Chris Van Hollen

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency relating to energy declared by the President on January 20, 2025, in Executive Order 14156.

The executive order states that the supply of and infrastructure for energy in the United States is insufficient to meet the country's needs. It defines energy as crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal heat, the kinetic movement of flowing water, and critical minerals.

The executive order directs the heads of executive departments and agencies to use available emergency and other authorities to take certain actions to address this topic, including approving development of domestic energy resources, expediting the completion of authorized energy infrastructure (particularly in the Northeast, West Coast, and Alaska), and pursuing the use of emergency permitting provisions under certain environmental regulations.

The executive order also directs the Department of Defense to conduct an assessment of its ability to acquire and transport energy resources (particularly in the Northeast and West Coast), and invokes emergency military construction authority to address any vulnerabilities identified in the assessment.

This joint resolution provides that the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, was ratified by three-fourths of the states and is therefore a valid constitutional amendment, regardless of any time limit that was in the original proposal.

The Equal Rights Amendment was originally proposed to the states in 1972. The original proposal included a deadline for ratification of March 22, 1979; Congress subsequently extended the deadline to June 30, 1982. Although the requisite 38 states have ratified the amendment, three of these states did so after the deadlines, and five states subsequently rescinded their ratifications. The status of the amendment has been the subject of litigation.

Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025

This bill generally prohibits deceptive communications and voter interference regarding federal elections.

Specifically, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from communicating, causing to be communicated, or producing for communication certain information on voting, if the person (1) knows such information to be materially false, and (2) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from voting in an election.

Additionally, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from using an artificial intelligence system to produce certain information on voting, if the person has the intent to use the system to (1) produce false information, and (2) impede or prevent another person from voting in an election.

The bill also prohibits hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering to vote.

A private right of action for preventive relief is established for persons aggrieved by violations of these prohibitions.

Criminal penalties are also established for violations.

If the Department of Justice (DOJ) receives a credible report that materially false information has been or is being communicated in violation of the prohibitions on deceptive communications, and state and local election officials have not adequately communicated corrected information, then DOJ must communicate to the public accurate information designed to correct the materially false information.

The bill extends the prohibition on certain types of intimidation in federal elections to also prohibit intimidation for processing ballots or tabulating, canvassing, or certifying votes.

Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools Reauthorization Act or the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program. The program awards grants to support the participation of eligible low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services.

Among other revisions to the program, the bill increases the minimum and maximum grant amounts, allows grant funds to be used for additional purposes (e.g., child care subsidies and support services), and specifies additional grant application requirements.

Protect America's Workforce Act

This bill nullifies two executive orders: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs (issued on March 27, 2025) and Further Exclusions From the Federal Labor- Management Relations Program (issued on August 28, 2025). The executive orders exclude specified executive branch agencies and subdivisions from the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and the Foreign Service Labor-Management Relations Statute. The statutes authorize federal employees' participation in collective bargaining and enforce collective bargaining rights.

The bill also specifies that a collective bargaining agreement that is in place as of March 26, 2025, and is between an executive branch agency and any labor organization that is an exclusive representative of federal employees, shall have full force and effect through the stated term of the agreement.

This resolution

• designates September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month,

• encourages people to uphold the right to vote,

• encourages Congress to pass certain voting rights legislation,

• recommends the development of a curriculum in public schools and universities regarding voting,

• expresses appreciation for the U.S. Postal Service having issued a special Representative John R. Lewis stamp, and

• invites Congress to allocate funds for public service announcements regarding elections.

This joint resolution terminates the national emergency declared by President Donald J. Trump on February 1, 2025, which imposed an additional 25% tariff on most imports from Canada (except for Canadian energy or energy resources, which have an additional 10% tariff).

Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act

This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.