Legislative Activity

The Chip Security Act mandates the implementation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported to protect U.S. national security interests. This requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure chips include features verifying location and reporting unauthorized use or tampering. Furthermore, the Act calls for an assessment and potential rollout of secondary security features to enhance export control compliance and prevent misuse by adversaries. The goal is to maintain the U.S. competitive edge by securing sensitive hardware sent to allies and partners.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for federal death penalty consideration. This factor applies when an individual who is illegally present in the U.S. is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a United States citizen. This measure aims to provide justice for victims of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent rule aimed at closing the "Homework Gap" using the E-Rate Program. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, Congress is formally rejecting the FCC's specific plan to extend E-Rate funding for student home internet access. Consequently, the FCC's rule, published on November 29, 2024, will not take effect.

The MOMS Act aims to support mothers and unborn children through three main areas: establishing a federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect expecting and new mothers with local services. It also creates grant programs to fund organizations that support carrying pregnancies to term and expand access to prenatal/postnatal telehealth care. Finally, the Act mandates that states establish and enforce child support obligations on behalf of unborn children upon the mother's request.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Small Business Week. It aims to celebrate the vital contributions of the over 34.5 million small businesses that support tens of millions of jobs nationwide. The bill honors the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners in every community.

The Insurance Data Protection Act aims to revise how federal agencies interact with insurance company data. This bill removes certain government subpoena powers and strengthens confidentiality protections when the Federal Insurance Office shares sensitive information. Furthermore, it limits the Office of Financial Research's ability to subpoena insurance companies directly and requires financial regulators to coordinate data collection to avoid duplication.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Financial Literacy Month" to raise national awareness about the critical need for personal finance education. It highlights current financial struggles, such as high household debt and lack of banking access, while emphasizing that financial education leads to better economic outcomes. The resolution encourages federal, state, and local entities to observe the month with programs promoting essential skills like budgeting, saving, and debt management.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act aims to combat sophisticated criminal gangs engaged in large-scale retail and supply chain theft. This bill strengthens federal law by updating money laundering and stolen property statutes, including establishing a $5,000 aggregate value threshold for certain offenses. Crucially, it mandates the creation of a specialized federal Coordination Center within Homeland Security to unify efforts across all levels of law enforcement and private industry against these transnational criminal organizations.

The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2025 significantly enhances the rehabilitation tax credit by setting a standard 20% credit rate and introducing a new, higher 30% rate for qualifying small projects, including special provisions for rural areas. The bill also allows for the transfer of these credits and eliminates the requirement to reduce a property's cost basis when claiming the credit. These changes aim to incentivize the rehabilitation and placement in service of historic properties after the enactment date.

The Health Tech Investment Act aims to establish specific, cost-based payment rules for advanced algorithm-based healthcare services under Medicare, starting in 2026. This ensures that services utilizing AI or machine learning receive appropriate payment based on manufacturer-submitted costs while in the New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (NTAP). The bill also clarifies eligibility for these new technologies within the Medicare outpatient payment system.

The SNOOP Act of 2025 aims to adjust the reporting requirements for third-party payment processors regarding transactions sent to the IRS. This bill reinstates the higher reporting threshold of over $20,000 in payments across more than 200 transactions for issuing 1099-K forms. Furthermore, it clarifies that backup withholding on network payments only applies if both the transaction count and dollar amount thresholds are met for the year.

The Returning Education to Our States Act fundamentally dismantles the Department of Education by transferring most of its core functions, including K-12 and higher education funding, to the Departments of Health and Human Services, the Treasury, and Labor. This bill replaces existing federal education structures with flexible block grants managed by these non-education agencies, giving states greater discretion over funding use. The legislation also mandates new federal oversight, data reporting, and auditing requirements for states receiving these block grants.

The PEER Support Act aims to formally recognize and professionalize the role of certified peer support specialists who have lived experience in recovery. It establishes a new Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to support these specialists and enhance recovery services nationwide. Furthermore, the bill mandates the official classification of this profession and requires a federal report on state criminal background check policies for peer specialists.

The Bolstering Research And Innovation Now (BRAIN) Act aims to significantly advance the fight against devastating brain tumors, which currently have low survival rates. This legislation focuses on boosting research by establishing new networks for glioblastoma treatment and supporting cellular immunotherapy studies. Furthermore, the Act mandates a national awareness campaign about clinical trials and biomarker testing, while also funding pilot programs to improve long-term care for survivors. Finally, it directs the FDA to issue guidance ensuring brain tumor patients have fair access to relevant clinical trials.

The Secure Family Futures Act of 2025 modifies tax rules for certain insurance companies regarding their investments and losses. Specifically, it prevents qualifying insurers from treating newly acquired debt instruments as capital assets for tax purposes. Additionally, the bill extends the carryover period for specific capital losses incurred by these companies to ten years. These changes apply only to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution formally honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former U.S. Senator for Louisiana. It details his career, highlighting his significant tenure on key Senate committees, particularly his leadership on energy policy. The resolution recognizes his legislative achievements benefiting Louisiana, including flood control and conservation efforts. Finally, the Senate adjourns immediately in his memory as a final tribute to his service.

The Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act amends tax law to expand the definition of "floor plan financing interest" to specifically include interest paid on financing for certain towable travel trailers and campers. This change allows businesses selling these recreational vehicles to treat the interest on their inventory financing under special tax deduction rules. This provision takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The DETERRENT Act significantly tightens reporting requirements for colleges and universities regarding foreign gifts and contracts, mandating public disclosure databases and imposing strict new prohibitions on agreements with "foreign countries or entities of concern." It establishes severe financial penalties and potential ineligibility for federal aid for institutions that knowingly violate these transparency and compliance rules. The bill also requires institutions to implement internal policies and designate compliance officers to manage risks associated with foreign influence.

The Public Safety Free Speech Act establishes protections for covered public safety employees against employer retaliation for expressing personal views on various work-related and personal topics. This bill allows these employees to sue their employers for negative job actions, such as firing or demotion, resulting from their protected speech. However, these protections do not apply to speech made while on duty, speech advocating illegal activity, or the intentional sharing of private personal information.

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.