Legislative Activity

This resolution supports designating a week in April as Black Maternal Health Week to raise national awareness of the severe maternal health crisis facing Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It highlights that systemic racism and discrimination drive unacceptable disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates. The resolution calls for specific investments and policy changes, including expanded postpartum coverage and culturally competent care, guided by the voices of the affected community.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2025 officially extends the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which supports workers, firms, and farmers negatively impacted by trade, through December 31, 2031. This legislation also clarifies the application of TAA rules for petitions filed between July 1, 2021, and the date of enactment, often requiring reconsideration under current standards. Furthermore, it updates the funding and training calculation windows to align with the new program extension dates.

The COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 permanently prohibits all new oil and gas leasing and development activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. This legislation ensures the protection of these key ocean regions from future drilling exploration.

This bill aims to significantly support student parents and strengthen the early childhood education workforce through multiple avenues. It establishes a major grant program to provide free infant and toddler care for student parents at eligible institutions while simultaneously funding workforce development and ensuring fair wages for childcare staff. Furthermore, the legislation streamlines access to existing federal childcare subsidies for parents in higher education and mandates clearer communication from colleges regarding dependent care allowances in financial aid packages.

The Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025 significantly expands and makes permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for workers without qualifying children by lowering the minimum age, substantially increasing the credit amount, and raising income thresholds. It also allows taxpayers to elect to use higher prior-year earned income to calculate their current EITC benefit. Furthermore, the bill permanently extends current EITC application rules for U.S. territories like Puerto Rico.

The Expanding Access to Family Planning Act establishes a dedicated Title X Clinic Fund to provide consistent, long-term financial support for family planning clinics. This funding, set for ten years, includes annual allocations for services and facility improvements. The bill also mandates that clinics receiving these funds offer comprehensive, non-directive counseling options to patients with positive pregnancy tests.

This resolution supports the goals of the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative by calling for equal educational opportunities and civil rights protections for all students, especially LGBTQI+ youth. It highlights the negative impact of bullying, harassment, and discriminatory state laws on student mental health and academic success. The bill encourages communities nationwide to adopt policies that actively prevent discrimination and foster inclusive school environments.

The American Family Act fundamentally restructures the Child Tax Credit by replacing the annual lump sum with advance monthly payments for qualifying children. This legislation establishes a new refundable monthly credit of up to $360 per child, alongside a separate $500 non-refundable credit for other dependents. These advance payments are subject to income phase-outs and will reconcile with the final tax return. The old annual Child Tax Credit is terminated for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025 amends existing federal law to strengthen research and monitoring efforts related to ocean acidification. This bill significantly enhances collaboration by mandating increased input from Indigenous communities, industry, and local stakeholders in federal planning and advisory roles. It also requires the Secretary of Commerce to prioritize working with State, local, and Tribal governments already engaged in vulnerability assessments. Finally, the Act includes technical corrections to ensure clarity and accuracy within the existing legislation.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 systematically increases the federal minimum wage to \$17.00 per hour over five years, after which it will be indexed to median wage growth. This legislation also phases out the subminimum wage for tipped employees and workers with disabilities, requiring them to eventually earn the standard federal minimum wage. Furthermore, the bill repeals the special minimum wage for workers under 20 once their rate catches up to the standard minimum.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees across the nation. It tasks the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) with reviewing state laws to ensure they substantially provide these minimum rights, taking over administration where state laws fall short. The Act explicitly protects existing labor agreements while prohibiting strikes or lockouts that would endanger public safety services. Finally, it ensures that existing state or local laws providing equal or greater protections are not preempted by this federal minimum standard.

This resolution formally honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former U.S. Senator for Louisiana. It details his career, highlighting his significant tenure on key Senate committees, particularly his leadership on energy policy. The resolution recognizes his legislative achievements benefiting Louisiana, including flood control and conservation efforts. Finally, the Senate adjourns immediately in his memory as a final tribute to his service.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense of Congress that paraprofessionals and essential education support staff deserve fair compensation, comprehensive benefits, and improved working conditions. It highlights the critical role these millions of workers play in schools while addressing current issues like low wages, benefit gaps, and job instability. The resolution calls for stable employment, living wages, affordable healthcare, and greater inclusion in school decision-making. Ultimately, it affirms that respecting support staff is vital for student success.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act aims to disallow federal tax deductions for employer expenditures used to influence employees regarding union organizing activities. This legislation targets significant corporate spending on anti-union consultants and captive audience meetings, arguing that taxpayers should not subsidize efforts to interfere with workers' rights to organize. The bill also introduces strict new reporting requirements and penalties for companies that fail to disclose these influence expenditures.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to improve efficiency and fairness in immigration courts by significantly increasing access to legal representation for unaccompanied children. This bill mandates the government to provide counsel for these children at no cost through all stages of removal proceedings. Furthermore, it ensures noncitizens receive their case files promptly and establishes new standards for lawyer access to detention facilities and required annual reporting on legal representation outcomes.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act aims to restore certain federal tax deductions for employees. This bill makes union dues fully deductible "above-the-line," meaning they can be claimed without itemizing. Additionally, it temporarily allows employees to itemize specific work-related business expenses through the end of 2025.

The IDEA Full Funding Act mandates specific federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, excluding preschool services, starting in fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and beyond. This legislation establishes a formula that requires the government to allocate the greater of a set dollar amount or a percentage of a calculated amount based on the number of students served and average per-pupil spending. The goal is to significantly increase and stabilize federal contributions to special education services over the next decade.

The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act dramatically increases federal funding for state child care block grants, appropriating \$20 billion for FY 2026 and adjusting for inflation thereafter. It also establishes a new \$5 billion annual grant program to target improvements in child care workforce, supply, and quality in identified high-need areas. Recipients of these funds must submit detailed plans outlining how they will boost services, support providers, and increase staff compensation in underserved communities. All funds must supplement existing spending and adhere to strict reporting and evaluation requirements to ensure improved access and quality.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand access to telehealth services under Medicare by permanently removing outdated geographic restrictions and broadening provider eligibility. The bill also enhances program integrity by dedicating new funding to oversight and establishing educational outreach for providers with unusual billing patterns. Finally, it mandates new resources, training, and public data reporting to ensure the quality and accessibility of virtual care for all beneficiaries.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 mandates sweeping economic penalties against the Russian Federation and its affiliates for actions against Ukraine. This legislation requires the President and Treasury Secretary to impose escalating sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities. Furthermore, the Act prohibits U.S. persons from investing in Russian debt, bans the trading of Russian securities on U.S. exchanges, and imposes a massive 500% import duty on Russian goods. Sanctions can only be terminated if Russia agrees to a verifiable peace deal with Ukraine.