Rep. Ritchie Torres

National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or the NO BAN Act This bill imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, unless there is a statutory basis for such discrimination. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any aliens or class of aliens after the Department of State determines that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as public safety. The bill also imposes limitations on such restrictions, such as requiring the President, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to (1) only issue a restriction when required to address a compelling government interest, and (2) narrowly tailor the suspension to use the least restrictive means to achieve such an interest. Before imposing a restriction, the State Department and DHS shall consult with Congress. The State Department and DHS shall report to Congress about the restriction within 48 hours of the restriction's imposition. If such a report is not made, the restriction shall immediately terminate. Individuals or entities present in the United States and unlawfully harmed by such a restriction may sue in federal court. The bill transfers the authority to suspend the entry of aliens traveling to the United States on a commercial airline that failed to comply with regulations related to detecting fraudulent travel documents from the Department of Justice to DHS.

This bill provides for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, in recognition of their contribution to civil rights by fighting for equality in interstate travel.

Maddy summaryHR 922, the Period PROUD Act of 2025, allocates $1.9 billion annually (2025-2028) through the Social Services Block Grant Program, with $200 million specifically dedicated each year (2026-2029) to provide free menstrual products to low-income menstruating individuals. It requires states to distribute these funds to eligible nonprofits with experience in community distribution of basic needs, integrating the program with existing services like SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC. The bill mandates that funds supplement, not replace, other existing programs, prohibits limiting where products can be distributed, and caps administrative costs at 9% of allocated funds. States must report annually and an evaluation of the program’s effectiveness will be completed by 2031.

Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2025 This bill establishes the Health Care Workforce Innovation Program within the Health Resources and Services Administration to provide grants to federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and post-secondary vocational programs for developing education and training for allied health professionals (e.g., professionals providing clinical or non-clinical support services, community health workers, and health education specialists). Specifically, grant recipients must use the funds to carry out innovative, community-based programs to train allied health professionals, with a focus on supporting rural and underserved areas. Grant recipients may use the funds to launch or expand health care professional partnerships (e.g., between a grant recipient and a school), establish apprenticeship or other career programs, or invest in training equipment, among other activities.

Maddy summaryHR 964, the Rosa Parks Day Act, would designate Rosa Parks Day as a legal public holiday for federal employees and institutions. The bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to add "Rosa Parks Day" to the list of recognized federal holidays, following Thanksgiving Day. This change would establish a new annual observance on the day designated by the President, requiring federal offices to close and employees to receive paid time off. The bill directly affects federal operations and employees, creating a new standard for federal holiday observance.

Maddy summaryThe Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act of 2024 establishes a new standard for determining reasonable shipping rates in domestic ocean trade between noncontiguous U.S. states, such as Hawaii or Alaska and the contiguous United States. It defines a reasonable rate as one falling within 10 percent of a comparable international ocean rate index recognized by the Federal Maritime Commission. This change directly affects shipping companies operating these routes and the Federal Maritime Commission, which will use this metric to evaluate rate reasonableness. The bill does not create new regulations but provides a specific, measurable benchmark for assessing rates in this specific shipping context.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption allowing foreign-registered freight vessels (over 1,000 gross tons, foreign-built, with U.S. crew) to transport goods between U.S. territories (like Hawaii or Alaska) and the mainland without complying with standard U.S. coastwise trade rules. It requires these vessels to hold a U.S. Coast Guard certificate of documentation and meet specific registration criteria. The bill also mandates that all vessels - U.S. or foreign - operating in U.S. coastwise trade must follow minimum U.S. labor and environmental standards. This directly affects foreign shipping companies seeking to serve U.S. territory routes while maintaining compliance with U.S. regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 665, the Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act, modifies U.S. coastwise shipping laws to allow certain noncontiguous trade routes (like Hawaii to California) to operate without the usual requirement that only U.S.-built, U.S.-owned vessels serve those routes. It exempts such shipping unless at least three separate vessel operators (not under common ownership) each transport at least 20% of the goods on the route. This directly affects shipping companies operating on noncontiguous routes and the existing coastwise-qualified vessel operators who must meet these specific volume and ownership conditions to maintain their exclusive right. The bill creates a clearer pathway for new competition on these routes by establishing objective criteria for when the coastwise law applies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates disaster assistance rules to clarify eligibility for specific housing types affected by disasters. It defines "residential common interest communities" (including condos, housing co-ops, and manufactured home communities) and requires the President to issue rules allowing debris removal from these properties when a state determines it threatens safety or recovery. It also expands repair funding eligibility for essential shared areas (like roofs, elevators, and utilities) in these communities, provided residents document their share of costs. The changes apply to disasters declared after the bill's enactment, directly affecting residents of these housing types who seek federal disaster aid.

Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act or the SAD Act This bill prohibits deceptive advertising for reproductive health services. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for a person (i.e., individual, partnership, corporation, association, or organization) to deceptively advertise the reproductive health services they offer, including by misrepresenting that the person (1) offers or provides contraception or abortion services (or referrals for such contraception or abortion services), or (2) employs or offers access to licensed medical personnel. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission. In addition to any other penalty, violations are subject to a civil penalty that may not exceed the greater of $100,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) or 50% of the revenue earned during the preceding 12-month period by the ultimate parent entity of the person who violated the bill.