Legislative Activity

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates federal guidelines for how states manage youth in the justice system. This bill clarifies definitions, reforms state planning requirements, and establishes strict new procedures for handling juveniles held for status offenses or housed in adult facilities. It also extends federal funding authorization through fiscal year 2030.

This concurrent resolution officially recognizes the significance of equal pay and highlights the persistent wage disparity faced by Black women compared to White, non-Hispanic men. It designates July 10, 2025, as Black Women's Equal Pay Day to draw attention to the economic losses caused by this gap. The resolution underscores that closing this disparity is vital for the economic stability and wealth-building of Black women and their families.

The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the flexibility for hospitals to provide acute care services in a patient's home through 2030. The bill also mandates a comprehensive, subsequent study comparing the quality, cost, and patient experience of hospital-at-home care versus traditional inpatient settings. This follow-up report must be submitted to key Congressional committees by September 2028.

The GLOBE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. policy to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. It mandates increased State Department reporting on international abuses, implements sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for such violations, and directs foreign assistance to support LGBTQI rights defenders. Furthermore, the Act reforms immigration procedures to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers and ensures non-discrimination for LGBTQI U.S. citizens serving abroad.

This resolution officially recognizes June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month to honor the history, struggles, and significant contributions of the LGBTQ community in the United States. It acknowledges past and ongoing discrimination while celebrating key legal milestones toward equality. The Senate encourages the nation to use this month to learn about inequality and celebrate the community's achievements both domestically and globally.

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes a comprehensive federal strategy to reduce community violence through non-carceral, evidence-based interventions. Title I creates a new grant program within HHS to fund local violence intervention programs focused on high-risk individuals and trauma-responsive care. Title II authorizes $1.5 billion in Department of Labor grants to fund year-round job training and workforce development specifically for opportunity youth in high-violence areas. Overall, the bill directs significant federal resources toward community-led solutions that prioritize public health, economic opportunity, and violence reduction.

Canyon's Law prohibits the use of M44 cyanide predator control devices on all public lands due to their extreme toxicity and documented risk to humans and non-target wildlife. The bill mandates the immediate removal of any existing M44 devices within 30 days of enactment. This action is deemed necessary because these devices frequently injure people and kill protected species, despite their low success rate against target animals.

The Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2025 is a legislative update designed to modernize the Internal Revenue Code by ensuring gender-neutral language is used when referencing married taxpayers and their spouses. This bill systematically replaces outdated gendered terms like "husband and wife" or "his" with inclusive terms such as "married couple" and "spouse." The changes are purely linguistic, ensuring consistency across tax rules without altering any existing tax liabilities or deductions.

The Refund Equality Act of 2025 extends the deadline for certain legally married couples to amend past tax returns filed separately before September 16, 2013, based on Revenue Ruling 2013-17. This allows these couples to now file jointly for those years, extending the statute of limitations for filing the joint return and claiming related refunds or credits. These extensions are strictly limited to changes resulting from recognizing their marital status for federal tax purposes.

The Head Start for Our Future Act amends federal work-study rules to explicitly allow students to use their funds for child development and early learning services, such as supporting Head Start programs. This legislation ensures that institutions placing work-study students in these roles guarantee program compliance with existing Head Start Act requirements. Furthermore, it establishes specific supervision rules for work-study students in Head Start and Early Head Start, mandating that they must always be supervised by paid staff and cannot count toward required staff-to-child ratios.

The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2025 aims to prevent the proliferation of untraceable firearms manufactured using 3D printing technology. This legislation makes it illegal to intentionally distribute digital files or instructions online that can program a device to manufacture a complete firearm or key firearm components. The goal is to preserve existing gun tracing capabilities and enhance public safety against the threat of ghost guns.

This resolution officially commemorates June 19, 2025, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day." It recognizes the historical significance of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in the Southwest finally received news of their freedom. The resolution supports the nationwide celebration of this day as a vital part of American history and heritage.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal right to access abortion services without facing state-imposed restrictions that are not medically necessary for comparable procedures. This Act prohibits states from enacting targeted regulations that create hurdles for abortion access, protects the right to travel out of state for care, and allows individuals and the Attorney General to sue to enforce these protections. Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare decisions based on a provider's good-faith medical judgment.

The Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act of 2025 significantly increases federal oversight and penalties for licensed firearms dealers. This bill allows for more frequent compliance inspections, raises maximum prison sentences for license violations, and grants the Attorney General new authority to deny licenses based on public safety concerns. Furthermore, it mandates stricter recordkeeping enforcement and requires the ATF to report on the implementation of these new measures.

The Protecting Kids from Gun Marketing Act prohibits firearm manufacturers and dealers from advertising or marketing guns and related gear in ways that appeal to minors under 18. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with creating specific rules banning tactics like using cartoons or offering free merchandise to children. This act grants the FTC, State Attorneys General, and harmed individuals the authority to enforce these new marketing restrictions in federal court.

The Election Worker Protection Act of 2025 establishes federal grants to states for recruiting, training, and securing election workers, while also enhancing the Department of Justice's resources to address threats. The bill creates new federal crimes prohibiting the harassment, doxxing, and intimidation of election workers involved in federal elections. Furthermore, it empowers election officials to remove disruptive poll observers and strengthens protections for election worker personal information.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 18 through May 24, 2025, as "National Public Works Week." It serves to recognize and celebrate the essential contributions of public works professionals who maintain vital infrastructure like roads, water systems, and waste management. The bill urges communities nationwide to observe this week with activities honoring these dedicated workers.

The MONARCH Act of 2025 addresses the critical decline of the western monarch butterfly population, which faces imminent extinction due to habitat loss and climate change. This bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to provide dedicated grants for conservation projects focused on restoring milkweed and protecting overwintering sites. Furthermore, it mandates the annual updating and implementation of the existing Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan. Ultimately, the Act aims to rapidly deploy resources to ensure the recovery and survival of this vital pollinator.

The Wall Street Tax Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax on covered financial trading transactions involving securities and derivatives. This transaction tax rate will gradually increase from 0.02 percent in 2026 to 0.1 percent by 2030. The responsibility for paying the tax falls on exchanges, brokers, or the involved parties, depending on how the trade is executed. The bill also includes specific rules for foreign corporations and provides detailed definitions and exceptions for what constitutes a taxable security or derivative.

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.