Legislation

The BRAVE Burma Act aims to increase accountability for human rights violations in Burma, extend sanctions, and promote a return to democratic governance. It mandates the President to assess and report on potential sanctions for Burmese entities and individuals involved in the jet fuel sector, and limits increases to Burma's shareholding in the International Monetary Fund while the country is under military rule. The Act also establishes a Special Envoy for Burma to coordinate U.S. policy, engage with Burmese stakeholders, and pressure China and Russia to cease support for the Burmese military. Finally, the BRAVE Burma Act extends the sunset clause of the BURMA Act of 2022.

This resolution expresses the Senate's lack of confidence in Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr., citing failures to support health research, administer programs effectively, and ensure the well-being of vulnerable populations. It raises concerns about specific actions, including grant terminations, funding cuts, staff reductions, and undermining vaccine efforts. The resolution also criticizes Kennedy's statements on autism and plans regarding water fluoridation, ultimately concluding that he has eroded public trust and defied congressional intent.

The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act facilitates ecosystem restoration projects within floodplains by exempting related map change request fees and allowing projects that slightly increase base flood elevations under specific conditions. It requires a professional engineer to determine that the project will not raise the water surface elevation of the base flood by more than 1 foot when combined with existing development and ensures no adverse impact on insurable structures or critical infrastructure. The community must submit an analysis of the changed conditions to FEMA. FEMA is directed to issue guidance for implementation in consultation with natural resource agencies.

The "Gulf of America Act" renames the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. It directs all U.S. laws, maps, regulations, documents, and records to reflect this change. Federal agencies are required to update their materials within 180 days to comply with the new designation.

The Journalist Protection Act would make it a federal crime to intentionally assault a journalist while they are newsgathering, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. The bill defines a journalist as someone who works for a news outlet or engages in newsgathering with the intent to report on events of public interest, and newsgathering as regularly collecting, preparing, or reporting news. Penalties increase if the assault results in serious bodily injury.

The Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025 clarifies that state and federal courts have exclusive regulatory authority over attorneys' litigation activities, preventing federal agencies from overseeing or regulating attorneys in legal proceedings. It also prohibits federal private civil actions against opposing attorneys for alleged misconduct during litigation. The bill amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Act to ensure attorneys engaged in debt collection litigation are excluded from certain regulatory definitions, reinforcing the courts' authority over attorney conduct in litigation.

The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends funding for research on preterm labor and delivery through fiscal year 2029. It mandates the establishment of an interagency working group by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to address preterm birth issues. Additionally, the Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collaborate with the National Academies to conduct a comprehensive study on premature births in the United States, with a report due within 24 months.

The William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act establishes a commission to examine and provide recommendations to the President and Congress on strengthening the United States' defense-industrial base. The commission will assess current defense production capabilities, evaluate the impact of federal regulations, and develop strategies to increase industrial capacity for defense production. The commission will submit a report with its findings and recommendations within one year. $7 million is authorized for the commission's activities.

The "Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025" updates the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004, broadening the definition of "Indian forest land or rangeland" and allowing projects to protect or restore both Indian and Federal lands. It prioritizes projects benefiting Indian forest land, rangeland, or watersheds, and it authorizes $15 million in appropriations annually from 2026 through 2031 to support the Act's implementation. The act also modernizes language and references within the original act.

The Police Officers Protecting Children Act amends title 18 of the United States Code to allow qualified and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm in a school zone, as long as the firearm remains concealed.

The "Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2025" amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow individuals, pharmacies, and wholesale distributors to import qualifying prescription drugs from certified foreign sellers in countries like Canada, the UK, and EU member states. This aims to lower drug costs for Americans by increasing access to more affordable medications from other countries while maintaining safety standards. The Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish regulations and certification processes, monitor drug safety, and prevent manufacturers from price discrimination. It also establishes penalties for selling adulterated or counterfeit drugs and requires regular reports to Congress on the program's implementation and impact.

The Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2025 grants the President the authority to propose cancellations of specific dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, or targeted tax benefits within a limited timeframe after a bill's enactment. Congress then has an opportunity to approve or reject these proposed cancellations through an expedited legislative process. The Act also includes provisions for presidential deferral authority, identification of targeted tax benefits, and reports by the Comptroller General, and it will expire after October 1, 2031. Finally, the Act expresses that the President should not use the threat of cancellations to influence congressional votes.

The "Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025" expands the use of tax-advantaged health accounts, such as HSAs, FSAs, HRAs and Archer MSAs, to include medical expenses and contributions for the parents of the account holder or their spouse. This allows individuals to use these funds for their parents' medical care, offering tax benefits without disqualifying the accounts. These provisions are effective for expenses incurred and amounts paid after December 31, 2025.

The Zero Based Regulations Act enforces a review of existing regulations, requiring agencies to justify their rules' costs and effectiveness, and to repeal a regulation before it is reviewed. To reinstate a repealed rule or create a new one, agencies must follow specific procedures, including public hearings and cost-benefit analyses, ensuring reduced regulatory burdens. Each agency must appoint a coordinator to manage the Act's implementation, and new regulations must meet strict criteria, such as reducing regulatory burdens or addressing public health threats, while repealing or simplifying existing rules. The Act aims to streamline and justify federal regulations through regular review and public input.

The Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 prohibits discrimination in life, disability, and long-term care insurance against living organ donors. It clarifies that organ donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act, ensuring job protection for donors. The Act also mandates updated educational materials from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the benefits, risks, and protections for living organ donors.

The "Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act of 2025" aims to enhance financial literacy among servicemembers regarding their rights and protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). It mandates that servicemembers are notified of their SCRA benefits upon entering service and when called to active duty for more than 30 days. Additionally, the Act requires financial institutions to apply the maximum interest rate limit to all of a servicemember's debts incurred before military service and provide multiple avenues for submitting necessary documentation.

The "Preventing Environmental Hazards Act of 2025" amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, allowing flood insurance coverage to pay for demolition or relocation of structures imminently threatened by collapse or subsidence due to shoreline erosion. The Act outlines payment procedures, valuation methods, and limitations on coverage, including a maximum claim of $250,000 and ineligibility for further flood insurance or disaster assistance once a determination is made. It applies to existing flood insurance contracts and requires the Administrator to issue regulations for implementation.

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to mandate that all covered immigration officers, including those from Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, display clear and visible identification on their uniforms during enforcement actions. The identification must include the agency name in a specified size and cannot be obscured by other uniform items. This aims to ensure transparency and accountability during immigration enforcement activities.

The "Improving Police CARE Act" ensures that law enforcement agencies have access to standardized trauma kits. It sets performance standards for these kits, which must include essential items like tourniquets and bleeding control bandages. The Act also directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance to develop best practices for training officers and deploying these kits.

The "Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2025" aims to provide students with clear and standardized information about college costs and financial aid. It mandates the Department of Education to develop a standard "Financial Aid Offer" form with consistent terminology, ensuring that colleges present cost information, grants, scholarships, net price, and loan details in a transparent format. Colleges receiving federal aid must use this standard form and terminology in all financial aid communications. This act seeks to empower students and families to make informed decisions about financing higher education.