Legislation

The PHARA Act of 2025 mandates the immediate release of all existing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding and prohibits the cancellation of active research agreements. Moving forward, all new NIH grant agreements must include specific termination clauses requiring a 90-day notice and good-faith negotiation before ending the funding. Furthermore, this Act explicitly prevents the NIH from terminating agreements solely because the research no longer aligns with current agency goals or priorities.

The No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act of 2025 mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting domestic enforcement operations must clearly display their name and agency affiliation, and cannot wear facial coverings. Exceptions to this identification rule are permitted only in cases of immediate danger or necessary safety gear, subject to supervisory review within 48 hours. The bill also establishes disciplinary procedures for non-compliance and requires annual reporting to Congress on enforcement and complaints.

The Nuclear REFUEL Act amends the Atomic Energy Act to clarify regulations surrounding nuclear fuel processing. Specifically, it excludes the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from the definition of a "production facility" if the process does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements. This change aims to streamline regulatory oversight for certain fuel recycling activities.

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act aims to increase the pay for certain Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees currently receiving the "Rest of US" locality pay rate. This bill mandates that their pay locality be adjusted to the nearest established locality offering a higher rate, provided it is within 200 miles of their worksite. This change is designed to ensure fairer compensation for these federal correctional staff.

The Streamline Emergency Care Act establishes a new federal grant program to help nonprofit hospitals improve the efficiency and operations of their emergency departments. These grants, capped at $500,000 per award, can be used for staffing, facility upgrades, and staff training. The goal is to modernize emergency care delivery and enhance patient throughput.

The Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act removes a long-standing federal prohibition that prevented students from receiving certain housing assistance. This legislation allows the Secretary to waive specific requirements for Section 8 housing assistance for college students who live in campus housing and have a history in foster care or are emancipated minors. Crucially, any assistance received through this waiver will not negatively impact a student's eligibility for federal financial aid or other support programs.

The Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act overhauls the federal recognition process for accrediting agencies, introducing stricter independence requirements, new standards focused on student success metrics like value-added earnings, and enhanced public transparency. It also updates rules for state-designated accreditors and modifies the structure and term limits for the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). Finally, the bill streamlines the process for institutions wishing to change accreditors and protects the religious mission of certain institutions during accreditation reviews.

The Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2025 aims to repeal specific provisions within the Affordable Care Act and related legislation that limited exceptions to the prohibition on certain physician referrals to hospitals under Medicare. This action effectively restores pre-ACA rules regarding physician referrals for hospital services. The bill focuses on modifying existing Medicare regulations concerning physician-hospital relationships.

The Economic Opportunity for Border Communities Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop a comprehensive national strategy to boost job creation and economic competitiveness in U.S. border communities. This strategy must focus on key sectors like logistics, trade, and manufacturing, while also aiming to lower import/export costs. The resulting plan, detailing necessary policy changes and workforce development initiatives, must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act temporarily changes eligibility rules for certain federal assistance programs for aged, blind, or disabled individuals. For five years following enactment, distributions or interests from a Settlement Trust will not count against an individual when determining their eligibility for these specific benefits. This aims to ensure that Alaska Natives receiving trust distributions can still qualify for necessary aid.

This Act officially renames the Salem Maritime National Historic Site to the Salem Maritime National Historical Park. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on expanding the park's boundaries to include historically significant maritime, coastal defense, and military sites in Salem, Massachusetts. The results of this boundary study must be reported to Congress within three years of funding becoming available.

The Understanding Student Parent Outcomes Act of 2025 aims to improve support for students who are also parents by requiring the federal government to establish a clear definition for "parenting student" and mandate the collection of detailed, disaggregated data on their enrollment, costs, and outcomes. The bill further directs the Secretary of Education to conduct a comprehensive study analyzing the impact of campus childcare and support services on student parent success. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to provide the necessary data and research to better inform policies that help student parents achieve higher education degrees.

The Apex Area Technical Corrections Act updates the 1989 Apex Project land transfer law to clarify definitions, responsibilities, and conditions for land conveyance involving Clark County, the City of North Las Vegas, and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association. It broadens land descriptions and ensures that future land withdrawals are permanent, while also streamlining mineral sales on transferred federal lands. The bill also mandates compliance with key environmental laws for any future land transfers within the Apex Site.

The Preserving Great Americans’ Legacies Act of 2025 prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from changing the names of naval vessels currently honoring eight specific individuals. This legislation ensures that ships named after figures like Cesar Chavez, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman retain their designations. The act immediately prevents any renaming of these protected vessels.

The Research for Healthy Soils Act expands agricultural research funding to specifically address the presence and impact of microplastics and PFAS contaminants on farmland. This legislation authorizes new research grants to track these substances, develop mitigation strategies, and study their effects on crops and soil health. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes several existing high-priority agricultural research and extension initiatives through 2031.

The Republic of Somaliland Independence Act establishes the official U.S. policy invalidating any claims by the Federal Republic of Somalia over the region of Somaliland. This legislation grants the President the authority to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent nation based on this stated policy.

The Open America's Waters Act aims to modernize U.S. maritime law by repealing outdated restrictions on which vessels can engage in coastwise trade. This legislation simplifies the requirements for obtaining coastwise endorsements for vessels operating in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard is mandated to issue new regulations within 90 days to ensure all newly eligible vessels meet current safety and security standards. Overall, the Act cleans up numerous specific references and repeals the section detailing the loss of trade privileges.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital role pollinators play in U.S. agriculture and ecosystem health. It designates June 15 through June 22, 2025, as "National Pollinator Week." The measure encourages public education and activities focused on pollinator conservation. Ultimately, it reaffirms the Senate's commitment to protecting these essential species and their habitats.

The Flood Insurance Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the public release of extensive data related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This bill requires FEMA to create an open data system containing property-level risk assessments, loss ratios, and claims history, while strictly protecting owner privacy. Additionally, it establishes a searchable public database detailing community compliance and flood risk statistics for all participating municipalities. The goal is to enhance research, improve risk understanding, and increase accountability within the NFIP.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to the safety and well-being of refugees and displaced persons globally, recognizing the severity of the current worldwide displacement crisis. It strongly advocates for upholding U.S. legal and moral obligations by restoring and strengthening the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and full asylum protections. The measure specifically calls on federal leaders to reverse recent restrictive policies that have suspended refugee admissions and limited access to protection. Ultimately, this statement urges the U.S. to resume its leadership role in humanitarian aid and international refugee resettlement efforts.