Legislative Activity

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, observed annually from October 23rd through 31st, to promote drug prevention education. It recognizes the ongoing national drug crisis, particularly the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The bill encourages all Americans to wear red ribbons and participate in activities that promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the office's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, assess HUD program effectiveness, and evaluate the agency's resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD operations.

This bill mandates the Administrator for Nuclear Security to develop and present a comprehensive plan to modernize and accelerate the Material Staging Capabilities within the nuclear security enterprise. The plan must outline modernization phases, estimate total costs, and aim to speed up key milestones for fiscal year 2026. The modernization effort must proceed concurrently with infrastructure upgrades for high explosives capabilities.

This bill mandates that secondary schools provide military recruiters with the same access to students and campus facilities as any other prospective employer or institution of higher education. It requires schools to facilitate a minimum of four in-person recruitment events annually. Furthermore, the legislation compels local educational agencies to disclose specific student contact and academic information to military recruiters upon request.

The PARTNERS Act establishes a pilot program for joint training between the U.S. and Mexican Armed Forces focused on countering transnational criminal organizations. This initiative will involve the Mexican military training in the United States on tactics like rotary-wing operations, network analysis, and counter-illicit trafficking. The Secretary of Defense is required to submit a detailed plan for this cooperative security effort to Congress.

The PAID OFF Act of 2025 restricts certain exemptions under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for agents representing foreign government or corporate entities owned or controlled by designated "countries of concern." It establishes a process requiring Congressional approval via a joint resolution for the Secretary of State to modify this list of concerning countries. These significant changes are set to terminate five years after the date the Act becomes law.

The Kayla Hamilton Act revises the standards for placing unaccompanied alien children in federal custody to prioritize child safety and prevent trafficking. It mandates enhanced screening, consultation with law enforcement, and stricter criteria for placement settings and sponsors. This legislation ensures that placement decisions are made only after comprehensive safety checks are completed for the child and potential sponsors.

The "United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act" aims to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere by developing a comprehensive strategy to disrupt connections between illegal actors and artisanal mining, counter illicit financing, and build law enforcement capacity. It requires the Secretary of State to create a multi-year plan, brief Congress on Venezuelan illicit gold activities, and conduct international financial investigations. The act also promotes responsible gold mining practices through public-private partnerships and authorizes appropriations to support the implementation of the strategy.

The Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization Act aims to combat the growing threat of international cyber fraud originating from criminal compounds often linked to transnational organizations. This legislation mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. government strategy to counter these operations through enhanced international cooperation, information sharing, and targeted accountability measures. The Act specifically authorizes the President to impose sanctions on individuals materially supporting these scam compounds, while also ensuring victim-centered support for survivors of forced criminality.

The ENFORCE Act strengthens federal laws against child exploitation by clarifying the connection between the production of child pornography and interstate commerce. This legislation eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain offenses involving visual representations of child sexual abuse. Furthermore, it mandates sex offender registration and enhances protections for evidence and victims in related court proceedings.

The Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act updates federal laws to enhance protections against crimes involving minors. This bill clarifies definitions in kidnapping and sexual abuse statutes, broadens the scope of sex trafficking offenses, and establishes a new federal crime for certain intentional touching of minors under 16. Furthermore, it standardizes penalties, ensuring attempts to commit these offenses carry the same weight as completed acts.

The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025 aims to shield U.S. persons and companies from legal repercussions for complying with U.S. sanctions and export control laws. It prohibits the enforcement of foreign court judgments or arbitration awards in U.S. courts if those foreign decisions penalize compliance with U.S. sanctions. This protection generally does not apply to victims of terrorism or cases where parties contractually agreed to U.S.-only jurisdiction.

The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act aims to combat illegal drug manufacturing by tightening regulations on equipment used to make counterfeit pills. This bill expands the definition of regulated persons to include those dealing in specific pill-making machinery and their critical parts. It mandates permanent serial numbers on these machines and parts, requiring transaction reporting to the Attorney General. Furthermore, the Act prohibits the removal or alteration of these required identification numbers.

The Hidden Foster Care Transparency Act mandates that states report detailed data on child separations occurring outside of formal court oversight, termed "hidden foster care arrangements." This legislation requires states receiving federal child welfare funding to track the circumstances, duration, services provided, and outcomes for children in these informal placements. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will then compile this information into an annual public report for Congress to shed light on these often-untracked situations.

The RESPECT Act of 2025 updates the authority for reconsidering decisions regarding interment or memorialization in national cemeteries, allowing reviews for decisions made on or after June 18, 1973. It also standardizes and clarifies the legal language used when referencing the definition of a tier III sex offender in relation to these decisions. Finally, the Act removes an outdated provision from a previous law concerning national cemeteries.

The JUSTICE in D.C. Act repeals previous legislation regarding incarceration reduction and second look sentencing in the District of Columbia. This act establishes a new annual grant program, starting in fiscal year 2026, to support organizations providing services to survivors of violent crime. These grants will be administered by the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, with a maximum award of $200,000 per organization annually.

The Share the Savings with Seniors Act aims to lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors taking specific, long-term chronic care medications under Medicare Part D, beginning in 2027. This bill mandates that cost-sharing for these drugs, once the deductible is met, must be calculated based on the drug's net price rather than the retail price. These changes apply to drugs treating conditions like diabetes and certain respiratory or cardiovascular issues.

This resolution amends Senate rules to allow the Majority Leader to group up to ten non-high-level presidential nominations for en bloc consideration. This change permits the Senate to vote on these nominations as a single package, streamlining the confirmation process for certain appointments. The grouped consideration follows the standard procedural rules applied to a single nomination.

The Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025, or VSAFE Act, establishes a new Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This Officer will lead efforts to prevent, respond to, and track fraud targeting veterans while coordinating with other federal agencies. Additionally, the bill makes a minor technical adjustment by extending the expiration date of certain existing limits on veterans' pension payments by two months.

The LETITIA Act significantly increases criminal penalties for public officials who commit financial crimes, including bank fraud, lying on loan applications, and tax fraud. This legislation establishes mandatory minimum sentences and higher fines that escalate based on the number of prior offenses committed by the official. Furthermore, it directs the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury to issue guidance ensuring rigorous investigation and enforcement of these enhanced statutes against public servants.