Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the vital and substantial contributions of the over 1.2 million female agricultural producers to the U.S. economy and global food supply. The measure encourages citizens to acknowledge the leadership, mentorship, and economic impact women have across the entire agricultural sector.

The Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act updates the Port Infrastructure Development Program to ensure fairer distribution of funding. This legislation mandates that project selections for both major and smaller port improvements must achieve equitable geographic representation across the United States. The goal is to spread vital port investments more evenly nationwide.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 mandates sweeping economic penalties against the Russian Federation and its affiliates for actions against Ukraine. This legislation requires the President and Treasury Secretary to impose escalating sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities. Furthermore, the Act prohibits U.S. persons from investing in Russian debt, bans the trading of Russian securities on U.S. exchanges, and imposes a massive 500% import duty on Russian goods. Sanctions can only be terminated if Russia agrees to a verifiable peace deal with Ukraine.

The Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 generally restricts federal courts from issuing orders that affect non-parties to a lawsuit or granting emergency relief in certain state/federal disputes under diversity jurisdiction. The bill also clarifies language regarding who can seek declaratory judgments and limits the scope of judicial review over agency actions. Overall, this legislation aims to narrow the scope of judicial authority in issuing certain types of relief and clarifying participation in specific legal challenges.

The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act expands eligibility for services provided through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP). This change allows the spouses of deceased service members and certain other eligible persons to access these career support resources. The bill amends existing law to ensure these spouses receive the same level of assistance previously reserved for eligible veterans.

This Senate resolution clarifies that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 only addressed the PRC's representation at the UN and does not endorse China's "One China Principle" regarding Taiwan's sovereignty. The resolution strongly opposes the People's Republic of China's efforts to misuse this vote to isolate Taiwan internationally. It reaffirms the U.S. position that the issue of Taiwan's final status remains unsettled and supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in global organizations.

This resolution formally honors the life and distinguished public service career of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former U.S. Senator for Wyoming. It celebrates his extensive tenure in both state and federal government, highlighting his focus on fiscal responsibility and support for veterans. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow at his passing and directs that the day's adjournment serve as a final tribute to his memory.

This resolution strongly condemns the Iranian regime's regional aggression and domestic brutality while focusing on the protection of Iranian political refugees at Ashraf-3 in Albania. It urges the U.S. government to uphold the fundamental rights of these dissidents, including former political prisoners and key witnesses to past atrocities. Furthermore, the resolution calls for opposing Iranian threats and extradition attempts against these refugees residing in Albania.

The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025 grants federal appellate and district court judges the authority to permit cameras and recording in their courtrooms. This authority is balanced by strict requirements to protect due process, including mandatory voice and face obscuring for certain witnesses upon request. The Act tasks the Judicial Conference with establishing mandatory guidelines to protect vulnerable individuals within three years, after which the district court media authorization provision will expire.

The Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act expands eligibility for memorial headstones and markers furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This legislation removes the previous date restriction, meaning veterans no longer need to have died on or after November 11, 1998, to qualify. The bill ensures that eligibility for these markers is determined by other existing criteria, regardless of the veteran's date of death.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The PARTS Act of 2025, or Protecting Americans Right To Silence Act, updates the federal definition of a "firearm silencer" or "firearm muffler." This legislation clarifies that both complete sound-reducing devices and the main housing component of such a device are legally considered silencers if designed to attach to a portable firearm. This change ensures that the core components intended for noise reduction are regulated under existing federal law.

The Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA Act) ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from mandating or barring contractors from entering into agreements with labor unions. This promotes open bidding, reduces taxpayer costs, and prevents discrimination based on union membership. The law requires federal agencies to remain neutral regarding project labor agreements for both direct contracts and federal grants.

The Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act updates federal support for recovery efforts by renaming the relevant program section to reflect a focus on "Strengthening" communities of recovery. This legislation expands the allowable use of grant funds to include strengthening existing recovery support systems, not just building new infrastructure. Furthermore, the bill significantly increases the authorized annual funding for these programs from $\$5$ million to $\$16$ million for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 establishes new grant opportunities specifically for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response efforts. This legislation creates a dedicated, interest-bearing fund within the U.S. Treasury to support these critical activities. The Act authorizes up to $5 million annually through 2030 to fund eligible organizations focused on stranded sea turtle care.

The Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act aims to strengthen the U.S. supply of critical medical goods by diversifying sourcing away from risky foreign reliance. It authorizes the President to enter into "trusted trade partner agreements" with reliable allies to reduce trade barriers on medical items. These agreements prioritize national security and public health by ensuring a steady flow of supplies, while Congress maintains strict oversight over the negotiation and implementation process.

The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025 prohibits all federal funding and support for research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained as a result of an induced abortion. The bill restricts federal agencies to only conducting or supporting research using tissue obtained after a miscarriage or stillbirth, subject to new regulations. Furthermore, it makes it illegal for individuals to solicit or knowingly accept donations of human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an induced abortion.

This joint resolution nullifies a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The rule concerned the prohibition of creditors and consumer reporting agencies from using or sharing medical information. By disapproving the rule, this resolution prevents the regulation from taking effect.

The COMPLETE Care Act aims to improve mental health access by providing Medicare incentives for primary care providers to integrate behavioral health services into routine visits. This legislation offers increased Medicare payments for specific integrated care services delivered between 2027 and 2029. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of technical assistance programs to help providers successfully implement these integrated care models.

The DELIVER Act of 2025 aims to support meal delivery to vulnerable populations by increasing the tax deduction for volunteers using their personal vehicles. This legislation allows volunteers delivering meals to elderly, disabled, frail, and at-risk individuals to claim the standard IRS business mileage rate for those specific trips. This change ensures greater reimbursement for those providing essential meal services.