Legislative Activity

The "First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act" authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to collectively honor the First Rhode Island Regiment for their heroic service during the Revolutionary War. This regiment, one of the first racially integrated units in American history, was composed of African American, Indigenous, and mixed-race soldiers. The gold medal will be presented to the Rhode Island State Library for public display and research, with the hope that it will also be exhibited at other locations associated with the Regiment. The Act also allows for the creation and sale of bronze duplicates of the medal to support the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

The Officer John Barnes Act requires the Bureau to inform claimants of their benefit eligibility determination within 270 days of receiving a claim.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ensuring consistent enforcement against antisemitism in federally funded programs. This bill aims to increase awareness and improve the safety of Jewish communities by codifying the use of the IHRA definition. The Act does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change harassment standards, reduce existing rights, or diminish First Amendment rights.

The "Eliminate Lavish Incentives To Electric Vehicles Act" repeals several clean energy tax credits, including those for new and used clean vehicles, qualified commercial clean vehicles, and excludes electric vehicle recharging property from the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit. These changes would take effect for vehicles or property purchased (or under binding contract) more than 30 days after the Act's enactment.

The "OPTN Fee Collection Authority Act" amends the Public Health Service Act to enhance organ transplantation network operations by encouraging electronic health record integration and exploring a transplant statistics dashboard. It authorizes the Secretary to collect registration fees from OPTN members to fund these activities, ensuring transparency through public reporting of fee collection and usage. The Comptroller General will review these activities, and the fee collection authority will expire three years after enactment.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in logistical transactions of Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical products. It mandates the President to block the property of sanctioned individuals and entities within the U.S. and deny them U.S. visas, with potential waivers based on national interest. The Act also establishes an Interagency Working Group to coordinate and enhance the enforcement of sanctions against Iran, and encourages the formation of a multilateral contact group with similar countries to coordinate international enforcement of sanctions against Iran. Finally, the Act amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include identifying individuals or entities involved in activities that violate or evade sanctions under the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025.

The "National Right-to-Work Act" aims to protect individual employees' rights to choose whether or not to join or support a labor union. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to eliminate mandatory union membership or fees as a condition of employment. This ensures that employees cannot be forced to join or contribute to a union against their will. The changes apply to agreements made or renewed after the Act's enactment.

The "Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture from banning or regulating lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters open to hunting and fishing. An exception is allowed in specific areas where lead is scientifically proven to be the primary cause of wildlife population decline, but any restrictions must align with state laws or have the approval of the state's fish and wildlife department. The reasoning for any such prohibition or regulation must be published in the Federal Register.

The "Credit Union Board Modernization Act" amends the Federal Credit Union Act to reduce the frequency of board of directors meetings for well-managed federal credit unions. New federal credit unions are required to meet monthly for the first five years, while those with strong ratings must meet at least six times annually after the initial period. Credit unions with lower ratings will still be required to meet monthly.

This bill transfers the responsibilities of the Food for Peace Act from the United States Agency for International Development to the Department of Agriculture. It ensures program continuity by allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to implement immediate regulation amendments and utilize existing statutory authorities. The Department of Agriculture will also continue the Famine Early Warning Systems Network to monitor and mitigate food insecurity. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to consult regularly with the Secretary of State when implementing title II of the Food for Peace Act.

The "Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act" establishes new federal crimes and penalties for individuals who intentionally flee from law enforcement officers while operating a vehicle near the U.S. border. Convictions under this law can lead to imprisonment, fines, and immigration consequences such as inadmissibility or deportation. The Attorney General must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the enforcement and impact of this law.

The "Forest Data Modernization Act of 2025" aims to modernize forest inventory and analysis through updated methods, improved carbon data collection, and national consistency in standards. It mandates a strategic plan focusing on data integration, transparency, and expanded data collection using advanced technologies. The bill also ensures data accessibility while protecting confidentiality, requires regular statistical compilations, and establishes a data platform for external requests, along with annual progress reports. It also specifies remote sensing technologies and machine learning for improved data collection and modeling.

The "Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act" mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security initiate removal proceedings for any alien whose visa has been revoked due to security concerns or related issues as outlined in section 237(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This act clarifies visa revocation procedures and emphasizes the Secretary's authority in such matters. There is no judicial review allowed.

The PLCAA Federal Jurisdiction Act allows firearm manufacturers, sellers, or trade associations to move civil lawsuits from state to federal court if they believe the case qualifies as a "qualified civil liability action." The federal court then determines if the case meets this definition and has the power to dismiss it.

The Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability (FEMA) Workforce Planning Act requires the FEMA Administrator to develop and submit a human capital operating plan to Congress every three years to improve the agency's workforce. The plan must include performance measures, cost analysis, staffing goals, and strategies to address workforce gaps, recruitment, and retention. The Comptroller General must submit a report analyzing the plan's compliance with the law.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to fix the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. State legislatures must ratify the amendment within seven years, with a three-fourths majority required for approval.

The "Supporting Made in America Energy Act" mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a minimum number of oil and natural gas lease sales annually for both onshore and offshore lands, including specific requirements for the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska regions. It extends the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico until December 31, 2035, and sets deadlines for preparing subsequent oil and gas leasing programs. The Act also restricts the President's authority to pause or impede Federal energy mineral leasing processes without congressional approval.

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of "Career and Technical Education Month" by recognizing the importance of career and technical education (CTE) in preparing students for the workforce. It acknowledges the significant number of students enrolled in CTE programs and the positive impact of CTE on academic achievement and employability. The resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month.

The "Securing our Border Act" aims to enhance border security by increasing scanning at entry points, constructing a border wall, and incentivizing Customs and Border Protection agents. It mandates the transfer of funds to Customs and Border Protection for nonintrusive inspection systems to achieve a 100% scanning rate at all northern and southwest border land ports of entry. The Act also allocates funding for border wall construction along the southwest border and authorizes bonuses for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to aid in recruitment, retention, and relocation. Additionally, it amends immigration law to require the return or detention of aliens arriving from contiguous territories while awaiting asylum proceedings.

The "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025" prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from sharing veterans' personal information with the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) based solely on the appointment of a fiduciary to manage their benefits. Information can only be shared if a judicial authority determines the veteran poses a danger to themselves or others.