Legislative Activity

The DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated, comprehensive research program within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) focused on Down syndrome. This new initiative, the INCLUDE Project, will fund studies across basic science, clinical trials, and biomarker identification to better understand and treat co-occurring medical conditions. The ultimate goal is to improve the health, quality of life, and daily functioning for individuals with Down syndrome.

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency and accountability within agricultural checkoff programs. This bill establishes strict new rules prohibiting checkoff boards from using funds for lobbying or engaging in anticompetitive behavior. It mandates public disclosure of all spending records and requires regular audits by the Department of Agriculture's Inspector General to ensure compliance.

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends and improves critical federal grant programs designed to support successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. This legislation specifically reauthorizes key demonstration projects through 2030 and broadens the scope of services these grants can cover. Updates now explicitly allow funding for substance use disorder treatment, including peer recovery support and reentry housing services. Overall, the bill ensures continued federal investment in evidence-based reentry initiatives through the end of the decade.

The SMART Prices Act aims to strengthen Medicare by significantly accelerating and expanding the number of drugs eligible for price negotiation. This bill lowers the time requirements for certain single-source drugs to qualify for negotiation and adjusts the maximum fair price ceilings for negotiated drugs starting in 2028. Overall, the legislation seeks to increase price competition and lower costs within the Medicare drug program.

This resolution affirms that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental American values necessary to address persistent discrimination. It highlights widespread disparities across housing, employment, education, and healthcare affecting marginalized groups. The bill encourages all sectors of society to adopt policies that promote DEIA to ensure equal opportunity and strengthen the nation.

The Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2025 establishes a system for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review brand-name drugs priced excessively high compared to international benchmarks or other factors. If a price is deemed excessive, the bill immediately cancels the manufacturer's government-granted monopolies, allowing generic and biosimilar competition to begin quickly. The Act also mandates comprehensive annual reporting from manufacturers on pricing, R&D, and marketing costs, which will be made public via a new database.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to modernize and increase transparency in the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and requires plans to publicly report detailed data on their approval, denial, and appeal rates. Furthermore, it establishes new standards to protect enrollees and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timelines for care requests.

This resolution congratulates the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of public charter schools for their ongoing contributions to American education. It highlights the growth, academic achievements, and parental choice offered by these tuition-free public schools. The measure officially recognizes and supports the goals of the 26th Annual National Charter Schools Week, scheduled for May 11–17, 2025.

The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025 establishes a formal, publicly accessible code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices and creates a judicial investigation panel to handle related ethics complaints. The bill also mandates stricter disclosure requirements for gifts and income received by Justices, and significantly expands the circumstances under which a federal judge must recuse themselves due to financial ties or lobbying influence. Finally, it institutes new disclosure rules for parties and *amici curiae* in cases before the Court, alongside studies to monitor judicial compliance.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes new federal crimes for the intentional sharing of nonconsensual intimate images, including realistic AI-generated deepfakes, with enhanced penalties for content involving minors. It mandates that online platforms create clear reporting systems and remove reported nonconsensual intimate content within 48 hours. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these notice and removal requirements against covered platforms.

The CARGO Act of 2025 prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from awarding funding or support for any research activity that uses live animals if that research is conducted outside of the United States. This measure is intended to address concerns regarding the lack of oversight and potential mistreatment of animals in foreign research labs funded by U.S. taxpayers. The bill effectively bans NIH grants for overseas animal testing, requiring all such research to occur within U.S. borders.

The Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act revises federal grant management for high-quality charter schools to enhance technical assistance and oversight for authorizing agencies. The bill establishes new experience and planning requirements for educator-led groups applying for pre-charter planning grants. It also adjusts the required percentages for how states must allocate these federal grant funds across various authorized activities.

The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025 extends critical support for law enforcement officers. This bill reauthorizes a vital program designed to provide necessary treatment and support services. Specifically, it renews the program's authorization from 2025 through 2029.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Police Week." It serves to honor the valor and integrity of law enforcement officers across the nation. The resolution specifically remembers the officers killed in the line of duty during 2024 and encourages the public to observe this week to show appreciation for law enforcement personnel.

This resolution calls for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the severe crisis facing civilians in Gaza, highlighting widespread hunger and the collapse of essential services due to blocked aid. It urges the Administration to immediately use all diplomatic tools to secure the release of hostages, lift the blockade on aid, and work toward a lasting end to the fighting.

This resolution condemns the acceptance of substantial gifts, such as presidential aircraft, from foreign governments, citing serious national security and foreign influence concerns. It asserts that accepting such gifts violates the Constitution's Emoluments Clause and undermines public trust. The measure demands that the President must receive explicit Congressional approval before accepting any significant foreign gift.

This resolution directs the Senate Legal Counsel to initiate a civil lawsuit to enforce the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution against the President. The action seeks to legally prevent the President from accepting gifts, payments, or benefits from foreign governments without explicit Congressional approval. This measure is being taken due to concerns that the President's personal financial dealings with foreign entities may violate constitutional restrictions designed to ensure undivided loyalty to the United States.

The Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025 aims to address the severe mental health disparities facing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This bill establishes a national outreach and education strategy to reduce stigma and improve culturally appropriate care. Furthermore, it mandates comprehensive reviews of the AANHPI youth mental health crisis and the shortage of AANHPI behavioral health professionals. The goal is to increase access to services through better data collection, targeted education, and workforce development.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that health plans cover medically necessary diagnosis and treatment for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must apply to outpatient and inpatient care, including necessary dental and orthodontic support, unless the procedure is purely cosmetic. These new requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act modifies payroll taxes by increasing the Social Security wage cap to $400,000 and introducing a new 1.2% Medicare tax on high earners. It also significantly raises the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) rate for top earners and directs all NIIT revenue to the Social Security Trust Funds starting in 2026. These changes apply to both wage earners and the self-employed.