Legislative Activity

The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the flexibility for hospitals to provide acute care services in a patient's home through 2030. The bill also mandates a comprehensive, subsequent study comparing the quality, cost, and patient experience of hospital-at-home care versus traditional inpatient settings. This follow-up report must be submitted to key Congressional committees by September 2028.

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 Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 establishes a new federal process for trafficking survivors to seek the expungement of arrest records or the vacation of certain criminal convictions resulting from their victimization. It also creates a specific "duress" defense for defendants charged with serious federal crimes if they committed the offense while being trafficked. Furthermore, the bill mandates reporting on the use of these new relief mechanisms and clarifies that federal grants for legal aid can be used for post-conviction representation.

This resolution expresses support for designating July 10, 2025, as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors the critical, often dangerous work these essential employees perform to maintain the nation's power grid 24/7. The day commemorates their service, especially during emergencies, and recognizes the sacrifice of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The GLOBE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. policy to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. It mandates increased State Department reporting on international abuses, implements sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for such violations, and directs foreign assistance to support LGBTQI rights defenders. Furthermore, the Act reforms immigration procedures to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers and ensures non-discrimination for LGBTQI U.S. citizens serving abroad.

The Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding for both Type 1 Diabetes research programs and diabetes programs serving Native Americans. This legislation secures specific annual appropriations of \$160 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, along with a transition allocation in late 2027. The bill ensures continued financial support for these vital public health initiatives through the end of 2027.

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 Protecting America’s Diplomatic Workforce Act establishes stricter transparency requirements and limitations on large-scale workforce reductions across key international agencies. It specifically overhauls the State Department's procedures for laying off Foreign Service employees, prioritizing performance and increasing required advance notice periods for all affected federal workers. Furthermore, the bill mandates extended review periods and increased congressional notification before the State Department can update its Foreign Affairs Manual.

The LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025 bans the use of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity as a justification or mitigation for committing a violent crime in federal court. This legislation aims to eliminate "panic defenses" that wrongly suggest a person's identity can excuse criminal behavior. The bill also mandates an annual report from the Attorney General detailing federal prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals.

The ATF Data and Anti-Trafficking Accountability (ATF DATA) Act mandates the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to annually publish detailed firearm trace data for Congress and the public. This comprehensive report must break down tracing statistics by seller type, highlight the top 200 sellers, and analyze recovery data in high-homicide areas. The bill also requires specific reporting on "ghost guns," firearms recovered from multiple sales, and overall firearm trafficking patterns.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for the rights and freedoms of LGBTQI+ individuals across the United States. It recognizes key Supreme Court victories that advanced equality while acknowledging the ongoing need for federal legislation to combat discrimination. The bill specifically supports designating June 26th as "LGBTQI+ Equality Day" to commemorate these legal milestones.

The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act requires the Attorney General to publicly list licensed firearms dealers whose sales are frequently traced in connection with crime guns. Federal agencies are prohibited from awarding contracts to these "covered dealers" within two years of their listing, unless a national security waiver is granted. This aims to restrict federal business with dealers whose firearms are quickly recovered after sale in criminal investigations.

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 Global Respect Act of 2025 mandates the President to publicly identify foreign individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses against LGBTQI individuals. Those identified will be deemed inadmissible to the United States, and their visas will be subject to cancellation. The Act also requires enhanced reporting to Congress regarding the identification process and strengthens the State Department's tracking of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity abroad.

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.

The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2025 aims to prevent the proliferation of untraceable firearms manufactured using 3D printing technology. This legislation makes it illegal to intentionally distribute digital files or instructions online that can program a device to manufacture a complete firearm or key firearm components. The goal is to preserve existing gun tracing capabilities and enhance public safety against the threat of ghost guns.

The Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2025 requires large entities using Automated Decision Systems (ADS) for "critical decisions"—like those affecting employment, housing, or finance—to conduct rigorous impact assessments. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with creating detailed regulations and establishing a public repository for summary reports on these systems. This legislation aims to ensure transparency, test for bias, and mandate remediation for significant negative impacts caused by automated decision-making processes.

This bill amends federal law to implement a comprehensive ban on smoking and the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems on the premises of all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. The prohibition covers both indoor spaces and outdoor grounds under VHA control. This measure aims to create entirely smoke-free environments for veterans receiving care.

This resolution officially commemorates June 19, 2025, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day." It recognizes the historical significance of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in the Southwest finally received news of their freedom. The resolution supports the nationwide celebration of this day as a vital part of American history and heritage.