Legislation

The Chinese List Entity Alignment and Review Act of 2025, or the CLEAR Act, mandates that the Secretary review all entities added to any other U.S. government restriction or scrutiny list during the preceding year. These reviewed entities must then be considered for inclusion in the annual revision of the list of Chinese military companies. This aims to align and consolidate entities facing U.S. restrictions onto the primary military company list.

This resolution commemorates the 80th anniversary of the continuous operations of the *Stars and Stripes* newspaper in the Pacific. It recognizes the invaluable service of the publication as the "hometown newspaper" for members of the Armed Forces and their families worldwide. The Senate honors the dedication of all current and former personnel who have supported this vital institution throughout its history.

The CORRUPT Act amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to prohibit the sitting President and their immediate relatives from filing claims under that act while in office. This measure specifically prevents the President and covered family members from seeking damages through the Federal Tort Claims Act during their term.

The No Troops in Our Streets Act of 2025 grants Congress expedited authority to terminate exceptions that allow the military to be used for domestic law enforcement under the Posse Comitatus Act. It establishes specific, fast-tracked procedures for Congress to pass a "joint resolution of disapproval" to end such deployments. Additionally, the Act appropriates significant funding for various State and local law enforcement assistance programs for Fiscal Year 2026.

The END Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act amends federal law to explicitly mandate the destruction of any imported tobacco products found to be adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit. This legislation strengthens the ability of the FDA to stop illicit Chinese tobacco products at the border.

This bill mandates that the Secretary of Defense provide a briefing to Congress by March 1, 2026, detailing plans to increase the procurement of strategic and critical materials from domestic U.S. sources. The briefing must identify ten key materials from the National Defense Stockpile and outline specific three-year procurement targets from U.S. suppliers. A public list of these materials and their target procurement percentages will also be released to encourage industry engagement.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating November 8, 2025, as "National First-Generation College Celebration Day." The day honors first-generation college students, defined as those whose parents lack a bachelor's degree, recognizing the unique challenges they face. This date commemorates the anniversary of the landmark Higher Education Act of 1965, which aimed to increase access to postsecondary education. The resolution urges nationwide recognition of these students' vital contributions to the future workforce.

The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025 addresses operational failures of diesel vehicles in extreme cold. It directs the EPA to revise regulations allowing manufacturers to temporarily suspend engine derate or shutdown functions triggered by emissions control faults when temperatures are below freezing. Additionally, the bill provides a year-round exemption from Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system requirements for vehicles primarily operated in far northern latitudes or areas with persistently freezing conditions. This measure aims to ensure essential transportation and safety in cold weather regions without waiving overall emissions compliance.

The School Meals for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 ensures the continued use of Medicaid data for automatically enrolling eligible children in free and reduced-price school meal programs. It also codifies the existing methodology for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for schools. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the multiplier used in the CEP calculation must be set at exactly 1.6 for all subsequent school years.

This resolution recognizes the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and honors the service and sacrifice of all United States veterans who served during the conflict. It expresses deep gratitude to those who served, remembers those lost or missing in action, and acknowledges the hardships many veterans faced upon returning home. The resolution also reaffirms the nation's commitment to supporting these veterans and ensuring their legacy is preserved for future generations.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that all federal employees, contract employees, and active service members affected by a lapse in appropriations starting October 1, 2025, receive their full back pay and benefits. It also mandates that agencies adjust contracts to compensate contractors for costs incurred due to work stoppages during the lapse. Furthermore, the bill prohibits agencies from implementing permanent staffing reductions or extended administrative leave during such funding gaps.

This Act grants federal employees and contractors the right to request a 90-day forbearance on their Federally backed mortgage loans during a lapse in appropriations affecting their agency. During this period, no additional interest or fees will accrue, and missed payments cannot be demanded as a lump sum upon forbearance ending. Servicers must report these accommodations favorably to credit bureaus, treating the account as current if the borrower makes required payments.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to establish a two-year pilot program for a comprehensive wastewater surveillance system at select Department of Defense installations. The system will monitor the prevalence of covered drug use and infectious diseases among service members. Following the program, the Secretary must report findings and recommendations to Congress regarding force health protection and readiness.

This bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to establish a joint program with Taiwan focused on fielding uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities. The initiative encourages co-development and co-production of these defense technologies between the U.S. and Taiwan. The Secretary must report annually to Congress on the program's progress and efforts to finalize key defense trade agreements.

The CARE Act of 2025 mandates the testing of a new Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Model under Medicare. This model allows Medicare Part B to pay ground ambulance providers for emergency response services, even if no transport occurs. The goal is to evaluate how this alternative payment structure impacts emergency medical service access, beneficiary outcomes, and resource utilization over a five-year period.

The Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act ensures that parties harmed by wildland fires originating from management activities on National Forest System lands receive 100% federal funding for recovery costs. This is achieved by granting the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to waive matching fund requirements for rehabilitation projects in affected areas. The Act specifically addresses direct and indirect damages resulting from these government-caused fires.

This resolution mandates a reduction in the annual pay rate for Senators if a government shutdown occurs. Specifically, Senators will lose one day's pay for every 24-hour period a shutdown is active during a pay period. This pay reduction mechanism is set to take effect after the November 2026 general Federal election, with any earlier withheld funds being returned to Senators.

This resolution honors Dr. Jane Goodall for her groundbreaking work as an ethologist, conservationist, and activist, recognizing her pioneering research on chimpanzees. It highlights the significant impact of the Jane Goodall Institute and her global efforts in environmental restoration and youth engagement. The resolution further designates specific national days to commemorate her birthday and enduring legacy.

This resolution observes the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, honoring the 29 lives lost in the tragic 1975 storm on Lake Superior. It recognizes the ship's legacy, commends the initial rescue efforts, and reaffirms a commitment to maintaining safety standards for Great Lakes shipping.

The VA Billing Accountability Act establishes new deadlines and procedures for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to notify veterans about copayments for medical care and services. If the VA fails to notify a veteran within specified timeframes (180 days for VA care or 18 months for non-VA care), the bill restricts the VA's ability to collect that payment. The Act also grants the VA Secretary temporary authority to waive copayments resulting from VA billing errors.