District of Columbia Congressional Bills

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 17, 2025

HR 2948: Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025

HR 2948, the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2025, authorizes $360 million annually from 2025-2027 to fund gun buyback programs across the country. The bill creates a grant program for states, local governments, tribal governments, and eligible gun dealers to collect firearms from individuals using "smart prepaid cards" that cannot be used to purchase guns. Participants would pay 125% of a gun's market value (with possible increases for modified weapons) and must destroy all collected firearms and ammunition within 30 days. The program requires criminal background checks on all collected weapons and prohibits reselling any guns obtained through the initiative, with a new federal criminal provision making it illegal to use these cards for firearm transactions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

LaMonica McIver (D) · 31 co-sponsors

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 17, 2025

HR 2947: Deafblind DATA Act

HR 2947, the Deafblind DATA Act, requires the U.S. Census Bureau to publish an annual data table starting in 2026 showing individuals who reported both hearing and vision loss in the American Community Survey. The table will include demographic details (sex, race, age) and economic factors (employment, education, income, poverty status) for people in each state, without revealing personal identifiers. This bill directly addresses the lack of centralized data on the deafblind population (estimated at 10,000 children and 40,000 adults by the National Center on Deafblindness), which currently prevents accurate service planning. The Census Bureau must also report to Congress within 180 days on feasibility of expanding such data collection. The Act does not change existing services but aims to improve understanding of this population's needs through better data.

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 17, 2025

HR 2949: Working Families Task Force Act of 2025

HR 2949, the Working Families Task Force Act of 2025, establishes a federal task force to examine challenges facing working families and develop policy recommendations. The task force, led by the Secretary of Labor and including representatives from 9 agencies (like Health, Education, Housing, and Small Business), will meet quarterly to study issues such as affordable childcare, livable wages, housing access, healthcare costs, and workforce training. It must submit a report to Congress within 180 days, detailing findings, stakeholder consultations, and recommendations for improving working families' quality of life. This bill creates a research and coordination mechanism but does not enact new laws or funding.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 14, 2025

HRES 333: Recognizing the enduring cultural and historical significance of emancipation in the Nation's capital on the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which established the "first freed" on April 16, 1862, and celebrating passage of the District of Columbia statehood bill in the House of Representatives.

This resolution commemorates April 16, 1862 - the date President Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed approximately 3,100 enslaved people in the nation's capital - and honors the existing District of Columbia Emancipation Day holiday. It also celebrates the House of Representatives' recent passage of the Washington, DC Statehood Bill (H.R. 51), which would grant DC voting representation in Congress. The resolution has no legal effect but symbolically supports DC residents' long-standing push for voting rights and statehood. It directly affects DC residents by affirming their historical struggle for equality and representation.

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 14, 2025

HRES 332: Supporting the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2025, as the eighth annual "Black Maternal Health Week", founded by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA), to bring national attention to the maternal and reproductive health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing people.

HRES 332 is a resolution designating April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about maternal health disparities affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It references CDC data showing Black women are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women and that the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations. The resolution emphasizes the need to address systemic inequities contributing to these outcomes without creating new laws or funding. It serves as a symbolic recognition to amplify community-led efforts, such as those by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, rather than implementing policy changes.

Alma S. Adams (D) · 54 co-sponsors

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 14, 2025

HR 2910: Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025

HR 2910, the Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2025, establishes a federal grant program to fund community-based organizations in creating after-school and out-of-school-time workforce readiness programs for youth aged 6-18. The bill authorizes $100 million annually (2026-2030) to support activities like career pathway planning, paid work experiences (including apprenticeships), occupational skill training aligned with local job needs, and employer partnerships. It directly affects eligible youth - particularly those in underserved communities - and requires grantees to coordinate with schools, employers, and local workforce boards, while mandating youth councils to advise on program design. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, including improved school attendance, skill development, and transitions to postsecondary education or employment.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Josh Harder (D) · 36 co-sponsors

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 14, 2025

HR 2912: Oligarch Act of 2025

HR 2912, the "Oligarch Act of 2025," creates a new progressive wealth tax on high-net-worth individuals and certain trusts. It imposes tax rates of 2% to 8% on net taxable assets exceeding a threshold based on median household wealth (starting at $50,000), with higher rates applying to larger wealth brackets. The bill excludes assets under $50,000 that are tangible personal property used in daily life, and includes special rules for married couples, trusts, deceased individuals, and non-residents. It requires new reporting by taxpayers and financial institutions and mandates annual audits of 30% of taxpayers subject to the tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 11, 2025

HR 1288: DRIVE Act of 2025

The DRIVE Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to set mileage reimbursement rates for veterans at the federal government's current standard rate for employees using personal vehicles on official business, replacing the previous fixed rate of 41.5 cents per mile. It also mandates that the VA process and pay these reimbursements within 90 days of a veteran's valid request. This directly affects veterans who travel for VA medical appointments or services using their personal vehicles. The bill aligns veteran travel reimbursements with federal employee standards and ensures timely payments.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Julia Brownley (D) · 54 co-sponsors

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 10, 2025

HRES 326: Supporting the designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day", in honor of the accomplishments and legacy of the trailblazing labor and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.

HRES 326 is a non-binding resolution designating April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to honor the late labor and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. It recognizes her foundational work co-founding the United Farm Workers, leading grape boycotts that secured union contracts, advocating for farm workers' safety, and championing women's rights and Latino political representation. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any group, as it solely serves to commemorate Huerta's legacy. It was introduced by multiple House members in recognition of her contributions to civil rights and equality.

Sylvia R. Garcia (D) · 54 co-sponsors

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 10, 2025

HRES 328: Expressing support for the staff of public, school, academic, and special libraries in the United States and the essential services those libraries provide to communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope of social service and community supports provided by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens of the United States to freely access information and resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff.

HRES 328 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide to communities across the United States. It recognizes libraries as critical infrastructure for community access to information, internet, social services, and safe spaces - especially for underserved groups - and calls for full federal, state, and local funding to sustain these services. The resolution reaffirms the public’s right to free access to information, supports library workers’ rights to unionize and collectively bargain, and defends staff from threats like book bans or intimidation for upholding library missions. It specifically endorses National Library Week and urges protection of civil rights for library workers. (Note: As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Pramila Jayapal (D) · 26 co-sponsors

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 2894: SEER Act of 2025

The SEER Act of 2025 strengthens ethics oversight for special government employees (SGEs) - non-career federal staff serving on advisory committees or in non-advisory roles - who previously faced fewer disclosure requirements than full-time employees. It requires SGEs serving more than 60 days in a year (reducing the current 130-day limit) to follow the same ethics rules as regular employees, including mandatory financial disclosures and public posting of conflict-of-interest waivers. The bill also mandates a searchable online database listing each SGE's service duration and appointment reason, prohibits SGEs from communicating with agencies about companies they own or lead (if not on an advisory committee), and extends disclosure requirements to SGEs not serving in low-level roles. These changes directly affect SGEs in significant decision-making roles, enhancing transparency for the public and Congress.

in committee · District of Columbia · House Apr 10, 2025

HR 2880: To provide employment protections for, and reinstatement of, certain probationary Federal career employees, and for other purposes.

HR 2880 provides due process protections for federal employees who are promoted to career positions (in the competitive service, excepted service, or Senior Executive Service) and serve under a probationary period. It requires these employees to be covered by existing federal employment laws, including special protections for Department of Veterans Affairs staff. The bill also allows employees removed from such positions between January 20, 2025, and the law's enactment to be reinstated to their former or equivalent role with backpay. Political appointees are excluded from these protections and reinstatement provisions.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

District of Columbia Congressional Bills

Bill results