Legislation

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating April 2025 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month to increase awareness and education, build strong families, support survivors, and ensure justice for victims. It recognizes the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect, healing those affected, and ensuring justice for victims of childhood abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse. The resolution highlights the prevalence and impact of adverse childhood experiences and child maltreatment. It also emphasizes the importance of programs that support families and prevent child abuse.

The ABC Safe Drug Act restricts federal health programs from purchasing drugs with active ingredients manufactured in China, mandating that by 2030, 100% of active ingredients must be produced in FDA-approved countries outside of China. It also requires drug labels to specify the country of origin for each active ingredient. Additionally, the act allows for 100% expensing for qualified pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing property placed in service between 2025 and 2030, incentivizing domestic manufacturing.

The PROOF Act mandates digital exchanges and custodians to protect customer assets by establishing accounting standards, minimizing loss risks, and preventing commingling with exchange funds. It requires monthly attestations and proof of reserves from independent auditors, following standards set by accounting bodies, with public reports to the Under Secretary. Non-compliant entities face civil penalties, and the Under Secretary publishes the names of entities that fail to meet the requirements.

The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act requires the Secretary of Commerce to study and report on the feasibility of manufacturing critical infrastructure products in the United States, analyzing the costs, benefits, and potential for domestic production in areas such as rural communities and industrial parks. The study will identify high-demand imported products and provide recommendations to Congress on how to bolster domestic manufacturing. The goal is to enhance U.S. jobs, employment rates, and supply chains within critical infrastructure sectors.

The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act addresses the widespread issue of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and assault within the Bureau of Prisons. It mandates the Bureau of Prisons to implement recommendations from a 2023 Inspector General report and directs the Inspector General to analyze data on these incidents. The Act also requires the Attorney General to establish national standards for preventing and punishing such misconduct. Ultimately, this bill aims to improve the safety and well-being of correctional officers and other Bureau of Prisons staff.

The Kairo Act of 2025 mandates that child care and early learning programs receiving federal funds, such as Child Care Development Block Grants and Head Start, must establish a parents' bill of rights. This bill of rights includes access to records, video footage related to abuse or neglect, and information about the facility's compliance history. Child care providers must provide parents with a written copy of these rights. The Department of Health and Human Services will inform funding recipients about these new requirements.

This resolution requests the President and Secretary of State to provide the House of Representatives with all records created after January 20, 2025, pertaining to agreements between the U.S. and El Salvador, the removal of individuals to El Salvador, and their subsequent detentions. The request includes documents, correspondence, and legal analyses related to these topics, as well as information on related trips, visits, and funding. The information must be provided within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.

The Mobile Mammography Promotion Act of 2025 allows refunds of federal motor fuel excise taxes for fuel used in mobile mammography vehicles. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit the Secretary to pay the ultimate purchaser an amount equal to the aggregate tax imposed on fuel used in vehicles designed exclusively for mobile mammography services. The act also exempts liquids sold for use in these vehicles from retail tax. These changes aim to reduce the operational costs of mobile mammography services, thereby promoting increased access to breast cancer screenings.

The "Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone Act" or "PACE Act" enhances the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit by increasing the maximum credit percentage, adjusting credit amounts for inflation, and increasing the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance. It also redesignates section 21 as section 36C in the Internal Revenue Code. These changes aim to make childcare more affordable for families. The changes will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The EITC Lookback Act lets taxpayers use their previous year's income to figure out the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if it means a bigger credit. This applies to tax years starting after 2024.

The Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025 aims to protect students and taxpayers by increasing transparency and accountability in higher education. It sets standards for educational programs, expands borrower defense rights, and reinforces the ban on incentive compensation. The bill also enhances oversight of third-party servicers, standardizes job placement rate definitions, and mandates spending on instruction. Additionally, it establishes an enforcement unit within the Office of Federal Student Aid and increases transparency regarding institutional finances and marketing practices.

The "Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act" aims to improve mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority groups by increasing funding for research, training, and outreach programs. It directs the National Institutes of Health to study mental health disparities, promotes culturally competent healthcare practices, and requires the development of a national outreach strategy to raise awareness and improve access to mental health services within these communities. The Act authorizes increased funding for various programs and research initiatives to address mental health disparities.

The Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025 prohibits unfair and deceptive advertising of hotel and short-term rental prices by requiring all covered entities to clearly display the total price, including all mandatory service fees, upfront. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce the Act, and state attorneys general can bring civil actions for violations. Intermediaries and third-party sellers have an affirmative defense if they relied in good faith on inaccurate pricing information from the hotel or short-term rental. The Act preempts state laws that conflict with its provisions, but it does not preempt state laws relating to contracts, torts, or data breaches.

The Buffalo Tract Protection Act withdraws approximately 4,288 acres of federal land in Placitas, New Mexico from mining, mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. It allows the Secretary of the Interior to convey the surface estate of this land, but requires the mineral estate to be reserved by the United States.

The Online Consumer Protection Act requires social media platforms and online marketplaces to create and enforce clear terms of service and consumer protection policies, including content moderation practices and avenues for users to report issues and appeal decisions. These platforms must also establish consumer protection programs, appoint consumer protection officers, and submit annual filings to the FTC detailing their compliance measures. The FTC is empowered to enforce the Act, and individuals and state attorneys general can bring civil actions for violations, ensuring accountability and consumer redress. The Act also clarifies that Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 does not apply to violations of this Act and does not override state or local laws.

The Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act aims to improve mental health support for transitioning service members and veterans. It mandates comprehensive mental health information in the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program and enhances the Department of Veterans Affairs' Solid Start Program to include mental health and counseling services education. The Act requires a report to Congress detailing the developed information and materials.

This bill amends the Small Business Act to allow small businesses to receive disaster loans for damages caused by prolonged power outages. These loans can be used to purchase energy resilience systems and replace spoiled food and drink. The bill defines "prolonged power outage" based on the number of affected homes and businesses, the extent of uninsured losses, and the duration of the outage.

The Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act mandates that each Executive agency and military department meet certain employment levels. If an agency or department cannot meet these requirements, the head of the agency or department must submit a noncompliance notice to relevant committees in Congress, explaining the reasons for not meeting the requirements.

The "BUST FENTANYL Act" aims to combat fentanyl trafficking by enhancing reporting on international narcotics control, studying efforts to address fentanyl trafficking from China and other countries, prioritizing the identification of individuals from China involved in fentanyl shipments, expanding sanctions on those involved in opioid trafficking, and requiring an annual report on efforts to prevent methamphetamine smuggling from Mexico. The act broadens the scope of sanctionable activities related to opioid trafficking and allows for penalties on foreign government entities and officials involved in such activities. It also seeks to strengthen international cooperation and address the role of financial systems in facilitating drug trafficking.

The "Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act" aims to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years through enhanced coordination and planning. It establishes a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management team to develop a comprehensive plan, identify trail gaps, and explore easements. The act also encourages partnerships with volunteer and nonprofit organizations to aid in trail completion and management, while clarifying that it does not grant new land acquisition authorities or prioritize trail land acquisition over other authorizations.