Legislation

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve support for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST). It mandates a VA report on technology-facilitated MST and overhauls the disability claims process to be more sensitive and evidence-flexible for survivors. Furthermore, the bill expands access to necessary healthcare and support services for a broader range of former service members affected by MST.

The Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act updates the Port Infrastructure Development Program to ensure fairer distribution of funding. This legislation mandates that project selections for both major and smaller port improvements must achieve equitable geographic representation across the United States. The goal is to spread vital port investments more evenly nationwide.

The Paying a Fair Share Act of 2025 introduces a new "Fair Share Tax" targeting high-income taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) exceeding $1,000,000. This tax is calculated as 30% of AGI (minus a modified charitable deduction) but only applies to income that exceeds existing regular income tax, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and payroll taxes. The Senate views this bill as an immediate step to ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share and reduce the national deficit while encouraging broader tax reform.

This bill establishes the private, nonprofit Foundation for Standards and Metrology to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in advancing measurement science and technical standards. The Foundation will accelerate the commercialization of research by partnering with industry, academia, and other groups. It will be governed by an independent Board of Directors and must develop a plan for financial self-sustainability within five years.

The Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the authorization for the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group until 2032. This bill updates the composition of the group, requiring representation from environmental, agricultural, tribal, and governmental interests. Additionally, it increases the allowable administrative cost percentage for the group from 5% to 10%.

The LEDGER Act mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a comprehensive system for tracking every expenditure made by any part of the U.S. government within 180 days. This new system must detail the flow of funds from appropriations and track the availability period for those specific disbursed monies. Essentially, the bill aims to create full traceability for all federal spending records.

The Cameras in the Courtroom Act mandates that the Supreme Court must allow television cameras to record all open court sessions. This requirement stands unless a majority of the justices vote to block coverage for a specific case due to concerns over due process rights. This legislation updates Title 28 of the U.S. Code to formalize the presence of cameras in the highest court.

The Farmers’ Market Expansion Act of 2025 updates the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to enhance purchasing options for seniors. This legislation specifically amends the eligible foods list to include tree nuts alongside herbs. The goal is to provide greater nutritional variety for program participants utilizing their benefits at farmers' markets.

The Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act of 2025 establishes a new federal crime prohibiting Supreme Court officers and employees from knowingly leaking confidential internal deliberations, case documents, or draft opinions. Violators face up to 10 years in prison and fines, with specific penalties outlined for different types of leaks. This legislation aims to safeguard the confidentiality of the Court's decision-making process.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act seeks to permanently protect vast tracts of federal land across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming by designating new wilderness areas, establishing critical biological connecting corridors, and safeguarding key river segments. The bill also mandates the restoration of over a million acres to a roadless character and imposes immediate development restrictions on unstudied roadless lands. Furthermore, it secures necessary water rights for new wilderness areas and reinforces tribal rights and access across the protected regions.

The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025 aims to protect students belonging to single-sex social organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, from punitive action by federally funded colleges. This legislation ensures that schools cannot penalize students or organizations solely based on membership limitations restricted to one sex. Ultimately, the Act safeguards students' freedom to associate with these groups without facing disadvantages compared to members of co-ed organizations.

This Act, the Prohibiting Foreign Adversary Interference in Cryptocurrency Markets Act, prevents digital commodity platforms with ownership ties to designated foreign adversaries from registering or operating in the U.S. market. It specifically prohibits the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from registering or continuing to license any platform owned or controlled by entities from countries like China, Iran, or Russia. The goal is to safeguard U.S. digital asset markets from influence by hostile foreign nations.

The Housing Vouchers Fairness Act aims to provide additional rental assistance funding to public housing agencies (PHAs) serving the fastest-growing, high-population areas in the U.S. This new funding mechanism addresses situations where existing voucher allocations have not kept pace with rapid population growth between 2012 and 2022. Congress authorizes \$2 billion to ensure these eligible PHAs can adequately cover local housing costs for their residents.

The Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime Act (BOLIVAR Act) prohibits federal agencies from contracting with any entity known to have significant business operations with the unrecognized Venezuelan regime. This restriction includes broad definitions of "business operations" but contains specific exceptions for humanitarian aid, U.S. national security interests, and supporting U.S. government activities. The Secretary of State must approve any use of these exceptions and notify Congress.

The Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2025 establishes a clear, standardized process for immigrants to claim ineffective assistance of counsel in immigration proceedings. This Act mandates that immigration courts apply the established *Strickland v. Washington* standard when evaluating claims that a prior lawyer's deficient performance prejudiced an immigrant's case. By setting these new standards, the bill aims to ensure fair representation and remove procedural roadblocks for those seeking relief. This new right to challenge poor legal representation applies retroactively to all immigration matters.

The Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025 aims to strengthen energy development and grid resilience for Indian Tribes. It expands Department of Energy support for Tribal energy projects, including covering assessment costs for loan applications. The bill also streamlines grant applications for Tribes seeking grid resilience funding and explicitly exempts Tribes from matching fund requirements for these grants.

The SHORT Act aims to revise federal firearms tax definitions and eliminate disparate federal treatment of short-barreled rifles and shotguns used for lawful purposes. It also preempts state and local governments from imposing special taxes or registration requirements on these specific weapons if they are involved in interstate commerce. Finally, the bill mandates the destruction of existing federal records related to the registration and transfer of these firearms.

This bill mandates the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to closely monitor industrial subsidies provided by the Government of the People's Republic of China. The USTR must then submit an annual report to Congress detailing the risks these subsidies pose to U.S. jobs and strategically critical industries. Finally, the report must recommend specific actions the U.S. government can take to counter these harmful subsidies.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act makes student loan repayment or forgiveness amounts received by veterinarians participating in state-based programs tax-free. This exclusion applies to funds received through programs designed to increase veterinary services in underserved areas. This tax benefit will take effect for amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025 allows private-sector employees to voluntarily choose paid compensatory time off instead of overtime wages, provided certain conditions are met. This option is subject to accrual limits, mandatory payouts for unused time, and specific employer notice requirements. The bill also establishes new penalties for employers who mismanage this compensatory time and mandates a five-year sunset provision.