Legislative Activity

This Act establishes the **Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention**, an interagency group led by the FTC and DOJ, to combat fraud. The task force is charged with developing and implementing a national strategy that includes public education, industry coordination, and enhanced enforcement actions. It will also coordinate with international partners and report annually on its efforts to reduce financial losses from scams.

The Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act establishes a five-year pilot program to expand eligibility for the VA work-study allowance to veterans pursuing certain educational or training programs at a half-time enrollment level. This allows more student veterans to benefit from work-study opportunities without meeting the current three-quarter-time enrollment requirement. Additionally, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to submit annual reports detailing participation and outcomes for veterans in the work-study program.

The Same Day Registration Act of 2025 mandates that all states allow eligible individuals to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day during any federal election, including early voting periods. This requirement applies starting with the November 2026 general election. States without any voter registration requirement for federal elections are exempt from this mandate.

The Federal Emergency Management Continuity Act of 2025 ensures that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can continue essential disaster relief operations during a government funding lapse. This act authorizes the FEMA Administrator to use existing, previously appropriated funds from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to maintain critical Stafford Act programs. Furthermore, necessary staff will be retained as "excepted employees" to manage these ongoing life-saving and property-protecting activities.

The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2025 aims to increase federal reimbursement rates for school meals. Specifically, it provides an additional 45 cents per lunch and 28 cents per breakfast served by school food authorities starting November 1, 2025. These adjusted rates will be subject to future inflation adjustments.

The School Food Modernization Act aims to improve school meal programs by providing financial assistance for facility upgrades and equipment purchases through loan guarantees and grants. It also establishes a new grant program to fund third-party training for school food service staff on nutrition standards and efficiency. Finally, the bill requires reports to Congress on program implementation and a study on how states use administrative funds for workforce training.

This bill mandates that the House of Representatives must convene daily during a government shutdown, limiting their ability to adjourn. It requires recorded quorum calls on session days, imposing escalating fines on members who fail to check in electronically for two consecutive days. These fines must be paid by the member personally, with procedures established for appeals and automatic salary deduction for non-payment.

This bill ensures that states are reimbursed by the Federal Government for any state funds they use to maintain essential operations of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during a lapse in federal appropriations. It provides a mechanism for the Federal Government to pay back states that cover WIC costs during a government shutdown. This protects state budgets while keeping vital nutrition assistance running.

This resolution expresses the official support of Congress for designating the week of October 4–10, 2025, as World Space Week. It recognizes the importance of space science and technology for improving life on Earth and driving innovation across various sectors. The bill specifically encourages public and student participation in events celebrating the 2025 theme, "Living in Space."

The Stop the Trump Electricity Price Hikes Act immediately reinstates financial assistance awards previously canceled by the Department of Energy (DOE). This action specifically reverses cancellations based on the May 15, 2025 Secretarial Memorandum. The bill ensures these awards continue as if they had never been terminated.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to $30,000 during a qualifying shutdown. Additionally, it allows affected employees greater access to TSP hardship withdrawals and loans, and prevents missed TSP loan payments due to a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The Pay Our Military Act ensures that members of the Armed Forces continue to receive their pay and allowances if a full budget for fiscal year 2026 has not been enacted. This continuing appropriation provides necessary funds for active duty, reserves, and essential civilian support staff. This automatic funding remains in effect until a full appropriation is passed or until January 1, 2027.

The Federal Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act ensures that federal firefighters continue to receive their pay and allowances if Congress delays passing the budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation also prohibits the reduction in force or layoffs of federal firefighters specifically due to government shutdowns caused by funding lapses. Essentially, this bill protects the paychecks and employment stability of federal firefighters during budget uncertainty.

The Wildfire Recovery Act ensures the federal government covers at least 75% of eligible fire management assistance costs for newly appropriated funds. It also mandates new rulemaking to establish clear standards for increasing federal disaster cost-sharing based on measurable financial impact. Finally, the bill updates FEMA policy to allow state, local, and Tribal governments to seek reimbursement for pre-staging their own equipment before a disaster is officially declared.

The Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act (Help FEDS Act) ensures that essential, non-paid federal employees working during a government shutdown can receive state unemployment compensation for the weeks they are actively working. This legislation mandates that the federal government fully reimburse states for all benefits paid out, plus administrative costs, directly from the Unemployment Trust Fund. Any employee who receives retroactive pay for a period they were also paid unemployment must repay those benefits to the state.

The LAUNCH Act aims to significantly streamline and modernize the regulatory framework for the commercial space industry, covering both launch/reentry and remote sensing systems. It mandates a review of current space launch regulations, establishes a new digital tracking system for applications, and creates the Commercial Space Transportation Administration (CSTA) within the DOT. Furthermore, the bill encourages innovation by easing licensing requirements and improving interagency coordination on flight safety analysis.

This bill prohibits federal agencies from removing civil service employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown. If an employee is terminated in violation of this rule during a shutdown, they will have the option to be reinstated with full back pay once funding resumes. This measure aims to protect federal workers from job loss caused by budget impasses.

Katie Meyer's Law mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal funding must provide students accused of code of conduct violations the option to have a trained adviser assist them through the disciplinary process. Students can choose their own adviser or request an independent one provided by the institution. Additionally, the bill updates campus security reporting requirements to include incidents of suicide.

This resolution strongly condemns attempts to use federal regulatory power or litigation to suppress lawful speech critical of a political party or the President. It reaffirms the fundamental importance of the First Amendment and warns that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes. The bill urges government agencies to protect free expression and ensure accountability, not political censorship.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 establishes an automatic mechanism to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains funded during a lapse in appropriations. This allows the FAA to continue essential operations using existing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund until a new budget or continuing resolution is enacted. Funding will cease after 30 days if no new appropriations are passed. This ensures continuity for core FAA programs, including operations, infrastructure, and grants.