Legislation

The Global Fragility Reauthorization Act amends the Global Fragility Act of 2019 to improve policy alignment through annual meetings, reauthorizes the Prevention and Stabilization Fund and the Complex Crises Fund through 2030, and authorizes the use of Economic Support Funds for monitoring and evaluation activities. These changes aim to enhance the implementation and effectiveness of the Global Fragility Strategy in priority countries and regions.

The "Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act" amends the Animal Welfare Act to include cold-blooded animals like reptiles and fish under the definition of "animal" when used for research, testing, exhibition, or as pets. Certain animals are excluded from this definition, such as birds, rats, mice, horses not used for research, and farmed animals used for food or fiber. This change expands the protections and regulations provided by the Animal Welfare Act to a broader range of species.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 increases the amount of expenses that qualify for the child and dependent care tax credit, and adjusts the income levels at which the credit phases out. It also makes the credit refundable and indexes certain amounts to inflation. These changes are intended to make the credit more accessible and beneficial for working families.

The "Modernizing Government Technology Reform Act" amends existing legislation to refine how government funds are used for IT modernization. It prioritizes projects that replace outdated IT systems, enhances cybersecurity, and improves government efficiency. The act mandates incremental funding based on project milestones, emphasizes repayment of funds to maintain the Fund's solvency, and requires the identification and prioritization of high-risk legacy IT systems. This act extends the Fund's operational sunset date to after December 31, 2032.

This resolution supports the designation of May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to recognize the benefits of renewable fuels. It highlights the positive impact of biofuels on the economy, job creation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing reliance on foreign oil. The resolution acknowledges the role of renewable fuels in lowering fuel prices, supporting rural communities, and reducing the carbon footprint of the United States.

The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act (MRRRI Act) establishes a collaborative, non-regulatory initiative led by the EPA to protect and restore the ecological health of the Mississippi River. This will be done through funding projects, developing actionable goals and plans, and establishing research centers. The initiative focuses on improving water quality, enhancing community resilience, protecting habitats, preventing invasive species, and fostering partnerships to ensure the river's health for future generations. The Act also directs the USGS to establish research centers and a science plan to support the MRRRI's goals.

The "Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration Act" aims to enhance the security of international supply chains for critical minerals and rare earth elements by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to create memorandums of understanding with foreign countries to cooperate on mapping these resources. This cooperation seeks to ensure that US and allied companies have priority in developing these resources, facilitate private investment, and protect mapping data from unauthorized access. The Act outlines specific cooperative activities, including data analysis, resource assessment, training, and promotion of collaboration between US entities and those in partner countries. It also requires the Secretary to notify Congress, collaborate with the Secretary of State, and consult with the private sector in prioritizing partner countries and assessing private sector interest.

The "Fight Fentanyl Act" amends the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998, requiring High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) to report on fentanyl trafficking investigations and any limitations in meeting their goals, while allocating \$333,000,000 annually from 2025-2030 for HIDTAs. It also increases funding for the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) to assist law enforcement with fentanyl interdiction. The Act mandates the Attorney General to prioritize fentanyl trafficking investigations and prosecutions by providing sufficient resources, including temporary reassignment of assistant U.S. attorneys.

The NO LIMITS Act of 2025 aims to sanction Chinese entities that support Russia's invasion of Ukraine by targeting those operating in Russia's technology, defense, or related sectors, as well as those involved in cyber activities or facilitating violations of U.S. export controls. It authorizes the President to block assets and restrict transactions of sanctioned entities, with exceptions for intelligence activities and importation of goods, and requires a determination on whether specific Chinese arms manufacturers should be sanctioned. The act also expands licensing requirements for PRC and Russian entities on the entity list to include any subsidiaries or entities they control.

The GENIUS Act establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins in the United States, requiring issuers to be "permitted payment stablecoin issuers" and maintain 1-to-1 reserves. It sets standards for reserve composition, redemption policies, and regular reporting, while also granting the Comptroller authority to regulate Federal qualified payment stablecoin issuers and allowing state-level regulation for smaller issuers under certain conditions. The Act also addresses anti-money laundering concerns, custody of reserves, and the treatment of stablecoin issuers during insolvency proceedings, and clarifies that payment stablecoins are not securities or commodities. Finally, the Act creates an exception for foreign payment stablecoin issuers under specific conditions and reciprocity for payment stablecoins issued in overseas jurisdictions.

This resolution congratulates the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team on their victory in the 2025 NCAA Division I National Championship. It recognizes the team's record-breaking achievements, individual player accomplishments, and the contributions of the coaching staff. The resolution also directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies to the University President, Head Coach, and Associate Head Coach.

This bill recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Cinco de Mayo as an important date for Mexican and Mexican-American communities. It commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, symbolizing the right to self-determination. The bill encourages the House of Representatives to recognize the historic struggle of the people of Mexico for independence and freedom and encourages the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

The "STRONG Support for Children Act of 2025" aims to address and mitigate childhood trauma through two grant programs. The first program supports data analysis and strategy implementation to prevent childhood trauma and improve community support, while the second establishes care coordination grants for trauma-informed services for children aged 0-5 at risk of adverse childhood experiences and their caregivers. Both programs prioritize community-based approaches, data-driven strategies, and trauma-informed practices, with specific guidelines and limitations to ensure effective and ethical implementation. The Act authorizes appropriations for these grant programs and requires evaluations and reports to Congress on their impact.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. The bill revises subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii) by removing "except in the case of crops and grasses used for grazing" and revises subsection (l)(1) by removing ".". This change expands the program to include crops and grasses used for grazing.

This bill prevents the House of Representatives from considering reconciliation legislation that would cut Medicaid or SNAP benefits for children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. This point of order would be in effect for the 119th Congress. The point of order does not apply to provisions that reduce improper payments or fraudulent billing.

The SGE Ethics Enforcement Reform Act of 2025 (SEER Act 2025) aims to address financial conflicts of interest among special government employees (SGEs) by expanding conflict of interest rules, restricting communications with agencies regarding large companies, mandating a public database of SGEs, and broadening financial disclosure requirements. It ensures that SGEs with significant responsibilities are subject to similar ethics regulations as regular government employees, promoting transparency and accountability. The act requires waivers or exemptions granted to certain SGEs to be proactively published online. Additionally, the act restricts certain SGEs from communicating with agencies or offices that deal with large companies with which the employee has a financial connection.

The "English Language Unity Act of 2025" declares English as the official language of the United States, requiring all official government functions to be conducted in English and standardizing English language tests for naturalization. It mandates that naturalization applicants demonstrate the ability to read and understand the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and U.S. laws and also establishes a "National English Language Day." The bill outlines exceptions for certain situations, including language teaching, national security, and public health and safety and clarifies that it does not prohibit unofficial communication in other languages or discourage learning other languages. Additionally, it sets rules for interpreting U.S. laws in English, emphasizing the protection of individual rights and state powers as outlined in the Bill of Rights.

The "Balance the Scales Act" aims to increase transparency and promote the voluntary establishment of private pension plans. It requires the Secretary of Labor to document and report on assistance provided in legal actions under ERISA, ensuring employers and Congress are informed. The Act also formally recognizes the importance of private pension plans for retirement security and encourages their growth.

The "Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act" renames an area to "Ro Grande del Norte National Monument" and designates approximately 12,295 acres of land in Taos County, New Mexico, as the "Cerro de la Olla Wilderness". It allows for maintenance of existing wildlife projects if wilderness values are enhanced and requires a cooperative agreement with New Mexico for wildlife management activities. The Act also updates the boundary of the Ro Grande del Norte National Monument.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund Transparency Act amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to clarify the commercial exemption, ensuring it does not apply to agents promoting the political interests of foreign governments. It empowers the Attorney General to issue civil investigative demands (CIDs) to enforce FARA's disclosure requirements, enhancing the ability to investigate potential violations. The act also introduces civil penalties for failing to comply with registration and disclosure requirements, with fines used to support FARA enforcement. Finally, it mandates annual reports to Congress on the use of CID authority, ensuring transparency and oversight.