Legislation

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.

The Births in Custody Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that states receiving federal funding must quarterly report detailed, anonymized data to the Attorney General regarding pregnant individuals and those who have given birth in state or local custody. This data includes pregnancy testing, prenatal care, birth outcomes, and the use of restraints during these periods. States failing to comply face potential reductions in federal funding, and the Attorney General must make all reports public and conduct a study on improving inmate care.

This bill amends the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to create an exception to the standard parole fee for aliens seeking entry to participate in sacred Tribal or religious ceremonies, cultural exchanges, or celebrations. Under specific conditions, the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant parole if a significant public benefit is determined, provided the alien meets enrollment and background check requirements. This provision allows for a reduced $200 fee for these specific cultural and religious purposes.

The Defending Against Foreign Propaganda Act mandates that any advertisement paid for by a foreign government or foreign person must clearly disclose this funding to the consumer. This disclosure must be integrated into the advertisement using the same format as the main content (sound, print, or both). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these disclosure requirements.

The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act of 2025 establishes strict new standards for the use of non-deadly force by federal immigration personnel, requiring proportionality and de-escalation efforts. The bill mandates identification requirements, restricts the use of certain crowd-control equipment, and imposes new body camera and detailed reporting mandates. Furthermore, it creates affirmative duties for officers to intervene against excessive force and requires annual training on these new policies.

The Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2025 aims to expand successful manure management programs by formally defining and incentivizing "alternative manure management practices" and "composting practices" within the Food Security Act. This bill directs the USDA Secretary to establish new payment structures, prioritize applications that maximize carbon sequestration and emissions reductions, and provide technical assistance for these sustainable farming methods. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to improve environmental health, soil quality, and air quality across the nation's livestock industry.

The Saving for the Future Act addresses widespread retirement savings deficiencies by establishing a new Universal Personal Savings program requiring applicable employers to make minimum hourly contributions for employees. This legislation also creates new tax credits for employers making these contributions and for individuals who save outside of an employer plan. Finally, the Act increases both the highest individual income tax rate and the corporate income tax rate.

The RESTRAIN Act prohibits the United States from conducting any explosive testing of nuclear weapons or any other nuclear explosion, effective in fiscal year 2026 and beyond. This legislation specifically bans the use of authorized funds for such testing. However, the Act explicitly allows for the continuation of subcritical nuclear tests.

The Connecting Veterans to Care Act of 2025 aims to improve veteran access to healthcare by providing federal operating assistance for public transportation that services Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. This assistance is available to public transit systems meeting specific population or service criteria. Recipients must certify that funds are used for VA facility service, with penalties for non-compliance.

The Foreign Remittance Accountability and Transparency Act mandates a study by the Comptroller General and the Treasury Department to investigate foreign government programs that may facilitate U.S. tax evasion through remittances. This study will identify such programs, assess their impact on U.S. tax and reporting laws, and determine the scale of the activity. The resulting report must include policy recommendations for Congress within 180 days of the Act's enactment.

This bill addresses the status of individuals born and residing in American Samoa, who are currently United States nationals but not citizens. It amends passport procedures to allow these nationals to receive a U.S. passport identifying them as either a non-citizen national or, upon request while residing in a U.S. state or covered territory, as both a national and a citizen of the United States. The legislation aims to protect collective self-determination while enabling elective U.S. citizenship for certain residents.