Legislative Activity

The National Net Interest is National Security Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and State, to report on how the growing national debt and interest payments threaten U.S. national security. This comprehensive report must analyze impacts on defense spending, global standing, and the capacity to manage crises. The bill also mandates that the Government Accountability Office add these debt-related security threats to its High Risk List.

This resolution formally congratulates the Louisiana State University (LSU) Fighting Tigers baseball team for winning the 2025 NCAA Division I College World Series. It recognizes their undefeated performance in Omaha and celebrates the achievements of the players and coaching staff. The Senate is also honoring the dedication of LSU fans and the entire state in supporting the championship team.

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act aims to combat the opioid crisis by immediately classifying structurally similar fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances. The bill also streamlines the registration process for researchers working with Schedule I drugs and strengthens criminal penalties for trafficking these compounds. The Attorney General is required to issue implementing rules within six months of enactment.

The Independent Retirement Fairness Act aims to expand retirement savings options for independent workers by allowing them to participate in pooled employer plans and Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) as if they were traditional employees. The bill also establishes pilot programs to facilitate automatic retirement savings through methods like rounding up paychecks. Furthermore, it simplifies certain auditing requirements for grouped retirement plans.

The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act ensures that offering portable or standard employee benefits will not, by itself, cause a worker to be classified as an employee under federal law. This change allows companies to offer valuable benefits to independent workers without automatically triggering employee status for tax or labor purposes. The legislation aims to encourage the provision of portable benefits to the independent workforce.

The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen the network supporting older Americans by improving health outcomes, enhancing nutrition services, and bolstering support for family caregivers. It focuses on increasing accountability, transparency, and coordination across federal and local aging services. Key provisions include dedicated mental health advocacy, modernized nutrition options like medically tailored meals, and significant support enhancements for family caregivers and Native elders.

The **SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen national efforts against substance use disorders and improve public health infrastructure. It significantly increases and extends funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs through 2030, while also updating regulations for provider training and controlled substance distribution. Key provisions focus on enhancing maternal health support, improving overdose monitoring, bolstering the mental health workforce, and ensuring accountability in state-level mental health spending.

This concurrent resolution expresses Congress's strong support and deep appreciation for America's law enforcement professionals. It recognizes the increasing dangers, high trauma exposure, and current staffing shortages facing officers nationwide. The resolution calls for enhanced safety measures, better resources, increased penalties for assaulting officers, and improved mental health support for law enforcement personnel. Ultimately, it urges all levels of government to provide the necessary support for officers to effectively protect their communities.

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act aims to increase pay for certain Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees currently receiving the "Rest of US" locality rate. This is achieved by reassigning their worksites to the nearest established pay locality offering a potentially higher adjustment. The bill also mandates that prevailing rate employees in specific "Rest of US" wage areas receive a higher wage rate based on the nearest comparable locality or the highest rate within their broader pay zone. These changes will take effect 180 days after the date the Act is signed into law.

This resolution expresses support for designating the second Saturday in June as "Veterans Get Outside Day." The goal is to encourage veterans struggling with mental health issues like PTSD and TBI to benefit from time spent in nature. It calls on federal agencies to coordinate efforts to promote this day alongside existing outdoor initiatives.

The Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth. This legislation removes previous location-based restrictions that limited access to remote mental health care. By updating payment rules, the Act ensures broader and more accessible coverage for these essential services.

This bill extends the temporary increase in the share of federal excise taxes on distilled spirits that is covered over to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It pushes the expiration date of this favorable tax treatment from January 1, 2022, to January 1, 2032. Essentially, this legislation ensures the territories maintain their current revenue-sharing arrangement for another decade.

This bill amends tax code rules to provide special treatment for certain financial guaranty insurance companies under the Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) regulations. It allows these companies to avoid PFIC classification by counting unearned premium reserves as insurance liabilities, provided they meet strict financial and operational conditions. The legislation clarifies definitions and sets effective dates for these changes, generally applying to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 addresses the growing public health crisis of obesity, particularly among Medicare beneficiaries. This bill expands Medicare coverage for intensive behavioral therapy by allowing more types of qualified healthcare providers to furnish the treatment. Furthermore, it amends Medicare Part D to allow coverage for prescription medications used to treat obesity or weight management in individuals with related health conditions. Finally, the Act requires the Secretary of HHS to report regularly to Congress on the implementation and coordination of federal obesity-related efforts.

The Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive federal program to eliminate Hepatitis C by coordinating national strategy, creating a subscription drug purchasing model to provide free treatment to high-risk populations (including incarcerated individuals and the uninsured), and funding public health activities for testing and outreach. Furthermore, the bill eliminates out-of-pocket costs for Hepatitis C treatments under Medicare Part D from 2027 through 2031. All funds appropriated under this Act are restricted for use only by individuals meeting specific lawful immigration statuses.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify how federal excise taxes collected on distilled spirits shipped from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are transferred back to those territories. It removes previous limitations on these tax transfers. Additionally, the bill establishes a new requirement mandating that Puerto Rico dedicate a portion of these transferred funds to its Conservation Trust Fund.

The Informing VETS Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to actively inform eligible veterans about the benefits of the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program. This is achieved by mandating the VA to mail personalized letters detailing VR&E benefits alongside a direct comparison chart against the GI Bill. This essential information must also be made publicly available on a VA website.

The Small Biotech Innovation Act creates an exception to the Medicare drug price negotiation program for small biotech manufacturers heavily invested in research and development. This exception shields certain "qualifying single source drugs" from negotiation for initial years, provided the company meets strict R&D spending thresholds relative to its number of qualifying drugs. To qualify, manufacturers must apply annually and certify their R&D expenditures, with provisions for appealing adverse decisions.

This resolution officially designates June 12, 2025, as "National Seersucker Day" and sets aside every subsequent Thursday through August 2025 as "Seersucker Thursday." It celebrates the history and tradition of the unique, puckered fabric, particularly its connection to Congressional tradition. The bill encourages the public to wear seersucker clothing to honor this American summer staple.

The Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act limits the coinsurance amount Medicare beneficiaries must pay for certain outpatient surgery center services. If the standard coinsurance exceeds the annual inpatient hospital deductible, this bill caps the beneficiary's out-of-pocket cost at that deductible amount. This change aims to reduce unexpected out-of-pocket expenses for patients receiving outpatient care.