Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for recognizing October 2025 as "World Menopause Awareness Month." It highlights the growing global population affected by menopause and the significant impact its symptoms have on women's quality of life and the economy. The bill calls for increased awareness, better access to care, and improved training for health workers regarding menopausal health.

This bill modifies existing limitations on the transfer of defense articles from the United States to the Republic of Cyprus. Specifically, it extends the duration for which waivers concerning these transfers can be applied from one fiscal year to three fiscal years. The legislation aims to adjust security assistance and sales requirements related to Cyprus.

The Colorectal Cancer Payment Fairness Act eliminates the Medicare coinsurance requirement for certain colorectal cancer screening tests. This legislation removes the existing deadline related to cost-sharing for these screenings. Crucially, starting in 2026, Medicare will cover 100 percent of the cost for these preventative tests.

The New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act establishes a new, voluntary program to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitats and water quality across the New York-New Jersey Watershed. This effort will be supported by a competitive matching grant program, prioritizing projects that address climate resilience and environmental justice concerns. The Act authorizes \$20 million annually from 2026 through 2031, after which the legislation will expire.

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the national understanding and prevention of stillbirths. It authorizes federal grants to help states enhance stillbirth surveillance, data collection, and analysis, ensuring all collected data remains de-identified. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of clear federal guidelines for standardized data collection and the development of public educational materials regarding stillbirth risk factors.

This Act establishes a six-year pilot program for eligible hospitals to provide medically tailored, home-delivered meals and nutrition therapy to certain high-risk Medicare patients upon discharge. The program aims to evaluate whether these specialized meals reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient health outcomes. Participating hospitals must screen patients, arrange for daily meals meeting specific nutritional needs, and report data to the Secretary of HHS. Funding for the meals will be offset by reducing payments to other hospitals to ensure the program is budget-neutral.

The Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2025 establishes a new Healthy Kids Grant Program to improve nutrition and physical activity for children from birth to age five in early care and education settings. This program funds organizations to train providers, build state capacity to connect families with nutrition resources, and reduce food insecurity among young children. Grantees must partner with diverse local implementing groups and focus on evidence-based strategies to promote healthy habits both in care settings and at home.

This resolution recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States and expresses strong support for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It specifically designates September 8, 2025, as "988 Day" to promote awareness of this vital, life-saving resource. The bill celebrates the success of the 988 system in connecting individuals in crisis with immediate support.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 mandates the President to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or groups whose actions threaten the peace and stability of the West Bank. These penalties specifically target those involved in violence against civilians, property destruction, or terrorism. The law requires regular reporting to Congress detailing those sanctioned and the steps being taken to mitigate violence in the region.

The Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025 establishes the Eviction Right to Counsel Fund to provide grants for guaranteed legal representation in eviction cases. This funding is specifically aimed at supporting lower-income tenants facing eviction or housing subsidy termination. Grants will be awarded to state, local, or tribal governments that have already enacted "right to counsel" legislation for these proceedings. Priority will be given to entities implementing tenant protections and planning to use the funds primarily for hiring and training legal counsel.

The Access to Fertility Treatment and Care Act mandates comprehensive fertility treatment coverage across most private health insurance plans, federal employee benefits (FEHB), TRICARE, and state Medicaid programs, provided obstetrical services are already covered. It broadly defines fertility treatment to include procedures like IVF, egg/sperm preservation, and related medications, ensuring cost-sharing for these services is no higher than for other medical benefits. Furthermore, the bill establishes new fertility treatment benefits for veterans and their families through the VA, and mandates that Medicare Part B cover these services with no patient deductible.

The Scale-Up Manufacturing Investment Company Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to address the capital gap faced by U.S. technology-intensive manufacturers trying to scale production. This program will license private investment funds and provide government leverage to encourage private capital investment in these critical small and emerging manufacturing projects. The goal is to ensure that technologies invented in the U.S. are commercialized and built domestically rather than moving overseas due to a lack of financing.

The Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025 establishes a new federal private right of action allowing individuals to sue pesticide registrants in federal court for personal injury or property damage caused by pesticides. Successful plaintiffs may be awarded compensatory and punitive damages, though they cannot recover attorney's fees or court costs. This new federal option supplements, but does not replace, existing state laws regarding pesticide injury claims.

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.

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 Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes a comprehensive federal strategy to reduce community violence through non-carceral, evidence-based interventions. Title I creates a new grant program within HHS to fund local violence intervention programs focused on high-risk individuals and trauma-responsive care. Title II authorizes $1.5 billion in Department of Labor grants to fund year-round job training and workforce development specifically for opportunity youth in high-violence areas. Overall, the bill directs significant federal resources toward community-led solutions that prioritize public health, economic opportunity, and violence reduction.

The Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2025 prohibits courts from using a plaintiff's race, ethnicity, or sex when calculating future lost earnings in civil lawsuits. It mandates the Secretary of Labor to create guidelines for developing bias-free future earnings tables that ignore these protected characteristics. Furthermore, the Act requires federal studies on damages awards and new training for federal judges on implementing these fairer calculation standards.

The Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act amends federal law to prohibit individuals subject to a court order restricting firearm possession while awaiting trial from purchasing or possessing guns. This legislation establishes a federal definition for "pretrial release order" and requires licensed dealers to check for these new prohibitions during sales. Furthermore, the bill creates a grant program to incentivize states and tribes to report these restrictive court orders to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025 aims to expand healthcare access for immigrants residing legally in the U.S. by mandating their eligibility for Medicaid and removing state barriers to coverage. The bill also allows individuals with federally authorized presence to access ACA marketplace subsidies and makes it optional for states to extend Medicaid and CHIP coverage to those without lawful status. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to simplify and broaden access to federally funded health programs for various immigrant populations.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating June 19, 2025, as "World Sickle Cell Awareness Day" to increase public understanding of sickle cell disease (SCD). It urges federal agencies to improve access to research, early detection, and novel treatments for SCD patients globally and domestically. Furthermore, the bill calls for the establishment of an interagency group to develop policies ensuring equitable access to innovative therapies while actively addressing systemic biases in care.