Legislative Activity

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.

The **Break Up Suspicious Transactions of Fentanyl Act (BUST FENTANYL Act)** mandates new reports detailing U.S. efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, particularly from China, and updates deadlines for international narcotics strategy reports. The bill significantly expands the President's authority to impose sanctions on individuals, financial institutions, and even foreign government agencies knowingly involved in opioid trafficking or money laundering. Furthermore, it requires prioritized identification of Chinese entities involved in shipping fentanyl precursors destined for Mexico and the U.S.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act makes student loan repayment or forgiveness amounts received by veterinarians participating in state-based programs tax-free. This exclusion applies to funds received through programs designed to increase veterinary services in underserved areas. This tax benefit will take effect for amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act ensures individuals can purchase standalone dental insurance plans directly through the official health insurance marketplaces. This legislation removes any requirement to also enroll in a comprehensive medical plan to secure dental coverage via the Exchange. The goal is to simplify the process for people seeking only dental benefits through the established marketplace system.

This resolution condemns the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong government for systematically dismantling Hong Kong's promised autonomy and democratic freedoms. It specifically denounces the imposition and expansion of sweeping national security laws used to suppress dissent, arrest activists, and target journalists. The resolution urges international accountability for these actions and calls for the immediate release of all political detainees.

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.

This resolution celebrates the 204th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms the deep, shared commitment to democracy between the United States and Greece. It recognizes the historical ties, ongoing strategic partnership in security and energy, and the contributions of the Greek-American community. The bill ultimately honors Greece as a vital NATO ally and friend.

The Unity through Service Act of 2025 establishes an Interagency Council on Service to unify and expand opportunities across military, national, and public service sectors. The bill promotes joint research and coordinated recruitment strategies between these service branches to strengthen civic duty nationwide. It also enhances transition assistance for service members entering civilian life and requires several reports to Congress on integration efforts and recruitment lessons learned.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

This Senate resolution affirms the foundational principle that the power to interpret federal law rests solely with the federal judiciary, as established by Article III of the Constitution. It reaffirms the doctrine of judicial review, stating that the courts definitively determine what the law means. Consequently, the resolution mandates that the Executive Branch must abide by all federal court rulings or pursue appropriate legal appeals.

The Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value Based Program Act of 2025 establishes a new Medicare payment system for radiation therapy, moving providers to a single, bundled payment per episode of care to incentivize quality and efficiency. This program mandates participation for most providers while setting base rates derived from 2021 figures, subject to annual updates. Additionally, the bill creates a special add-on payment to address patient transportation insecurity and exempts savings generated by this program from standard Medicare budget neutrality adjustments.

The Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act formally defines Career and Technical Education (CTE) within the Small Business Act. This legislation directs Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs) to actively assist small businesses in hiring recent CTE graduates. Furthermore, these centers are now required to support CTE graduates who wish to start their own small businesses.

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 Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act moves TSA personnel from their special management system into the standard federal employee system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by a set deadline. This transition aims to grant TSA employees the same workplace protections and benefits as other federal workers while ensuring current pay and service time are protected. The bill also mandates several reviews by the Comptroller General and requires consultation with employee representatives regarding the implementation process. Finally, it preserves existing anti-strike laws and addresses specific concerns for Federal Air Marshals.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to combat bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states that accept federal funding to establish clear anti-bullying policies, define prohibited conduct based on protected characteristics, and implement systems for reporting and tracking incidents. This legislation mandates that local districts inform all stakeholders about prohibited conduct and establish formal complaint processes. Furthermore, the bill requires regular state and federal evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these measures in reducing harmful behavior while respecting existing non-discrimination laws and free speech rights.

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 Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 aims to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments for children by expanding the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the incentive program that grants priority review vouchers to encourage the development of drugs for rare pediatric diseases. The bill mandates studies on the effectiveness of these new requirements and the existing voucher system.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act allows medical and dental interns and residents to defer payments on their student loans during their training programs. This deferment specifically prevents principal payments and stops interest from accruing on the loan balance while the borrower is in residency or an internship. This ensures that medical professionals can focus on their training without accruing additional debt.

The Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025 establishes a high-level, multi-agency task force (JTFISN) to coordinate and lead federal efforts against the illicit synthetic narcotics crisis. This task force will focus on disrupting trafficking networks, enforcing sanctions, and improving intelligence sharing across departments like Justice, Treasury, and Homeland Security. The Director will report to the Attorney General and Congress, providing regular updates on enforcement actions and strategies, particularly those targeting foreign actors like the People's Republic of China. Crucially, the law explicitly prohibits the task force from targeting individual drug users or low-level dealing unrelated to major trafficking operations.

The Tariff Transparency Act of 2025 directs the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to investigate and report on the economic effects of proposed or announced tariffs on trade with Mexico and Canada. This comprehensive report must detail the impact of potential duties on consumer prices, the fallout from retaliatory measures, and the costs associated with ongoing trade uncertainty. The USITC is required to submit its findings to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.