Legislation

The Total Force Family Education Act expands eligibility for Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools to dependents of certain reserve component members. This provision applies when the service member is on active duty orders for an accompanied permanent change of station. Eligible dependents will be automatically enrolled if space is available at the school located at the member's permanent installation.

This bill, the Service Academies District of Columbia Equality Act of 2025, significantly increases the number of residents from the District of Columbia eligible for appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy. It raises the appointment limit for each service academy from five to fifteen individuals from D.C.

The National Defense Supply Chain Integrity Act of 2025 clarifies the legal status of the Secretary of Defense's decisions regarding the identification of Chinese military companies. This bill classifies these identification decisions as military or foreign affairs functions. Consequently, most provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, which govern rulemaking and judicial review, will not apply to these specific determinations.

This bill, the Medal of Honor Act, recognizes the exceptional service of Medal of Honor recipients by significantly increasing their special monthly pension. It adjusts the pension rate to align with compensation for veterans without dependents, ensuring a more fitting recognition of their gallantry. Additionally, the Act extends the date related to certain limitations on pension payments.

The Manage Your Data and Allow Only Trusted Access Act of 2025 (MY DATA Act) prohibits covered entities from stopping individuals from using their de-identified or cloaked data. This act establishes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as the enforcement body for violations, treating non-compliance as an unfair or deceptive practice. The bill defines key terms like "cloaked data" and "de-identified data" to clarify the scope of protected information usage.

The Expanding Health Care Providers for Veterans Act removes numerical limitations on nonimmigrant admissions for individuals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a certified State home. This change aims to increase the healthcare workforce available to veterans. The Act also ensures that certain entry restrictions for H-1B nonimmigrants will not apply to these specific healthcare providers.

The LEAF Act of 2025 amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act to establish a contract preference for "appropriate local contractors" on federal hazardous fuel reduction projects. This preference prioritizes entities that maintain a local business presence and ensure a significant portion of their workforce resides near the project site. The Secretary of Agriculture must report annually to Congress on the implementation and economic impact of this local hiring preference.

The Healthcare Opportunities for Patriots in Exile (HOPE) Act grants the Secretary of Homeland Security the discretionary authority to parole certain veterans currently outside the U.S. into the country. This parole is specifically for the purpose of allowing them to receive necessary healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligibility is restricted for those inadmissible due to serious violent or national security-related criminal convictions.

The Pipeline Security Act assigns the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) responsibility for securing pipeline transportation and facilities against cybersecurity, terrorism, and other threats. This legislation mandates the TSA Administrator to develop and enforce security guidelines, directives, and regulations in consultation with CISA and industry stakeholders. The Act also requires regular oversight reporting to Congress and a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the implementation of these new security measures.

This resolution condemns the Chinese Communist Party's severe persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. It specifically denounces the detention of Pastor "Ezra" Jin Mingri and leaders of the Zion Church. Congress reaffirms the United States' unwavering global commitment to promoting religious freedom and tolerance for all.

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.