Legislative Activity

The "Strengthening Job Corps Act of 2025" amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to improve the Job Corps program by updating eligibility, campus operations, and performance standards. It prioritizes safe learning environments, extends contract terms for campus operators, and allows graduates to stay on campus for a short transition period. The act also mandates behavioral management plans, agreements with local law enforcement, and fair compensation for instructional employees, as well as setting performance levels for each Job Corps campus and authorizing appropriations for the program through 2031.

The Transportation Equity Act establishes a Transportation Equity Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary of Transportation on transportation equity issues. This committee will provide recommendations on national transportation metrics, economic development, community connectivity, and public engagement. The committee will consist of members from diverse backgrounds and expertise, meeting regularly to evaluate and improve the Department's efforts in connecting people to economic opportunities. A Designated Federal Officer will manage the committee's operations and ensure transparency through public meetings and record-keeping.

The American Teacher Act aims to address teacher shortages and improve teacher compensation by establishing grants for states to increase teacher salaries, with the goal of ensuring a minimum annual salary of $60,000 for full-time teachers at qualifying schools, adjusted for inflation. The Act also allows for a national campaign to raise awareness of the value of the teaching profession and clarifies that the Act does not alter existing employee rights or agreements. Finally, the Act defines key terms and authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement the grants and awareness campaign.

This bill aims to ensure the availability and affordability of homeowners' insurance coverage for catastrophic events by establishing a National Catastrophe Risk Consortium, guaranteeing debt for state catastrophe insurance programs, offering federal reinsurance coverage, and creating a mitigation grant program. It seeks to stabilize insurance markets, support states in managing disaster-related financial risks, and protect vulnerable communities. The bill also emphasizes the importance of mitigation efforts and requires states to adopt resilient building codes.

The "Salad Bars in Schools Expansion Act" aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among students by expanding access to salad bars in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. The Act directs the Secretary to create a marketing plan, offer training and grants to schools for salad bar implementation, prioritizing those with high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches or located in food deserts. The Act requires the Secretary to submit reports and revise existing policies to promote and support salad bars in schools, utilizing existing funds.

The "Jobs Now Act of 2025" establishes a pilot program providing competitive grants to local governments and community-based organizations for public service employee retention, employment, and training. Priority is given to retaining current employees and supporting areas with high unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates, with an emphasis on aiding veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those receiving unemployment benefits. The act allocates $1 billion for both fiscal years 2026 and 2027 and requires a report to Congress on the program's outcomes and best practices.

The "One School, One Nurse Act of 2025" aims to ensure every school has at least one full-time registered nurse by establishing a grant program. This program will provide funding to recruit, hire, and retain school nurses, especially in high-need areas. The grants will also support converting part-time positions to full-time and maintaining recommended nurse-to-student ratios, with priority given to entities focused on hiring from underrepresented populations. The Department of Education will oversee the grant program and set nurse-to-student ratio guidelines.