Edward Markey

Expanding the Voluntary Opportunities for Translations in Elections Act or the Expanding the VOTE Act

This bill expands access to voting materials for individuals with limited proficiency in the English language.

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide voting materials and other language assistance to persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives, or of Spanish heritage and whose ability to speak or understand English limits electoral participation. A state or political subdivision that is subject to Section 203 is prohibited from providing English-only voting materials in an election. Among other requirements, this bill (1) requires the Department of Justice to issue a notice of prohibition, including the trigger threshold at which the prohibition applies, to certain states and political subdivisions; and (2) requires covered states and political subdivisions to provide written translations of all voting materials, with the consent of any applicable tribal government, to election workers.

Additionally, the bill requires the Election Assistance Commission to make incentive grants for states and political subdivisions to provide translated voting materials.

The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the impact of (1) reducing the threshold requirement under Section 203 of the VRA, and (2) expanding the definition of language minorities to include native speakers of additional languages.

Sustaining Our Democracy Act

This bill establishes and provides funds through FY2035 for the State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund for purposes of promoting election activities.

Specifically, the bill establishes the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program, through which the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation (also established by this bill) shall make allocations to states for carrying out democracy promotion activities. These activities include improving the administration of federal elections, recruiting and training nonpartisan election officials and poll workers, and increasing voting access.

The bill requires each state, in order to receive allocated funds, to (1) submit a plan for approval that describes how the state will distribute resources and carry out democracy promotion activities, and (2) establish uniform and nondiscriminatory state-based administrative complaint procedures.

The bill prohibits states from using funds for certain activities, including any activity that diminishes the ability of any eligible voter to participate in the electoral process.

Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act

This bill makes permanent temporary provisions that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit. This bill also repeals multiple Medicaid, Medicare, and health-related tax provisions enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

Currently, eligible taxpayers may claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To qualify, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the maximum income limit is eliminated, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit.

Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is partially based on the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the applicable percentages are lowered and the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation is eliminated, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit.

The bill permanently eliminates the 400% maximum income limit, lowers the applicable percentages, and eliminates the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.

Finally, the bill repeals multiple Medicaid, Medicare, and health-related tax provisions enacted by the OBBBA, including

• certain Medicare and Medicare eligibility and verification requirements,

• the reduced window for retroactive Medicaid coverage, and

• premium tax credit verification requirements.

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025

This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.

A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years:

• 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; or

• 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself.

A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years.

States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting.

States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.

The bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights.

The bill outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.

The bill also includes certain protections for election workers, polling places, and election infrastructure.

Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments Act or the CANADA Act

This bill exempts goods imported by or for the use of small business concerns from duties (i.e., tariffs) imposed under Executive Order 14193. This executive order, issued by President Donald J. Trump on February 1, 2025, imposed a 25% tariff on most imports from Canada (except for Canadian energy or energy resources, which have a 10% tariff).

Young Fishermen’s Development Program Reauthorization Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and expands the purposes of the Young Fishermen’s Development Program. The bill also directs the National Sea Grant Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to track and evaluate the career progression of program participants.

As background, the Young Fishermen’s Development Program awards grants to support training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen. Currently, grants may be used for specified topics, including vessel and engine maintenance, sustainable fishing practices, and financial and risk management. The bill expands these topics to include

• crew management,

• disaster preparedness,

• seafood handling,

• fishing portfolio diversification and expansion, and

• management of working waterfronts and related shoreside infrastructure.

In addition, the bill eliminates NOAA's discretionary authority to determine other activities, opportunities, or programs that are eligible for grants under the program.

The bill also prohibits recipients from receiving concurrent grants. (Consecutive grants are permitted under the bill and current law.)

Finally, the bill directs the National Sea Grant Office, to the extent practicable, to (1) track the career progression of program participants; (2) identify participants who subsequently enter or remain in commercial fisheries in the United States or related industries; and (3) use these outcomes as a key factor in evaluating future grant applications.