Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates the week of November 3 through November 7, 2025, as National Veterans Small Business Week. It recognizes the significant contributions of the over 1.65 million veteran-owned small businesses to the U.S. economy. The bill supports creating a business-friendly environment and expresses appreciation for veterans' continued service through entrepreneurship.

The Restoring Integrity in Fiduciary Duty Act mandates that retirement plan fiduciaries must evaluate investments based *only* on pecuniary factors that materially affect risk and return, prohibiting the subordination of financial interests to non-financial goals. If financial factors are equal, fiduciaries must use a specific tie-breaking standard (*capita aut navia*) and document their reasoning. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that exercising shareholder rights, such as proxy voting, must be done solely in the economic interest of participants and beneficiaries.

The Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs submit an annual report detailing the causes and manner of death for deceased veterans for five years. This report must include specific data points, such as service-connected disability ratings and primary/secondary causes of death. The goal is to provide Congress with comprehensive data on veteran mortality trends.

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act of 2025 modifies existing provisions for the STEM Scholarship program. This bill adjusts eligibility criteria and recalculates certain numerical values related to the scholarship. Furthermore, it establishes new priority guidelines for recipients and mandates that the scholarship benefit can only be used after exhausting other educational assistance entitlements.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the 250th birthday of the United States Navy, honoring its long history since the Continental Navy. It expresses deep appreciation for the courage and service of all Navy personnel, past and present, who have defended the nation. Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms Congress's commitment to supporting the Navy's vital role in global security, humanitarian aid, and technological advancement.

The Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that members of the Armed Forces, along with essential Department of Defense civilian personnel and contractors, continue to receive pay and allowances in fiscal year 2026 if regular appropriations are not enacted. This measure provides temporary, continuing funding to support active service members. This authority automatically terminates upon the enactment of a new appropriations law or by January 1, 2027.

The Veterans' Infrastructure and Transformation Act of 2025 (VITAL Act) comprehensively reforms how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) manages its physical assets and construction. This bill streamlines facility management by consolidating construction, leasing, and acquisition functions under centralized leadership and modernizes building standards. It also establishes pilot programs to test non-cash property leases and requires a long-term strategic plan for VA infrastructure modernization. Crucially, all new obligations under this Act remain strictly contingent upon available Congressional appropriations.

This resolution formally condemns the brutal Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel of October 7, 2023, and supports Israel's right to self-defense. It further condemns antisemitic and destructive protests within the United States. Ultimately, the resolution calls for an outcome that ensures Israel's survival, eliminates Hamas's ability to operate, and secures the release of all remaining hostages.

This resolution officially designates the week of October 5–11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate the importance of religious education in the United States. It affirms that religious instruction is vital for developing moral and civic citizens, citing historical precedent and Supreme Court rulings that protect parental rights in education. Furthermore, the resolution calls upon states and territories to accommodate students who wish to be released from public school for religious instruction.

The Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 ensures that public colleges receiving federal funding must grant religious student organizations the same rights, benefits, and privileges afforded to all other student groups. This prevents institutions from denying resources or penalizing religious groups based on their beliefs, practices, speech, leadership selection, or conduct standards. Essentially, the bill mandates equal treatment for all student organizations on campus to maintain federal funding eligibility.

This resolution formally condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honors his life and legacy as a devoted husband, father, and founder of Turning Point USA. It recognizes his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses across the nation. The Senate also extends its deepest sympathies to his surviving family.

The ACES Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to investigate cancer prevalence and mortality rates among active duty Armed Forces aircrew. This study will examine potential links between occupational exposures during flight duties and specific types of cancer. The findings will be reported to Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better understand health risks for covered service members.

The Merchant Banking Modernization Act updates regulations for bank holding companies regarding their merchant banking investments. This legislation extends the minimum holding period for these investments to 15 years. This new minimum duration applies retroactively to investments already held by banks.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. It condemns the multiple attempts against his life and other political officials, while honoring the victims and first responders involved in the July 2024 shooting. The measure further calls for an end to the incitement of political violence that threatens the democratic process.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act extends crucial federal programs aimed at combating vector-borne diseases like those carried by ticks. This legislation reauthorizes funding and support for national strategies, regional centers, and local health departments through 2030. It also updates the composition of the advisory group overseeing the national strategy.

This bill aims to improve veterans' healthcare by updating community care program eligibility and notification processes, enhancing mental health treatment program standards and access, and modernizing the VA's healthcare system through online tools and streamlined processes. It focuses on ensuring timely access to care, accommodating veterans' preferences, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of VA services. The bill also mandates increased transparency and accountability through regular reports to Congress.

The Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act of 2025 significantly restructures the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquisition process by establishing a new Office of Acquisition and Innovation led by a dedicated Assistant Secretary. This law mandates stricter management, independent verification, and rigorous cost assessment for all major VA programs to ensure fiscal responsibility and successful project delivery. Furthermore, it grants the VA new authorities to procure innovative health care technologies through specialized contracting methods.

The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025 mandates an increase in disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) rates for veterans and survivors. This adjustment, effective December 1, 2025, must match the percentage increase applied to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to publish these new payment rates concurrently with the SSA's annual COLA announcement.

The Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act establishes a program to correct historical burial errors for Jewish American service members lost in WWI and WWII who are interred overseas under incorrect grave markers. This initiative tasks the American Battle Monuments Commission with identifying these service members and contacting their families over a ten-year period. The goal is to restore the correct religious heritage for these fallen troops buried in U.S. military cemeteries abroad.

The Modular Housing Production Act aims to boost the construction of factory-built modular homes by addressing financing hurdles. It requires the Secretary of HUD to review and propose changes to FHA construction financing programs to better accommodate modular builders, particularly regarding payment schedules. Additionally, the bill authorizes a study to explore the feasibility of creating a standardized commercial code specifically for modular homes to streamline production and encourage innovation.