Legislative Activity

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 establishes penalties against foreign governments that nationalize or expropriate U.S.-owned port infrastructure in trade partner nations. It mandates the identification of such "prohibited property" seized by foreign governments after January 1, 2024. Once identified, vessels that use these prohibited ports will face strict bans on docking, unloading, or receiving services in the United States. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to include the arbitrary seizure or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets abroad.

The Appraisal Modernization Act establishes a public database containing detailed historical and ongoing real estate appraisal data from federal mortgage entities to promote transparency and combat bias. It also grants consumers the right to request a reconsideration of value or a second appraisal if they believe their home's valuation was unsupported, flawed, or discriminatory. Lenders must follow specific procedures for handling these consumer challenges and ordering new appraisals when necessary.

The Access to Birth Control Act aims to ensure that individuals can easily obtain FDA-approved contraception and related medications without systemic barriers. This legislation mandates that pharmacies must promptly dispense birth control or immediately facilitate a transfer or order if the item is out of stock. Furthermore, the bill prohibits intimidation, interference, or misleading information when customers seek these essential healthcare services.

This bill establishes new restrictions and transparency requirements for donations made to Presidential Libraries and Centers. It bans certain prohibited entities, such as lobbyists and foreign nationals, from donating while a President is in office or for two years after leaving. The legislation also imposes a $10,000 aggregate donation limit per person and mandates public quarterly reporting of all significant contributions.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 mandates that employers protect workers from dangerous heat stress conditions. This Act requires the Secretary (of Labor) to rapidly establish comprehensive, science-based worker heat protection standards, including mandatory rest, water, and shade provisions. Furthermore, it grants enforcement power to OSHA, ensuring these new heat safety rules carry the full weight of existing occupational safety law. The legislation also establishes strong anti-retaliation protections for employees who report heat hazards.

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase federal research funding for uterine fibroids, which disproportionately affect women of color. The bill mandates the creation of comprehensive public and provider education programs regarding fibroid symptoms, risks, and non-hysterectomy treatment options. Additionally, it requires the collection of data on Medicaid and CHIP spending related to fibroid treatments.

The Uterine Cancer Study Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive federal study to investigate the potential link between the use of hair straighteners and the risk of developing uterine cancer. This research will specifically examine disparities in incidence rates among women of color and evaluate the need for enhanced FDA oversight of product safety testing. The study aims to deliver findings and recommendations within two years of enactment.

The Child Care for Working Families Act establishes comprehensive federal programs to guarantee access to high-quality, affordable child care for young children of working families. It mandates significant investments to stabilize the child care workforce by requiring higher provider pay and sets strict caps on costs for parents based on income. Additionally, the bill creates a framework for universal, free preschool for three- and four-year-olds and extends service hours and raises compensation for Head Start staff.

The Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025 ensures the Secretary of Agriculture participates in reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions involving U.S. agricultural land, biotechnology, or the broader industry. This bill mandates a specific, expedited review process for certain agricultural land deals involving designated foreign adversaries. Ultimately, it strengthens national security oversight of foreign investments impacting the U.S. food supply and agricultural sector.

This Act establishes a five-year pilot program treating pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrollment in TRICARE Select. This allows eligible military family members to sign up for expanded coverage upon becoming pregnant. The Department of Defense is required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing enrollment changes under this new provision.

This concurrent resolution officially recognizes the significance of equal pay and highlights the persistent wage disparity faced by Black women compared to White, non-Hispanic men. It designates July 10, 2025, as Black Women's Equal Pay Day to draw attention to the economic losses caused by this gap. The resolution underscores that closing this disparity is vital for the economic stability and wealth-building of Black women and their families.

The VISIBLE Act mandates that federal immigration officers (CBP and ICE) clearly display their agency and name/badge number on their outermost clothing during all public-facing enforcement activities. This law aims to increase transparency and public trust by ensuring officers are easily identifiable from a distance. The Department of Homeland Security must report annually to Congress on compliance rates and disciplinary actions taken for violations. Furthermore, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will investigate public complaints regarding these new identification standards.

This resolution officially recognizes June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month to honor the history, struggles, and significant contributions of the LGBTQ community in the United States. It acknowledges past and ongoing discrimination while celebrating key legal milestones toward equality. The Senate encourages the nation to use this month to learn about inequality and celebrate the community's achievements both domestically and globally.

The Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2025 is a legislative update designed to modernize the Internal Revenue Code by ensuring gender-neutral language is used when referencing married taxpayers and their spouses. This bill systematically replaces outdated gendered terms like "husband and wife" or "his" with inclusive terms such as "married couple" and "spouse." The changes are purely linguistic, ensuring consistency across tax rules without altering any existing tax liabilities or deductions.

The Refund Equality Act of 2025 extends the deadline for certain legally married couples to amend past tax returns filed separately before September 16, 2013, based on Revenue Ruling 2013-17. This allows these couples to now file jointly for those years, extending the statute of limitations for filing the joint return and claiming related refunds or credits. These extensions are strictly limited to changes resulting from recognizing their marital status for federal tax purposes.

Canyon's Law prohibits the use of M44 cyanide predator control devices on all public lands due to their extreme toxicity and documented risk to humans and non-target wildlife. The bill mandates the immediate removal of any existing M44 devices within 30 days of enactment. This action is deemed necessary because these devices frequently injure people and kill protected species, despite their low success rate against target animals.

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025 updates definitions to expand protections for victims of intimate partner violence, including broadening who qualifies as an intimate partner. This legislation clarifies what constitutes a "dating relationship" and extends misdemeanor domestic violence protections to children harmed by a parent's dating partner. Crucially, the Act also creates a new federal prohibition preventing individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking from owning or possessing firearms.

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 establishes a federal right to access abortion services without facing state-imposed restrictions that are not medically necessary for comparable procedures. This Act prohibits states from enacting targeted regulations that create hurdles for abortion access, protects the right to travel out of state for care, and allows individuals and the Attorney General to sue to enforce these protections. Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare decisions based on a provider's good-faith medical judgment.

The Curbing Officials' Income and Nondisclosure (COIN) Act aims to prevent public officials from financially exploiting their positions through digital assets. The bill prohibits covered individuals and their immediate families from engaging in specific digital asset transactions during and shortly after their service. Furthermore, it imposes new criminal penalties for violations and mandates increased financial disclosure requirements for federal employees regarding their cryptocurrency holdings.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 18 through May 24, 2025, as "National Public Works Week." It serves to recognize and celebrate the essential contributions of public works professionals who maintain vital infrastructure like roads, water systems, and waste management. The bill urges communities nationwide to observe this week with activities honoring these dedicated workers.