Legislation

This resolution officially designates April 5, 2025, as "Gold Star Wives Day" to honor the sacrifices of military families. It specifically recognizes the dedication and contributions of the Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. The day encourages the public to observe this anniversary and raise awareness of the organization's vital support for surviving spouses and children of fallen service members.

The Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2025 aims to bolster American influence in setting global technical standards for Artificial Intelligence and other critical emerging technologies. It mandates federal agencies to report on their standards participation and requires the creation of an informational web portal to aid U.S. industry involvement. Furthermore, the bill establishes a five-year pilot program, funded up to \$5 million annually, to provide grants encouraging the hosting of key standards-setting meetings within the United States.

The Defending America’s Future Elections Act aims to nullify Executive Order 14248, which Congress finds unconstitutional and an overreach of presidential power regarding election administration. This bill explicitly repeals the executive order and prohibits the use of federal funds by the Department of Government Efficiency to access sensitive state voter registration and immigration data. Ultimately, the Act seeks to reaffirm that Congress and the states, not the President, control federal election procedures.

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act significantly raises the resource limits for individuals and couples to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), starting in 2025. This legislation increases the individual savings limit to \$20,000 and the couple's limit to \$20,000 total. Furthermore, these new resource limits will automatically adjust annually for inflation beginning in 2026.

The Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act mandates that the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) produce a comprehensive annual report detailing the effects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This report, starting in 2025, must track NEPA-related lawsuits, the length and cost of environmental reviews, project timelines, and agency use of categorical exclusions. The goal is to provide detailed, sector-specific data to enhance transparency regarding NEPA compliance.

The American Innovation Act establishes significant, multi-year funding authorizations for key federal science and technology agencies, including the NSF, DOE Office of Science, DoD, NIST, and NASA. This legislation sets specific budget ceilings through fiscal year 2035, with subsequent funding automatically adjusted for inflation. Furthermore, these appropriations are protected from sequestration and do not expire at the end of the fiscal year.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act significantly overhauls regulations for firearm dealers by mandating stricter physical security, requiring quarterly inventory checks, and increasing associated licensing fees. The bill also repeals outdated restrictions on ATF data sharing and establishes new compliance and recordkeeping standards, including mandatory video surveillance for sales. Furthermore, it introduces new licensing and operational requirements for online firearm transfer facilitators.

The Privacy Act Modernization Act of 2025 significantly updates the 1974 Privacy Act by modernizing definitions for records, PII, and processing to reflect current technology. It strengthens individual protections by requiring agencies to cite specific legal authority for data use and imposing stricter rules on data matching. Furthermore, the bill increases consequences for violations, allowing individuals to sue for damages (guaranteed minimum of $1,000) and upgrading criminal penalties for unauthorized access to a felony.

The Operational Security Act of 2025 establishes a new Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence within the Executive Office of the President. This office will be led by a Senate-confirmed Director and tasked with providing comprehensive security training and counterintelligence support to EOP personnel. The Act also creates a bipartisan Security Training and Counterintelligence Advisory Board to offer expert recommendations on protecting sensitive information and mitigating insider threats.

This resolution officially designates the week of April 19 through April 27, 2025, as "National Park Week." It recognizes the historical significance and vital mission of the National Park Service in preserving America's natural and cultural treasures. The bill encourages the public to visit, experience, and support these cherished sites during this designated week.

The Stop STALLING Act empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action against companies that file baseless petitions solely to delay competitors' generic drug applications. This legislation defines such filings as unfair competition, allowing the FTC to seek significant civil penalties against violators. The bill ensures that if one part is struck down, the remainder of the law remains in effect.

The Combatting Money Laundering in Cyber Crime Act of 2025 expands the U.S. Secret Service's authority to investigate cyber-related financial crimes, including money laundering and structured transactions. The bill also modifies information exchange deadlines for FinCEN and extends the review period for North Korea sanctions compliance by international financial institutions. Finally, it mandates a GAO study on the effectiveness of current anti-money laundering efforts against cybercrime.

This Act establishes the **César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park**, renaming and expanding the existing National Monument. The park aims to preserve and interpret the history of César Chávez and the farmworker struggle in the U.S. It also directs a study for a potential **Farmworker Peregrinación National Historic Trail** in California.

The DETERRENT Act significantly tightens reporting requirements for colleges and universities regarding foreign gifts and contracts, mandating public disclosure databases and imposing strict new prohibitions on agreements with "foreign countries or entities of concern." It establishes severe financial penalties and potential ineligibility for federal aid for institutions that knowingly violate these transparency and compliance rules. The bill also requires institutions to implement internal policies and designate compliance officers to manage risks associated with foreign influence.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the votes of overseas servicemembers and citizens, cast under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), must be counted and honored. It emphasizes the federal duty of states and localities to uphold UOCAVA requirements and prevent the disenfranchisement of military voters. Furthermore, the bill encourages states to prioritize the timely processing of these absentee ballots and calls on the Attorney General to monitor compliance and act on any violations.

The Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025 establishes a strict 130-day service limit within any 365-day period for individuals serving as special Government employees in the executive branch. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of a public, searchable database listing key details for "Covered Special Government Employees" (those above GS-11 level not on advisory committees). Finally, it requires executive agencies to publicly release the financial disclosure reports filed by these Covered SGEs, with limited exceptions for national security or specific exemptions.

This resolution officially recognizes April 14, 2025, as World Quantum Day to celebrate the importance of quantum science and technology. It highlights the critical role quantum information science plays in national competitiveness and future innovation. Furthermore, the resolution encourages educational activities to promote STEM learning and prepare students for emerging quantum careers.

The No Rogue Rulings Act of 2025 significantly restricts federal district courts from issuing injunctions that affect parties not directly involved in a lawsuit. An exception allows a specially convened, randomly selected three-judge panel to issue broad injunctions in multi-state lawsuits against the executive branch. Decisions made by this panel regarding injunctions can be appealed directly to the Supreme Court or the relevant circuit court at the losing party's discretion.

The HERO for Youth Act of 2025 modifies the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to encourage employers to hire young workers. This bill expands the existing youth employment credit to cover year-round, part-time student employment. Additionally, it establishes a new WOTC category for "disconnected youth," including those lacking basic skills or aging out of foster care.

This resolution officially designates the week of April 11–17, 2025, as the eighth annual Black Maternal Health Week to raise national awareness of the severe maternal and reproductive health crisis facing Black women and birthing people. It highlights the unacceptable disparity where Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, emphasizing that most of these deaths are preventable. The bill calls for targeted investments, policy changes addressing systemic barriers, and the centering of Black women's voices in developing solutions to achieve equitable maternal health outcomes.