Legislation

The A PLUS Act allows states to consolidate federal education funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (excluding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) to improve educational policies. States must submit a declaration of intent outlining how funds will be used, ensuring accountability, and complying with civil rights laws. This act aims to provide states with greater flexibility, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure transparency in educational spending and student progress. States are limited to spending no more than 1-3% of the funds on administrative costs.

The "Prompt Approval of Safe Generic Drugs Act" aims to expedite the approval of generic drugs by allowing applications to proceed even if certain safety information on the label is protected by exclusivity or patent. It mandates the inclusion of necessary safety information on drug labels to ensure safe usage, irrespective of exclusivity clauses. This ensures timely access to safe generic drug alternatives without affecting existing exclusivity rights.

This bill reaffirms the United States' commitment to respecting Mexico's sovereignty and international law, while also discouraging unauthorized military interventions. It asserts that using military force against cartels or other entities in Mexico without Mexico's consent or Congressional approval could be considered an act of war and an infringement upon constitutional powers. The bill emphasizes continued U.S.-Mexico collaboration to combat crime, violence, and drug trafficking through existing partnerships.

The "Black History is American History Act" amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include Black history in American history education programs. It ensures Black history is part of authorized programs, Presidential and Congressional academies, Smithsonian Institution resources, national activities, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. This act emphasizes the importance of Black history as an integral part of American history.

This bill recognizes the significant historical and cultural contributions of the Dominican community to New York City, particularly in Washington Heights and Inwood. It supports the designation of a Dominican cultural heritage district by the National Park Service. The bill also aims to honor Dominican-American leaders, preserve Dominican history, and address displacement and gentrification in these neighborhoods.

The "No Regulation Through Litigation Act of 2025" limits the power of federal agencies in settlement agreements and consent decrees. It prevents agencies from entering into consent decrees that exceed a court's authority and prohibits the payment of attorney fees or litigation costs in settlements that lead to new regulations or guidance documents. The bill defines "guidance document" and "regulation" and ensures that if any part of the Act is found invalid, the rest of the Act remains in effect.

The SHUSH Act removes firearm silencers from the definition of firearms under the National Firearms Act, thus eliminating federal regulations, registration, and transfer taxes on silencers. It ensures that legal acquisition of a silencer under federal law satisfies any NFA registration or licensing requirements. The Act also preempts state and local laws that tax, mark, record, or register silencers involved in interstate or foreign commerce.

This bill aims to honor, preserve, and invest in Freedmen's Settlements and Black towns established by formerly enslaved African Americans. It recognizes the historical significance of these communities, the challenges they have faced, and the need for continued support through research, investment, and coordinated efforts among government entities and nonprofits. The bill seeks to protect these settlements from development, gentrification, and environmental hazards while promoting economic justice, infrastructure improvements, and fair living standards. Ultimately, it reaffirms the commitment to racial justice and equity for these historically disadvantaged communities.

This resolution condemns the U.S. delegation's vote against a UN resolution supporting Ukraine, which aligned the U.S. with Russia and other autocratic regimes. It criticizes the failure to identify Russia as the aggressor and demands collaboration with Ukraine and European allies in future UN efforts. The resolution reaffirms support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This resolution celebrates Black History Month, acknowledging the historical injustices and significant contributions of African Americans to the United States. It recognizes Black History Month as a time for reflection, commemoration, and learning from the past. The resolution encourages the celebration of Black History Month and emphasizes the importance of moving forward as a united nation with liberty and justice for all.

The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act aims to reform and enhance the pay, benefits, and overall support for Federal wildland firefighters. This includes establishing special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, and rest and recuperation leave. The bill also addresses health concerns by creating a database for tracking chronic diseases, establishing a mental health program, and providing mental health leave. Additionally, it enhances retirement benefits, ensures pay parity with structural firefighters, and establishes a casualty assistance program to support firefighters and their families in times of need.

The "Freedom from Government Surveys Act" amends Title 13 of the U.S. Code to make the American Community Survey voluntary. It removes penalties for not participating and mandates that the survey includes a clear statement informing recipients that their participation is not required.

The "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act" extends and expands programs aimed at supporting the mental health of healthcare providers. It reauthorizes initiatives that encourage the use of mental health and substance use disorder services by healthcare professionals, and broadens the eligibility for entities receiving funds to include those focused on reducing administrative burdens on healthcare workers. The act also extends the program's authorization through 2029.

The "Charitable Act" modifies and extends the deduction for charitable contributions for individuals who do not itemize deductions. For the 2026 and 2027 tax years, the deduction is capped at one-third of the standard deduction for the individual. The bill also eliminates a penalty related to this deduction. These changes are effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The "Improving Veterans Experience Act of 2025" establishes a Veterans Experience Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by a Chief Veterans Experience Officer, to improve customer service and veteran satisfaction. The office will collect data, coordinate efforts, and provide guidance to enhance the veteran experience with VA benefits and services. It also requires annual reports to Congress on customer service feedback and veteran satisfaction. The Government Accountability Office will also be required to analyze the VA's methods for using veteran feedback.

The "Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act" allows FEMA to reimburse state, tribal, and local governments in North Carolina for repairing or replacing private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, if they are the sole access to homes or essential services. To be eligible for reimbursement, government officials must inspect and verify the need for repairs, ensure the roads/bridges remain open during repairs, and comply with all state and federal regulations. Individuals who have already received disaster assistance for road or bridge repairs can choose to continue with that assistance or return the funds to be eligible for reimbursement under this act. The Administrator will base eligible costs on certified estimates from licensed engineers unless there is evidence of fraud.

The "SAFE Act" amends the Controlled Substances Act to classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, increases penalties for offenses involving fentanyl-related substances, and allows for the review of sentences for past convictions involving substances that have been removed or rescheduled. It streamlines the research registration process for Schedule I substances and requires a report on the impact of these changes. The bill aims to combat the fentanyl crisis by providing law enforcement with tools to prosecute offenders and prevent the distribution of these dangerous substances while ensuring continued research and potential rescheduling based on scientific evaluation.

This resolution affirms the Senate's position that the NIH's operations and funding should not be disrupted, as they are crucial for medical advancements and addressing public health challenges. It emphasizes that the NIH workforce is essential for sustaining medical progress and protecting national health, security, and the economy. Any interference with NIH operations or its workforce undermines biomedical research and the nation's ability to respond to public health issues.

The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act seeks to ensure that foreign non-governmental organizations are eligible for assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, regardless of the health or medical services they provide, as long as those services adhere to specific guidelines. It ensures that these organizations are not subject to more restrictive requirements for using non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying compared to U.S. non-governmental organizations.

The "Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act of 2025" authorizes the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to award grants to school-community partnerships for implementing effective drug prevention programs. These grants, up to $75,000 per year, will support the implementation of detailed prevention plans developed by the entities in coordination with local schools. The Act allocates $7,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2031 for these grants, with a focus on supplementing existing prevention efforts and rigorous evaluation.