledging its historical roots as the first aerial crop-dusting company and its evolution into a major global airline. It recognizes Delta's significant impact on connecting people worldwide, its commitment to community, and its achievements in service and reliability.

The Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act requires manufacturers to clearly disclose if an internet-connected device has a built-in camera or microphone before it is purchased. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these rules as unfair or deceptive practices. This law specifically excludes common devices like phones and laptops from these new disclosure requirements.

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 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 Coast Guard Combat-Injured Tax Fairness Act ensures that Coast Guard members with combat-related injuries receive the same tax treatment on their severance pay as members of other military branches. This is achieved by updating the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016 to include the Secretary of Defense in applying the relevant tax fairness rules. The bill clarifies responsibilities and sets deadlines for the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation to implement these changes.

The Make American Flags in America Act of 2025 mandates that all U.S. flags displayed or purchased by federal agencies must be 100% manufactured in the United States using entirely domestic materials. This requirement takes effect for purchases within 90 days and for display within two years of enactment. Additionally, the bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study and report on the current enforcement of country-of-origin labeling for American flags.

The Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2025 aims to increase the participation of private landlords in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, particularly in high-opportunity neighborhoods. It establishes new incentives, such as one-time payments and security deposit assistance, funded by the Herschel Lashkowitz Housing Partnership Fund. The Act also modernizes inspection standards, requires the use of specific Small Area Fair Market Rents, and mandates annual reporting on the program's effectiveness.

The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the National Labor Relations Act to bolster worker organizing rights and impose stricter penalties on employers who violate labor laws. It redefines joint employment, makes it harder to classify workers as independent contractors, and bans class action waivers. The bill also establishes mandatory arbitration for first contracts and allows employees to sue employers directly for serious unfair labor practices.

This resolution affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review, emphasizing the Supreme Court's duty to interpret the law. It supports the established precedent that the executive branch must comply with Federal court rulings. The resolution expresses concern over statements suggesting the executive branch may disregard the authority of the Federal Judiciary.

This bill ensures that veterans have the option to receive and submit a physical, paper copy of the VA travel reimbursement form (Form 10-3452) by mail or at any VA medical facility. It mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide these physical copies upon request to accommodate veterans who cannot or prefer not to use digital submission methods. This guarantees accessible avenues for veterans seeking reimbursement for travel expenses related to their VA care.

The "Invest to Protect Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to support local law enforcement by providing resources for training, mental health services, recruitment, and retention. These grants prioritize de-escalation training, victim-centered approaches, and officer well-being. The program emphasizes accountability through audits, reporting requirements, and transparency in officer recruitment and retention incentives. It allocates \$50 million annually from 2026 to 2030 to facilitate these improvements in law enforcement practices and community safety.