Legislative Activity

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2025 retroactively reauthorizes trade adjustment assistance programs for workers, firms, and farmers that expired on June 30, 2021, through December 31, 2031. It directs the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Commerce to reconsider and certify certain groups of workers and firms who were previously denied certification between July 1, 2021 and the enactment date, if they meet the eligibility requirements as of the enactment date. The bill also outlines eligibility for benefits and extends funding for training and reemployment programs.

The "Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025" prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing or extending leases for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration and development in the Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf.

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act aims to improve mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups through increased funding, research, and culturally competent training and outreach programs. It mandates a study on mental health disparities, promotes best practices in healthcare training, requires a national outreach strategy, and allocates additional funds to the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The bill reauthorizes and expands grant programs to prioritize entities serving high proportions of racial and ethnic minority groups.

The Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2025 requires the Federal Reserve to develop climate change risk scenarios and assess the ability of large financial institutions to withstand these risks. It establishes a technical group of climate scientists and economists to advise on these scenarios and mandates that financial institutions create climate risk resolution plans. The bill also directs the Federal Reserve to conduct surveys of smaller financial institutions to evaluate their climate change preparedness and adaptation strategies. Ultimately, this act aims to ensure the stability of the financial system in the face of climate-related financial risks.

The New England Coastal Protection Act prohibits the Department of Interior from issuing leases for oil and gas exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of New England. This includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to include this prohibition.

The "Preparing and Resourcing Our Student Parents and Early Childhood Teachers Act" aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care and strengthen the early childhood education workforce. It establishes grant programs to support child care for student parents, enhance early childhood educator training, and increase federal matching payments to states for child care expenditures. The bill also requires colleges to inform students with dependents about the dependent care allowance for federal student aid, ensuring they can access financial support for child care costs. Ultimately, this act seeks to support student parents in completing their education and ensure more children have access to quality early childhood education.

The "Expanding Access to Family Planning Act" aims to increase investment in family planning clinics by establishing the Title X Clinic Fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The fund will provide significant annual appropriations for grants, contracts, and infrastructure improvements for Title X clinics from 2026 through 2035. The act ensures that all pregnancy counseling is nondirective, offering patients comprehensive information on all options, including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination.

The Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025 amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to improve collaboration on ocean acidification research and monitoring. It includes adding definitions for "Indian Tribe" and "Native Hawaiian organization," and it mandates engagement with affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, community acidification networks, and Indigenous knowledge groups. The act also requires the inclusion of representatives from Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in advisory boards and emphasizes collaboration with these groups in vulnerability assessments and research planning. Additionally, the bill prioritizes the use of NOAA resources for underserved populations and makes several technical corrections to the original act.

The "Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025" expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for individuals without qualifying children by lowering the minimum age, eliminating the maximum age, and increasing credit and phaseout percentages. It also makes permanent the application of the EITC to U.S. possessions and allows taxpayers to elect to use prior year earned income when calculating the EITC if it results in a larger credit. These changes aim to provide additional tax relief to low- and moderate-income workers.

This resolution supports the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, advocating for equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and freedom from discrimination for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools. It addresses the alarming rise of discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQI+ students and the negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The resolution encourages states and localities to enact inclusive policies that prevent victimization and promote positive school climates for all students.

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if each state's laws substantially provide these rights; if not, the Authority will administer collective bargaining rights in that state. The Act outlines the rights of public employees and employers, including the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities, and prohibits lockouts and strikes that would disrupt emergency or public safety services. This law does not invalidate existing collective bargaining agreements and certifications and includes exceptions for certain state laws and political subdivisions.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over a five-year period, after which it will be adjusted annually based on the percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees and newly hired employees under 20, eventually eliminating the separate wage tiers. Additionally, it increases the minimum wage for individuals with disabilities and promotes their economic self-sufficiency by phasing out special certificates that allow employers to pay them a subminimum wage.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Louisiana Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr., recognizing his contributions to energy policy, natural resource conservation, and Louisiana's cultural heritage. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives and send a copy of the resolution to Senator Johnston's family. Upon adoption, the Senate will adjourn in his honor.

This resolution expresses the Senate's view that paraprofessionals and education support staff are crucial to schools and deserve fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions that allow them to effectively support students. It advocates for livable wages, affordable healthcare, paid leave, professional development, necessary resources, and a safe working environment for these essential employees. The resolution also supports their right to have a voice in school policies and protection from retaliation when reporting workplace concerns. Additionally, it encourages employers to engage in good faith negotiations and avoid replacing or locking out these workers during strikes.

The "No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax deductions for employer expenses used to influence employees regarding union activities, including union elections and collective bargaining. It requires detailed reporting of such expenditures on tax returns, with significant penalties for non-compliance, while providing exemptions for certain communications and activities. The Act aims to prevent taxpayer subsidization of employer interference in workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" allows above-the-line tax deductions for union dues and other employee-related business expenses. This amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure these deductions are not subject to certain limitations, providing tax relief for workers. These changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to ensure that unaccompanied children have legal representation in immigration proceedings by providing government-funded counsel. It mandates that these children receive complete copies of their immigration files and have sufficient time to review them, and it also requires the Department of Homeland Security to allow counsel access to detained non-citizens. The Act directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to develop guidelines for legal representation and requires annual reports on the provision of counsel to unaccompanied children. Additionally, it allows unaccompanied children to reopen their immigration cases if they were not provided with appointed counsel, and it authorizes the necessary appropriations for implementation.

The IDEA Full Funding Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to authorize and appropriate specific funding amounts for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 and subsequent years. It aims to increase federal funding for special education, gradually working towards full federal funding by fiscal year 2035. The funding is calculated based on the number of children with disabilities receiving special education and the average per-pupil expenditure in public schools. This act ensures that funds are available to states to support special education and related services for children with disabilities.

The "Building Child Care for a Better Future Act" increases funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and establishes grants aimed at improving the child care workforce, supply, quality, and access, particularly in underserved areas. The bill allocates significant funds to states, territories, and tribal organizations, emphasizing community engagement and data-driven strategies to address specific child care needs. These grants support various initiatives, including workforce development, facility improvements, and financial assistance for providers, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and ensuring fair wages for child care professionals. The bill also includes reporting requirements and ongoing evaluations to assess the impact of these investments on the child care landscape.