Equality California 2025 Federal Legislative Scorecard
2025 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD
The first year of the second Trump Administration has been devastating for people across the country. From launching an immoral and unlawful campaign against our immigrant neighbors to attempting to block medically necessary healthcare for transgender young people and their families, these attacks have been sweeping, coordinated, and unprecedented.
In the face of relentless pressure from Donald Trump on virtually every institution and federal agency, the other two co-equal branches of government — Congress and the Supreme Court — have too often failed to serve as a meaningful check, instead enabling an extremist agenda at the expense of people’s rights and freedoms. The scorecard in your hands reflects the first half of the 119th Congress, when Republicans controlled both the Senate and the House of Representatives. As you will see, the votes we scored in 2025 are deeply imbalanced: the House advanced a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, while many of those bills stalled in the Senate, where Republicans lacked the 60 votes needed to move them forward.
At the same time, none of Equality California or Silver State Equality’s federal legislative priorities advanced out of their respective committees, underscoring both the gridlock in Congress and the challenges of advancing pro-equality policies in the current political landscape.
But these attacks did not stop in the halls of Congress. Across the federal government, longstanding commitments to nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, and inclusion were dismantled. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers were fired without cause or recourse. Law firms, universities, and media companies were targeted and many capitulated under political pressure.
The consequences have been far-reaching. The dismantling of PEPFAR and broader U.S. development assistance left millions of people living with HIV around the world without critical support. Here at home, deep funding cuts forced scientific and medical researchers to abandon promising work, while advocacy organizations,
including ours, were pushed to reduce staff at the very moment our communities needed us most.
It is difficult to overstate how much worse this moment could be without the coordinated response from a broad coalition of advocates and legal leaders. Twenty-three Democratic attorneys general, alongside national legal organizations, labor unions, and transgender plaintiffs, have filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful actions. Many of these cases have already resulted in temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, blocking or delaying the implementation of some of the most harmful policies.
In this moment, Equality California and Silver State Equality draw strength from our partners, courageous leaders, judges who uphold the rule of law, and more than ever, the people who are showing up in the streets, answering calls to action, and demanding accountability. We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from Democratic leaders in California and Nevada who stood with the LGBTQ+ community against a wave of harmful legislation this year. The stakes are clear, and the path forward runs through the 2026 midterm elections.
UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE,
TONY HOANG
Equality California Executive Director
ANDRÉ WADE
Silver State Equality State Director
VALERIE PLOUMPIS
National Policy Director
Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP for Getty Images
Photo by Rich Pedroncelli for AP
Photo by Nathan Howard for Getty Images
SCORED BILLS
The 2025 scorecard covers nine House floor votes on bills, all of which we strongly opposed, as well as co-sponsorship of the Equality Act, Equality California’s highest priority federal bill. The 2025 Senate report card includes seven scored bills and an additional four bills that are supported but not scored.
ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT
H.R. 1 by Rep. Jodey Arrington [R-TX] & Senate Majority Leader John Thune [R-SD]
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a Republican-led spending package that cuts taxes for the wealthiest Americans while slashing Medicaid and SNAP food assistance and imposing work requirements. It also blocks federal funding for Planned Parenthood and significantly increases funding for anti-immigrant enforcement.
EQUALITY ACT
H.R. 15 by Rep. Mark Takano [D-CA] & S. 1503 by Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]
The Equality Act would establish clear, consistent nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of daily life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public accommodations, federally funded programs, and jury service.
BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT
H.R. 21 by Rep. Ann Wagner [R-MO] & S. 6 by Sen. James Lankford [R-OK]
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is antiabortion legislation that would subject doctors to fines and imprisonment for what it defines as failing to provide a “proper degree of care” in cases involving a fetus that survives an abortion or attempted abortion. The bill is widely viewed as an effort to intimidate providers and restrict access to care.
SAFEGUARD AMERICAN VOTER ELIGIBILITY ACT
H.R. 22 by Rep. Chip Roy [R-TX] & S. 128 by Sen. Mike Lee [R-UT]
The SAVE Act would require voters to present documentary proof of citizenship to register and would invalidate certain mail ballots received after Election Day, even if they were sent on time. The measure would create new barriers to voting and disproportionately impact eligible voters.
OPPOSED
The bill passed the Senate 51–50 and the House 218–214 and was signed into law on July 4, 2025.
SUPPORTED
Neither the House nor the Senate voted on this legislation.
OPPOSED
The bill passed the House 217–204 but was not taken up in the Senate.
OPPOSED
The bill passed the House 220–208 but was not taken up in the Senate.
“Equality California is leading the fight to build a world where everyone feels safe and empowered to be their authentic selves, no matter who they love. It is an honor to stand with Equality California in their mission to uplift LGBTQ+ voices in positions of power across the state and country, while defending the right for everyone to live openly, safely, and equitably.”
NO ROGUE RULINGS ACT; & NATIONWIDE INJUNCTION ABUSE PREVENT ACT
H.R. 1526 by Rep. Darrell Issa [R-CA] & S. 1099 by Sen. Josh Hawley [R-MO]
The No Rogue Rulings Act and the Nationwide Injunction Abuse Prevent Act would limit the ability of federal district court judges to issue nationwide injunctions blocking executive orders and administrative policies while legal challenges are pending.
ANTI-LGBTQ+ AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT*
Amendment #13 to H.R. 3838 by Rep. Ralph Norman [R-SC]
This amendment is a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits the Exceptional Family Member Program from providing medically necessary care for transgender dependents and restricts servicemembers from being reassigned to duty stations where such care is available.
ANTI-LGBTQ+ AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT*
Amendment #14 to H.R. 3838 by Rep. Nancy Mace [R-SC]
This amendment is a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits TRICARE from covering or providing transition-related care for adult servicemembers, including hormone therapy, and bans such care for dependents under 18, including related mental health services.
ANTI-LGBTQ+ AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT*
Amendment #15 to H.R. 3838 by Rep. Nancy Mace [R-SC]
This amendment is a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act that bans transgender cadets at U.S. service academies from participating on women’s sports teams.
OPPOSED
The House bill passed 219–213, and the Senate did not take action.
OPPOSED
The amendment passed the House 221–210.
OPPOSED
The amendment passed the House 221–207.
OPPOSED
The amendment passed the House 227–201.
*While these amendments passed in the House, Senate Democrats removed all but one provision, a restriction on transgender cadets participating in sports at military academies, from the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act passed in the Senate.
U.S. SENATOR ALEX PADILLA
LEGISLATION NOT SCORED
Beyond the bills included in this scorecard, Equality California and Silver State Equality’s Washington, DC-based team works to advance a range of progressive federal legislation that does not reach the floor for a vote. This year, three of the four supported bills were introduced by members of the California and Nevada congressional delegations. These measures are highlighted because they would have a significant and meaningful impact on LGBTQ+ people and the broader communities we are part of if enacted into law. Additionally, we took an opposing position on two bills that attacked the rights and dignity of immigrants across the country.
LAKEN RILEY ACT
H.R. 29 by Rep. Mike Collins [R-GA] & S. 5 by Sen. Katie Britt [R-AL]
The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented people who have been arrested for offenses including burglary, theft, larceny, and shoplifting.
PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BY ILLEGAL ALIENS ACT
H.R. 30 by Rep. Nancy Mace [R-SC] & S. 158 by Sen. Marsha Blackburn [R-TN]
The Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act mandates deportation for undocumented people convicted of certain sex offenses or conspiracy to commit a sex offense.
SAFE SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT ACT
H.R. 1810 by Rep. Linda Sánchez [D-CA] & S. 986 by Sen. Tim Kaine [D-VA]
The Safe Schools Improvement Act would require schools to adopt comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policies to protect students, including those targeted based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
FIT TO SERVE ACT
H.R. 3569 by Rep. Adam Smith [D-WA] & S. 2006 by Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA]
The Fit to Serve Act would prohibit the Department of Defense from disqualifying transgender people from military service or separating servicemembers based on a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria. It would also bar policies requiring troops to serve according to their sex assigned at birth and prohibit denial of medically necessary care based on gender identity.
OPPOSED
The bill passed the Senate 64–35 and the House 264–159 and was signed into law on January 29, 2025.
OPPOSED
The bill passed the House 217–204 but was not taken up in the Senate.
SUPPORTED
Neither the House nor the Senate voted on this legislation.
SUPPORTED
Neither the House nor the Senate voted on this legislation.
EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ACT
H.R. 3740 by Rep. Eric Swalwell [D-CA] & S. 1955 by Sen. Adam Schiff [D-CA]
The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which provides broad immunity to the gun industry from liability for harm caused by its products and business practices.
GREATER LEADERSHIP OVERSEAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF EQUALITY [GLOBE ] ACT
H.R. 4245 by Rep. Dina Titus [D-NV] and S. 2231 by Sen. Ed Markey [D-MA]
The GLOBE Act would advance and protect LGBTQ+ rights globally by strengthening the use of sanctions against governments that commit abuses, ensuring U.S. foreign assistance and global health programs are inclusive of LGBTQ+ people, and supporting decriminalization efforts through rule-of-law initiatives. It would also expand access to asylum and refugee protections for LGBTQ+ people facing persecution and clarify pathways to U.S. citizenship for children born abroad to married U.S. citizen parents through surrogacy or assisted reproduction.
SUPPORTED
Neither the House nor the Senate voted on this legislation.
SUPPORTED
Neither the House nor the Senate voted on this legislation.
METHODOLOGY
In the scorecard that follows, the analysis of votes is based on House and Senate floor votes, as well as co-sponsorship of priority legislation that did not receive a vote on the House and/or Senate floors.
“YES” votes on scored legislation are represented by “-” and “NO” votes are represented by “+”
The overall score reflects officials’ votes for, or co-sponsorship of, legislation scored by Equality California and Silver State Equality as of December 31, 2025.
PLEASE NOTE: An “A” indicates an ABSENCE due to family/medical leave or travel. Missed votes on scored legislation may be excused if: the legislator was a co-sponsor, or was absent from the floor on official business or due to family/medical leave or travel.
SCORECARD: CALIFORNIA
“I’m grateful that Equality California has been such a strong partner in our fight to protect, strengthen, and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. Their commitment is clear, from supporting my International Human Rights Defense Act, which protects LGBTQ+ communities abroad, to championing countless bills that prioritize our rights and well-being. I look forward to continuing this important work alongside Equality California as we keep fighting for equality and justice for all.”
U.S. HOUSE - CALIFORNIA
MEMBERS
CONGRESSMAN ROBERT GARCIA
MEMBERS
Levin
Liccardo
Lieu
Lofgren
McClintock
Min
Mullin
Obernolte
Panetta
Pelosi
Peters
Ruiz
Simon
Swalwell
Torres
Tran
Valadao
Vargas
Waters
Whitesides
7
5
47
15
23
19
11
50
29
25
38
32
SCORECARD: NEVADA
“I am proud of the work I have done with Silver State Equality, including promoting legislation like my GLOBE Act which would restore the United States’s role in promoting LGBTQI rights around the world. Silver State Equality continues to push the needle on LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, and gun violence prevention.”
CONGRESSWOMAN
DINA TITUS
U.S. SENATE - NEVADA
U.S. HOUSE - NEVADA
Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve.
