Connecticut Congressional Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1881: Public Service Worker Protection Act

This bill expands workplace safety protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to cover public employees, including those working for federal, state, or local government agencies. It amends the law to explicitly include "the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State" in the definition of covered workers, removing previous exclusions. The key provision requires all public workplaces to follow OSHA safety standards, with a 36-month transition period for states or localities without their own OSHA-approved plans. This directly affects government workers like teachers, police, and sanitation staff who were previously excluded from federal OSHA coverage.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1856: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude military bonuses from gross income.

This bill (S 1856) would amend the tax code to exclude certain military bonuses from being counted as taxable income. Specifically, it changes Internal Revenue Code Section 134 to remove bonuses paid to active-duty service members under Chapter 5 of Title 37, U.S. Code, from gross income calculations. The change would apply to tax returns filed for 2025 and later tax years. It directly affects service members receiving these specific bonuses by potentially reducing their federal tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1859: Ready Reserve Act of 2025

This bill amends military retirement rules for members of the Ready Reserve. It changes the effective date used to calculate early retirement eligibility from January 28, 2008, to September 11, 2001, affecting eligible service members seeking early retirement benefits. The change simplifies the eligibility calculation by aligning it with a historically significant date.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1910: Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025

This bill would establish federal grants to support comprehensive sex education and sexual health services for young people ages 10-29, with specific emphasis on making these programs evidence-informed, medically accurate, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive of diverse identities. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for five years to fund programs in schools, colleges, and youth organizations that provide age-appropriate education on topics like anatomy, contraception, consent, healthy relationships, and STI prevention. It specifically requires programs to address racial and gender equity, serve underserved youth (including Black, Indigenous, Latine, LGBTQ+, and low-income youth), and avoid harmful practices like abstinence-only education. The bill repeals the "abstinence-only-until-marriage" program and redirects those funds to support the new comprehensive approach, requiring grantees to report on program impact including how many young people were served and how programs address racial and gender equity.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1857: A bill to amend title 14, United States Code, to require the retention of certain enlisted members of the Coast Guard who have completed 18 or more, but less than 20, years of service, and for other purposes.

This bill requires the Coast Guard to retain enlisted members who have completed 18 but less than 20 years of service and are facing separation or expiration of their enlistment. It applies to both regular Coast Guard members and Reserve members serving in active status. The key provision mandates that these members must remain on active duty until they qualify for retirement (reaching 20 years), with specific time limits based on their exact service length (e.g., 2-3 years depending on whether they have 18-19 or 19-20 years). This policy directly affects eligible Coast Guard enlisted personnel who would otherwise separate before becoming retirement-eligible.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1915: Remove the Stain Act

S 1915, the "Remove the Stain Act," rescinds 20 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. Army soldiers for their role in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, where unarmed Lakota men, women, and children were killed. The bill requires removing these soldiers' names from official military Medal of Honor rolls but does not require them to return their medals or deny them federal benefits. This action follows historical findings that the massacre involved the killing of hundreds of unarmed Native Americans, including women and children, and was described by military leaders as "brutal" and "cold-blooded." The bill directly affects the historical record of the Medal of Honor, aligning with requests from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the National Congress of American Indians.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1914: Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act of 2025

This bill requires federal law enforcement officers, Bureau of Prisons staff, and U.S. Marshals to immediately obtain or provide medical care when someone in federal custody shows medical distress (like breathing difficulties). It makes it a federal offense for covered officials to negligently fail to act, punishable by fines, up to one year in prison, or both. The bill mandates Inspector General investigations into such failures that cause harm and establishes confidential complaint processes. It also requires agencies to train covered officials on responding to medical distress in custody. The law directly affects individuals in federal custody and the specific federal officials responsible for their care.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1887: Vote at Home Act of 2025

The Vote at Home Act of 2025 would require all states to mail ballots to registered voters at least two weeks before federal elections, making voting by mail the default option for all eligible voters. It eliminates unnecessary barriers like notary requirements and excuse documentation for mail-in voting while ensuring ballots are accessible for people with disabilities. The bill also mandates free postage for election mail and expands automatic voter registration through motor vehicle departments. These changes would directly affect all voters participating in federal elections across the United States, aiming to increase accessibility and participation.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1918: Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025

S 1918, the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025, creates a new federal tax credit for expenses related to access technology for blind individuals. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per 3-year period for qualified hardware, software, or IT tools that convert visual information into accessible formats for themselves, their spouse, or a blind dependent. The credit amount adjusts annually for inflation starting in 2026 and expires after 2030. This policy directly affects taxpayers who pay for such technology for blind family members, reducing their tax liability for these qualifying expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

John Boozman (R) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 21, 2025

SRES 243: A resolution condemning the financial entanglements of World Liberty Financial, Inc. with President Donald J. Trump, the Trump family, and the Trump Administration.

This resolution condemns the financial connections between World Liberty Financial, Inc. (WLFI) - a cryptocurrency firm partially owned by President Trump and his family - and foreign entities, citing potential violations of the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause. It specifically highlights a $2 billion deal involving WLFI and a UAE-backed firm (MGX Fund Management), which could allow the Trump family to receive payments from a foreign government without congressional consent. The resolution demands that any such proceeds be transferred to the U.S. government and affirms that these ties create unacceptable conflicts of interest and ethical concerns. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it does not change laws but formally expresses disapproval of these financial arrangements.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 21, 2025

SRES 244: A resolution affirming that the underlying purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the government of Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, an illegal emolument, withholding the consent of the Senate to the acceptance and transfer of plane from the government of Qatar, and demanding the transfer of any plane received by President Donald J. Trump or entities under his control from the government of Qatar to the permanent control of the United States Government.

This resolution (SRES 244) states that accepting a $400 million Boeing 747 jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One - without congressional approval - violates the U.S. Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause. It specifically targets President Trump or his entities that received the plane, demanding the U.S. government take permanent control of it. The resolution argues the transfer poses national security risks (like potential surveillance devices) and would cost taxpayers over $1 billion to retrofit, bypassing required congressional consent. It does not create new law but formally declares the acceptance illegal and demands the plane be transferred to federal control.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 21, 2025

SRES 242: A resolution condemning the private business agreements of President Donald J. Trump with foreign governments for posing unacceptable conflicts of interest, affirming such agreements violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of the United States, and demanding the transfer of any proceeds from such agreements to the United States Government.

This Senate resolution (SRES 242) condemns President Trump's private business deals with foreign governments - such as a $5 million Oman hotel project and a $5.5 billion Qatar golf resort - as unconstitutional conflicts of interest. It asserts these agreements violate the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause, which prohibits the President from accepting payments from foreign governments without Congressional consent. The resolution demands that any proceeds from these deals be transferred to the U.S. government. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the Senate's position but does not create new legal requirements or enforceable actions.

Connecticut Congressional Bills

Bill results