Legislation

The Accountability for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs submit a comprehensive report to Congress addressing critical operational challenges. This report must analyze the causes of the disability benefits appeals backlog, identify improvements for the Transition Assistance Program, and outline solutions for persistent management issues within low-performing VA health care systems.

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to streamline the management of private contributions for conservation programs. It simplifies the process by establishing dedicated sub-accounts for non-federal funds and repealing outdated administrative requirements for public-private partnerships.

The "Defund the CFPB Act" proposes eliminating all federal funding for the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. By capping the agency's budget at $0, the bill effectively seeks to terminate the Bureau's financial operations and its ability to function as established under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.

This resolution designates February 16, 2025, as "National Elizabeth Peratrovich Day" to honor the legacy of the Tlingit civil rights leader. It recognizes her pivotal role in the passage of the 1945 Anti-Discrimination Act and encourages Americans to commemorate her advocacy for equality.

The Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act tightens oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by eliminating the tolerance for small payment errors and mandating that states recover all overpaid benefits. The bill also links state financial penalties to their success in recouping these funds, incentivizing more effective program administration.

The FLASH Act of 2025 streamlines the Department of Health and Human Services' ability to rapidly procure medical countermeasures and innovative technologies during public health emergencies. The bill authorizes non-competitive follow-on production contracts, experimental supply purchases, and expedited acquisition of innovative commercial products. These measures are designed to reduce bureaucratic delays and strengthen national health security by accelerating the development and deployment of critical supplies.

This bill reauthorizes the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program through fiscal year 2029, ensuring continued support for health professionals to identify and respond to human trafficking. Additionally, the legislation provides for the rescission of $20 million in unobligated funds from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Unborn Child Support Act amends the Social Security Act to allow states to establish and enforce child support obligations for unborn children, beginning from the month of conception. Upon the mother's request and consent, biological fathers may be required to provide financial support, with payment amounts determined by a court in consultation with the mother. The legislation ensures these requirements remain mandatory for states, prohibiting any waivers that would bypass these enforcement duties.

The Pregnancy Is Not an Illness Act of 2025 prohibits the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services from classifying pregnancy as an illness when approving or regulating abortion drugs. The bill further mandates the immediate revocation of any existing abortion drug approvals that relied on such a classification, including the current approval of mifepristone.

The Federal Firefighters Families First Act aims to improve pay equity, recruitment, and retention for federal firefighters by modernizing pay computation and establishing a maximum 60-hour regular workweek. Additionally, the bill ensures that regularly scheduled overtime is included in the calculation of federal retirement annuities. These measures seek to align federal firefighter compensation more closely with municipal standards and provide greater financial security for their families.

The Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025 establishes a private right of action allowing individuals to sue medical practitioners for injuries resulting from gender-transition procedures performed while they were minors. The bill also protects the conscience rights of medical providers by ensuring they cannot be forced to perform these procedures and mandates the withholding of federal health funding from states that require such services.

The Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act supports the music industry by allowing producers to immediately deduct up to $150,000 in qualified production costs per year. By extending tax benefits currently available to film and television to sound recordings, this legislation helps independent creators reduce their tax burden and reinvest in their work.

The Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act authorizes FEMA to reimburse state, tribal, and local governments for the repair and restoration of private roads and bridges in North Carolina damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. To qualify, these routes must serve as the sole access point to primary residences or essential services. This legislation ensures that critical infrastructure can be rebuilt, providing a streamlined process for local authorities to secure necessary disaster recovery funding.

The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act seeks to codify the "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" policy into federal law, preventing future presidential administrations from reversing it. The bill prohibits the use of U.S. federal funds for foreign and domestic nongovernmental organizations that perform, promote, or provide financial support for abortion services. By establishing these permanent restrictions, the legislation aims to ensure that U.S. global health assistance is not used to facilitate abortion-related activities.

The Rural ER Access Act aims to improve emergency healthcare in underserved areas by removing restrictive geographic limitations for Medicare-certified facilities. By eliminating the requirement that off-campus facilities be located within 35 miles of a main hospital, this legislation allows rural providers to expand their reach and maintain essential provider-based status.

The Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025 prohibits institutions of higher education from receiving federal funding if they host or are affiliated with campus clinics that provide abortions or abortion-inducing drugs. To remain eligible for federal support, institutions must submit annual certifications confirming their compliance with these restrictions. The bill also includes provisions to protect compliant institutions from conflicting state-level penalties.

The All Aboard Act mandates that Amtrak provide full refunds to passengers for trips significantly delayed or canceled due to the railroad's own operational failures. Additionally, the bill requires Amtrak to abandon its "run-to-fail" maintenance model in favor of more reliable asset management strategies. Failure to comply with these refund requirements would result in the suspension of Amtrak’s federal funding.

The Dignity for Aborted Children Act mandates that abortion providers offer patients the choice to take possession of fetal remains for burial or cremation. If the patient releases the remains to the provider, the provider is legally required to ensure the remains are interred or cremated within seven days. The bill also establishes federal reporting requirements and imposes significant civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to conduct its official business, including hearings and investigations, from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It establishes specific funding caps for committee operations, personnel, and staff training during this period. Additionally, it outlines the administrative procedures for managing committee expenditures and agency contributions.

The End Unaccountable Amnesty Act seeks to restrict executive authority over immigration by shifting the power to designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Congress and strictly limiting the Secretary of Homeland Security’s parole authority. The bill also mandates stricter processing and return procedures for unaccompanied alien children, eliminates certain pathways for cancellation of removal, and prohibits the use of specific immigration documents for air travel. These measures aim to tighten border enforcement and standardize immigration policies through increased congressional oversight.