Legislative Activity

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act aims to disallow federal tax deductions for employer expenditures used to influence employees regarding union organizing activities. This legislation targets significant corporate spending on anti-union consultants and captive audience meetings, arguing that taxpayers should not subsidize efforts to interfere with workers' rights to organize. The bill also introduces strict new reporting requirements and penalties for companies that fail to disclose these influence expenditures.

The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act aims to increase competition in the pharmaceutical market by banning anticompetitive "pay-for-delay" settlements between brand-name drug manufacturers and generic or biosimilar makers. This legislation empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to penalize companies that make deals to illegally delay cheaper drug entry. Furthermore, the bill enhances reporting requirements and clarifies the FTC's authority to enforce these new competition rules.

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 The bill also repeals outdated restrictions on ATF data sharing and establishes new compliance and recordkeeping standards, including mandatory video surveillance for sales.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.

This Act authorizes the minting and issuance of special commemorative gold and silver coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins must be paid directly to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations.

The IDEA Full Funding Act mandates specific federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, excluding preschool services, starting in fiscal year 2026 through 2035 and beyond. This legislation establishes a formula that requires the government to allocate the greater of a set dollar amount or a percentage of a calculated amount based on the number of students served and average per-pupil spending. The goal is to significantly increase and stabilize federal contributions to special education services over the next decade.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act aims to restore certain federal tax deductions for employees. This bill makes union dues fully deductible "above-the-line," meaning they can be claimed without itemizing. Additionally, it temporarily allows employees to itemize specific work-related business expenses through the end of 2025.

The Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act aims to address the critical need for school facility modernization in districts heavily impacted by non-taxable federal lands. This bill authorizes a four-year, \$250 million annual grant program to provide construction funding through both competitive and formula grants. Priority will be given to districts with emergency facility conditions, while also adjusting funding formulas to better support high-need and defense-impacted school agencies. Funds must supplement, not replace, local spending on essential repairs, renovations, and new construction.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to improve efficiency and fairness in immigration courts by significantly increasing access to legal representation for unaccompanied children. This bill mandates the government to provide counsel for these children at no cost through all stages of removal proceedings. Furthermore, it ensures noncitizens receive their case files promptly and establishes new standards for lawyer access to detention facilities and required annual reporting on legal representation outcomes.

The Trade Review Act of 2025 establishes a mandatory 60-day congressional review period for any new or increased import duties imposed by the President. The President must notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing such duties, detailing the justification and impact. Unless Congress passes a joint resolution of approval within 60 days, the new or increased duty automatically expires.

The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study of the pharmaceutical supply chain, focusing heavily on the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). This investigation will examine issues like pricing fairness, patient steering, data misuse, and formulary manipulation. The FTC must deliver a final report to Congress detailing its findings, planned enforcement actions, and legislative recommendations to increase transparency and competition in the drug market.

The Drug Competition Enhancement Act aims to prevent pharmaceutical companies from unfairly blocking cheaper generic and biosimilar drugs from entering the market through "product hopping." This new rule prohibits manufacturers of original drugs from taking specific actions, such as discontinuing the original product while promoting a slightly altered version, to impede competition. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these provisions, seeking injunctions and remedies like disgorgement of unfair profits.

The Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act modifies patent infringement litigation between brand-name biologic drug makers and companies developing biosimilar versions. This bill specifically limits the number of patents a brand-name sponsor can assert in a lawsuit against a biosimilar applicant to 20, with further restrictions on newer patents. These changes aim to streamline patent disputes related to the introduction of lower-cost biologic alternatives into the market.

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 Stephen Hacala Poppy Seed Safety Act aims to prevent deaths and adverse effects linked to morphine contamination in poppy seeds. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish maximum allowable limits for morphine and codeine in poppy seeds within two years. Poppy seeds exceeding these federal safety limits will be deemed adulterated food and banned from interstate commerce. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that contaminated poppy seeds remain subject to controlled substance regulations.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand access to telehealth services under Medicare by permanently removing outdated geographic restrictions and broadening provider eligibility. The bill also enhances program integrity by dedicating new funding to oversight and establishing educational outreach for providers with unusual billing patterns. Finally, it mandates new resources, training, and public data reporting to ensure the quality and accessibility of virtual care for all beneficiaries.

The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act (ABC Act) mandates a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to significantly simplify application processes, forms, and communications. This effort aims to reduce the burden on family caregivers by eliminating redundant information requests across agencies. The responsible officials must report their simplification plans and progress to Congress within two years of enactment.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act establishes a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan designed to lower monthly payments based on family size and income relative to the poverty line. This plan offers loan forgiveness after 10 years for undergraduate-only debt or 15 years for debt including graduate loans. Furthermore, the bill eliminates interest accrual that exceeds the borrower's calculated monthly payment.

The Convenient Contraception Act ensures that individuals covered by group health plans or insurance can obtain a full 365-day supply of their covered contraceptives at once. This upfront supply must be provided without any copays, deductibles, or coinsurance. The requirement takes effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and mandates federal outreach to inform providers and consumers of this new option.

This Act mandates the Department of Labor to establish comprehensive, enforceable standards for preventing workplace violence in healthcare and social service settings. It requires covered employers to develop and implement written prevention plans, conduct risk assessments, provide thorough training, and maintain detailed incident logs. The legislation also amends the Social Security Act to ensure facilities receiving Medicare funds comply with these new federal workplace safety requirements.

The Paying a Fair Share Act of 2025 introduces a new "Fair Share Tax" targeting high-income taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) exceeding $1,000,000. This tax is calculated as 30% of AGI (minus a modified charitable deduction) but only applies to income that exceeds existing regular income tax, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and payroll taxes. The Senate views this bill as an immediate step to ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share and reduce the national deficit while encouraging broader tax reform.