Legislative Activity

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of available, stable foster and adoptive homes, particularly for LGBTQ youth and youth of color who are overrepresented in the system. The bill mandates federal guidance, cultural competency training, and the establishment of a resource center to improve safety and permanency outcomes for all children in care. Entities found in violation may face the withholding of federal payments.

The Background Check Expansion Act mandates that nearly all private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals must go through a licensed dealer to complete a federal background check. This legislation establishes a universal background check requirement for these transactions, with specific exceptions for family gifts and law enforcement transfers. The bill aims to close loopholes in existing firearm transfer laws while explicitly prohibiting the creation of a national firearms registry.

The Anti-Cash Grab Act repeals a specific provision (Section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). This repeal effectively restores a previous law, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005. The legislation is designed to take effect retroactively as if the repealed section had never been enacted.

This resolution condemns the Chinese Communist Party's severe persecution of religious minority groups, including Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. It specifically denounces the detention of Pastor "Ezra" Jin Mingri and Zion Church leaders amid a broader campaign to "sinicize" religion. The measure reaffirms the United States' global commitment to promoting religious freedom and calls for the immediate release of all wrongfully detained religious practitioners in China.

The Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025 ensures the uninterrupted continuation of all Head Start projects and activities throughout fiscal year 2026, even if full appropriations are delayed. This legislation provides necessary continuing funding based on the terms of existing 2025 continuing resolutions. Funding authority under this Act will terminate upon the enactment of regular 2026 appropriations or by September 30, 2026.

This Senate resolution expresses support for the European Union's efforts to rapidly diversify away from Russian energy sources following the invasion of Ukraine. It commends recent EU and U.S. sanctions targeting Russian energy revenues. The resolution also specifically calls on Hungary to adhere to the established timelines for ending its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

The GAIN AI Act of 2025 establishes strict export controls on advanced integrated circuits to designated "countries of concern." It mandates that exporters must certify they have given U.S. persons a right of first refusal before selling these critical components abroad. Furthermore, the bill sets standards for designating "trusted United States persons" to potentially exempt them from certain licensing requirements.

The No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act prohibits the United States from conducting any explosive nuclear testing unless a foreign state tests first or a specific technical need is certified. Before any test, the President must notify Congress 180 days in advance, and Congress must approve the action through a joint resolution. Approval requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the Senate, with specific, rigorous procedural requirements outlined for both chambers.

This Senate resolution urges the Department of Agriculture to immediately use its contingency funds and interchange authority to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is fully financed. The Senate asserts the administration has a legal obligation to use these existing resources to support millions of vulnerable Americans through November. This measure expresses a position and does not enact new law.

The Safer Supervision Act of 2025 aims to reform federal supervised release by requiring individualized assessments before imposing supervision and establishing a presumption for early termination based on compliance. The bill also mandates a report on providing law enforcement availability pay to probation officers and allows certain prisoners without supervision terms to apply earned time credits for early release. Finally, it directs the GAO to study federal post-release supervision practices and workforce needs.

The SNAP BACK Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture reimburse states for the costs incurred while operating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during any period when federal funding for the program lapsed. This reimbursement is contingent upon the state having administered SNAP in accordance with federal law during the lapse.

This resolution commemorates the seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's murder and addresses ongoing transnational repression by the Government of Saudi Arabia. It calls for accountability for those responsible for Khashoggi's death and urges Saudi Arabia to release all wrongfully detained individuals. Furthermore, the resolution emphasizes that these human rights abuses strain the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

This joint resolution officially terminates the national emergency declared by the President on February 1, 2025, which was used to impose duties on articles imported from Canada. It exercises the authority granted under the National Emergencies Act to end the emergency status established by Executive Order 14193.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that essential nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC, continue to provide benefits without interruption if full appropriations for the Department of Agriculture are not enacted for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation immediately makes funds available to cover benefits and state operating costs during any funding lapse, retroactive to September 30, 2025. These special appropriations terminate once the standard FY 2026 funding bill is passed or by September 30, 2026.

This resolution officially designates November 1, 2025, as National Bison Day to recognize the historical, cultural, and economic significance of the North American bison. It honors the bison's status as the national mammal, its importance to Indian Tribes, and its role in conservation and rural economies. The resolution encourages nationwide observance of this day annually on the first Saturday of November.

The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act ensures that federal employees, military members, and covered contractors receive their full standard compensation for work performed or time furloughed during a lapse in government appropriations occurring after September 30, 2025. This bill appropriates necessary funds for agencies to make these retroactive payments. Payments must be made promptly, generally within seven days of enactment for furloughed individuals. This legislation guarantees that no covered individual loses pay due to a government shutdown during the specified period.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, contractors, and service members affected by a government funding lapse starting October 1, 2025, receive retroactive back pay for the period they worked without funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits agencies from initiating permanent staffing reductions or furloughs during such a lapse. These provisions are designed to provide financial security and stability to essential government personnel during periods of lapsed appropriations.

The Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of State to report annually on the links between Haitian criminal gangs, political elites, and economic elites. Based on these findings, the President must impose targeted sanctions, including property blocking and visa restrictions, against those identified as colluding with criminal organizations. This legislation aims to counter threats to U.S. national interests stemming from corruption and criminal activity in Haiti. The Act will automatically expire five years after enactment.

This bill proposes establishing a new, Senate-confirmed position: the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs within the Department of State. This Ambassador will report directly to the Secretary of State to lead U.S. foreign policy coordination across key areas in the Arctic. Their responsibilities will focus on national security, environmental protection, scientific research, and strengthening cooperation among Arctic nations.

This Act mandates the immediate preparation for sanctions against any entity supporting People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression against Taiwan, including actions like invasion or blockade. It establishes an interagency PRC Sanctions Task Force to identify potential targets and develop comprehensive strategies for imposing and coordinating economic measures with allies. The Task Force must also brief Congress and submit annual reports detailing sanctions plans, economic impact assessments, and coordination efforts.