Legislative Activity

The Strengthening Benefit Plans Act of 2025 allows employers to transfer surplus assets from overfunded retiree health accounts or defined benefit pension plans into other employee benefit funds, like 401(k) plans or VEBAs. This aims to provide flexibility for employers managing excess funds while imposing strict requirements to protect employee vesting and future benefit levels. The bill establishes specific calculations for defining "excess assets" and mandates advance notice to participants before any transfer occurs.

The Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act aims to provide tax relief and compliance clarity for the beauty services industry. It expands an existing employer tax credit for Social Security taxes paid on employee tips to include beauty service establishments. Furthermore, the bill establishes an IRS audit "safe harbor" for beauty employers who implement specific tip reporting and training procedures, and it introduces new information reporting requirements for landlords renting space to multiple beauty professionals.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through new reporting requirements and procedural changes. It mandates increased transparency on claim processing times and requires the VA to establish clearer guidelines for expediting cases. Furthermore, the bill grants the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) new authority to group similar appeals and expands the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims' (CAVC) jurisdiction regarding class actions.

This resolution formally condemns Hamas for its premeditated and brutal terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. It demands that Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and allow them access to necessary medical care. The document further affirms that taking hostages is a clear violation of international law.

The Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act revises federal statutes concerning several serious offenses. This bill strengthens penalties for bank robbery and motor vehicle crimes, while also clarifying the intent required to convict individuals who assault federal officers. Furthermore, it establishes a new federal crime targeting the distribution of controlled substances disguised as candy or drinks to minors.

The Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act mandates that federal agencies conduct comprehensive software inventories and develop detailed modernization plans to consolidate licenses and improve management. These assessments must detail software usage, contracts, and associated costs, with findings reported to key oversight bodies. The law aims to increase efficiency, reduce unnecessary spending, and ensure better governance over agency software assets without authorizing new appropriations.

This resolution formally declares the nation's foundational belief in the inherent right to life for every human being, including the unborn. It recognizes the Supreme Court's decision to return authority over life protection laws to the people and their elected officials. Furthermore, the bill establishes an annual "Life Month" to commend organizations supporting life and urge lawmakers to enact protections for the unborn.

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a comprehensive plan for identifying, testing, and deploying emerging and innovative technologies to enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations. The plan must detail how CBP will integrate new tools, assess their impact on privacy and civil liberties, and establish clear metrics for success. It also formalizes the role of CBP Innovation Teams in rapidly adapting commercial technology to address border security gaps.

This resolution officially recognizes May as Jewish American Heritage Month to celebrate the significant contributions of Jewish Americans throughout U.S. history. It calls on leaders to use this month to educate the public about Jewish heritage and actively counter the current rise in antisemitism. The measure emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety and dignity of the Jewish American community.

This resolution serves as a formal tribute honoring the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. It recognizes his decades of public service, including his terms as Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator, where he championed infrastructure, agriculture, and conservative values. The Senate expresses deep sadness over his passing and directs that official copies of this tribute be sent to his family.

The Auto Reenroll Act of 2025 modifies rules for automatic enrollment retirement plans (QACAs and EACAs) to encourage continued participation. This legislation allows an employee's prior election to opt out of automatic contributions to automatically expire after three years or less. Upon expiration, the employee is automatically reenrolled in the plan unless they actively choose to opt out again. These changes aim to simplify reenrollment processes and maintain higher participation rates in employer-sponsored retirement savings.

This resolution congratulates the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of public charter schools for their ongoing contributions to American education. It highlights the growth, academic achievements, and parental choice offered by these tuition-free public schools. The measure officially recognizes and supports the goals of the 26th Annual National Charter Schools Week, scheduled for May 11–17, 2025.

The High-Quality Charter Schools Act establishes a new federal tax credit for individuals who donate to eligible, high-performing charter school organizations for expansion purposes. This section sets an annual national cap of $5 billion on these credits, distributed via state allocations and a national pool on a first-come, first-served basis. Furthermore, the bill imposes penalties on recipient organizations that fail to spend these qualified contributions within a five-year period. Finally, the Act ensures that participation in this program does not compromise the organizational autonomy of the charter schools involved.

This resolution strongly condemns the Russian Federation for the abduction, forced transfer, and illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. It asserts that the return of all abducted children must be a prerequisite before finalizing any peace agreement to end the war. The bill highlights Russia's intent to erase Ukrainian identity through forced adoption and citizenship changes, actions deemed violations of international law and potential war crimes.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to modernize and increase transparency in the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and requires plans to publicly report detailed data on their approval, denial, and appeal rates. Furthermore, it establishes new standards to protect enrollees and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timelines for care requests.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes new federal crimes for the intentional sharing of nonconsensual intimate images, including realistic AI-generated deepfakes, with enhanced penalties for content involving minors. It mandates that online platforms create clear reporting systems and remove reported nonconsensual intimate content within 48 hours. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these notice and removal requirements against covered platforms.

The Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act revises federal grant management for high-quality charter schools to enhance technical assistance and oversight for authorizing agencies. The bill establishes new experience and planning requirements for educator-led groups applying for pre-charter planning grants. It also adjusts the required percentages for how states must allocate these federal grant funds across various authorized activities.

The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates and extends key federal efforts to combat child exploitation. This bill revises the National Strategy to focus on emerging technology trends and mandates detailed resource planning for law enforcement. It also modifies the operations of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces, clarifying their duties, expanding partnerships, and providing liability protections for lead prioritization decisions. Finally, the Act adjusts grant funding allocations and authorizes specific funding levels through fiscal year 2028.

The Kids Online Safety Act establishes a comprehensive "duty of care" requiring online platforms to design features that mitigate specific harms to minors, such as those related to mental health and exploitation. It mandates that platforms provide minors with default, restrictive safety settings and robust parental controls over data sharing and recommendations. Furthermore, the legislation demands significant transparency regarding algorithmic ranking systems and grants the FTC enforcement authority.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Police Week." It serves to honor the valor and integrity of law enforcement officers across the nation. The resolution specifically remembers the officers killed in the line of duty during 2024 and encourages the public to observe this week to show appreciation for law enforcement personnel.