Legislation

The "Make Sense Not Cents Act" would stop the minting of 1-cent coins by the Treasury Secretary. Though the minting of pennies would cease, all 1-cent coins would continue to be legal tender for all public and private debts, taxes, and duties. The Act also affirms Congress's power over the monetary system.

The LAST ACRE Act of 2025 aims to bridge the digital divide in agriculture by establishing the "Last Acre Program," which provides grants and loans to expand high-speed internet access for agricultural producers, with priority given to unserved and underserved areas. The act directs the Secretary to establish the Last Acre Program to provide grants and loans to covered providers to deliver qualifying connectivity to unserved and underserved eligible land. It also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to collect more comprehensive broadband usage data through updated surveys and censuses. Finally, the Act authorizes $20,000,000 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating May 12-16, 2025, as "Veterans Affairs Research Week" to celebrate the centennial of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research. It recognizes the VA's significant contributions to medical advancements and improved healthcare for veterans and the global population. The resolution highlights key milestones, Nobel Prize-winning researchers, and the ongoing impact of VA research, while emphasizing the importance of continued support and funding for these vital initiatives.

The "America the Beautiful Act" reauthorizes and expands the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through 2033, increasing its funding to $2 billion. It prioritizes projects with private donations, mandates annual project lists to Congress, and allows fund allocation even without full-year appropriations. The act also focuses on promoting donation opportunities, managing cash donations, disposing of unneeded assets, and improving preventative maintenance.

This bill disapproves of a National Park Service rule concerning motor vehicle usage within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. By disapproving the rule, the bill prevents the National Park Service's motor vehicle regulation from taking effect.

The Medicare for All Act establishes a national health insurance program guaranteeing comprehensive healthcare coverage to all U.S. residents, including medical, dental, vision, and long-term care, without cost-sharing. It sets standards for provider participation, protects whistleblowers, and allows private contracts under specific conditions, while also creating a national health budget and trust fund to finance the program through a combination of reallocated funds and new tax revenues. The Act aims to streamline existing health programs, eliminate duplicate coverage, and ensure a smooth transition by expanding Medicare benefits and offering a Medicare buy-in option. This legislation also addresses health equity and updates SSI resource limits, potentially impacting employer-sponsored health plans and the financial landscape of healthcare.

This resolution designates May 4-10, 2025, as Public Service Recognition Week, honoring public servants at the federal, state, and local levels, including uniformed service members, for their dedication and contributions to the United States. It recognizes the wide range of crucial services they provide and expresses gratitude for their commitment to the nation's welfare, security, and ideals. The resolution also encourages promoting public service careers and remembering those who died in service.

The Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to update the tax treatment of payments received under the Nurse Corps program. It modifies sections 108(f)(4) and 117(c)(2)(A) to include references to section 846 of the Public Health Service Act, ensuring that scholarships and loan repayments received through the Nurse Corps program are treated consistently for tax purposes. These changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after the enactment of this act.

The "Preventing Power Outages Act" amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve electric grid reliability. It prioritizes grant applicants with the least reliable grids, as measured by industry standards (SAIDI, SAIFI, and CAIDI), and extends funding for grid improvement projects through 2031. The Act ensures that grants are focused on areas needing the most improvement and prevents the prioritization of applications based on the number of grid improvements proposed.

The Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 settles water rights claims for the Tule River Tribe in California, ratifies a 2007 agreement between the Tribe, South Tule Independent Ditch Company, and the Tule River Association, and authorizes funding and land transfers to the Tribe. This act establishes trust accounts for water development projects and outlines waivers and releases of claims by the Tribe and the United States. The act confirms the Tribe's right to divert and use up to 5,828 acre-feet per year of surface water from the South Fork Tule River.

The "SMART Health Care Act" aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, promote site-neutral payments, increase Medicare access in rural areas, lower drug costs for Medicare patients, and improve the quality of care in skilled nursing facilities. This bill requires the Secretary to use two years of diagnostic data for risk adjustment methodology starting in 2026. Additionally, it modifies Medicare payment rules for services provided in hospital outpatient departments and revises criteria for rural providers concerning designated health services. The bill also seeks to ensure that covered entities provide covered outpatient drugs to patients at a price no higher than what the entity paid for the drug, and increases the percentage points for skilled nursing facilities.

The Net Price Calculator Improvement Act aims to make college costs more transparent for students and families. It sets new minimum standards for college net price calculators, ensuring they are user-friendly, provide comprehensive cost breakdowns, and protect student data. The bill also directs the Department of Education to develop a universal net price calculator, allowing students to estimate costs across multiple institutions with a single tool. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to increase awareness of net price calculators, especially among middle school, high school, and low-income students.

The "Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2025" aims to ensure students are fully informed about their loan obligations by enhancing pre-loan counseling with personalized debt and income estimates, and requiring students to confirm the exact loan amount they need. It also mandates quarterly statements during periods of non-payment, detailing loan balances, interest rates, and the benefits of making payments to reduce accruing interest. These changes are designed to promote responsible borrowing and minimize repayment difficulties.

The "Made in America Motors Act" allows individuals to deduct up to $2,500 in interest paid on loans for qualified motor vehicles. These vehicles must be under 14,000 pounds, primarily used on public roads, manufactured by companies compliant with specific safety standards, and assembled in the United States. This deduction applies to loans taken out after January 1, 2025, and is effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025, regardless of whether the individual itemizes.

The "No Subsidies for Gender Transition Procedures Act" aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act to ensure that medical expense tax deductions, federal Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medicare funding are not used for gender transition procedures. It defines gender transition procedures and sets specific exclusions for certain medical conditions and treatments. The bill also excludes gender transition procedures from being considered essential health benefits under the Affordable Care Act.

The "Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2025" amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to extend funding for community water system security and resilience from 2026 through 2031. These funds can now be used for cybersecurity training programs and materials, enhancing protection against cyberattacks on water systems.

The HOME Act of 2025 aims to protect renters and homebuyers from unfair housing practices. It prohibits excessive price increases during housing crises, directs investigations into market manipulation, and establishes a unit within HUD to monitor housing costs. The Act also addresses unfair tenant screening practices and limits Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac investments to ensure renter protections. Finally, it mandates a review of anti-competitive behaviors in the housing market.

The "Critical Minerals and Manufacturing Support Act" amends Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code to increase tax credits for advanced manufacturing of batteries, particularly for electrode active materials, and introduces sourcing requirements for critical minerals and battery components to be extracted/processed in the U.S. or countries with free trade agreements. It also excludes components produced by "foreign entities of concern" from receiving the credit and broadens the definition of electrode active materials to include precursor materials. This aims to incentivize domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign entities for critical minerals and battery components.

The "Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2025" aims to make diapers more affordable for families by classifying them as qualified medical expenses for tax-advantaged health accounts, such as HSAs and FSAs. Additionally, the bill prohibits state and local governments from imposing sales taxes on diapers. This will reduce the financial burden on families, especially low-income households, and improve the health and well-being of babies and their parents.

The "Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act of 2025" aims to bolster domestic manufacturing by increasing loan limits for small manufacturers through amendments to the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Specifically, it raises the maximum loan amounts available to small manufacturers, with higher limits for those with third-party guarantees or those utilizing the loans for export purposes. These changes are intended to provide greater financial support to small manufacturing businesses operating within the United States.