Legislative Activity

The PREVAIL Act aims to strengthen U.S. patent protections and promote innovation by reforming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) procedures, particularly inter partes reviews (IPR) and post-grant reviews. It seeks to prevent repetitive patent challenges, ensure fair processes, and align claim construction standards with district court practices. The Act also redirects USPTO fees to the "United States Patent and Trademark Office Innovation Promotion Fund" to be used solely for patent and trademark-related activities and makes patent and trademark information available online free of charge. Finally, the act requires a report on the impact of patent ownership by small businesses and civil actions against them related to patent infringement.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for Romania and Moldova's efforts to strengthen democracy and sovereignty in Eastern Europe amidst Russian interference. It applauds their energy partnership and encourages international support, particularly from the EU, to counter Russian influence before their upcoming elections. The resolution also urges the U.S. government to increase engagement with both nations to bolster their security and election integrity.

The "Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration Act" aims to enhance international cooperation in mapping critical minerals and rare earth elements through memorandums of understanding with partner countries. This collaboration seeks to improve global supply chains, ensure U.S. and allied companies have priority in resource development, and encourage private investment in sustainable resource management. The Act prioritizes projects that process minerals in the U.S. or allied countries and protects mapping data from unauthorized access. It also mandates congressional notification and private sector consultation to facilitate private sector interest in developing critical minerals and rare earth elements.

The "Safe SHORES Act of 2025" reauthorizes and amends a pilot program supporting stable housing for individuals recovering from substance abuse disorders. The bill allocates funds, extends the program through 2030, and updates requirements for fund distribution, data collection, and reporting. It also allows funds to be used for furniture and encourages states to prioritize facilities with workforce development and financial literacy programs.

The NO FAKES Act of 2025 establishes a digital replication right, granting individuals and their rights holders the right to authorize the use of their voice and visual likeness in digital replicas. It defines the scope of this right, sets requirements for licenses, and addresses liability for unauthorized use, including safe harbors for online service providers. The act also outlines civil action remedies and preempts state laws, with specific exceptions, while clarifying that online service providers are not required to monitor their services for digital replicas.

The "NO TIME TO Waste Act" aims to significantly reduce food loss and waste through various initiatives. It establishes an Office of Food Loss and Waste, promotes public-private partnerships, strengthens the government approach to food waste, and launches a national education campaign. The act also supports composting programs and provides grants for food recovery infrastructure. Ultimately, this bill seeks to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, addressing environmental, economic, and social impacts.

The "Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness Act" establishes a nonprofit corporation called the Foundation for Standards and Metrology to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Foundation will advance measurement science, technical standards, and technology to boost U.S. economic security and collaboration among researchers, higher education, industry, and nonprofits. It is governed by a Board of Directors and will support international metrology, conduct research, expand facilities, and promote the commercialization of federally funded research. The Foundation will submit annual reports and undergo audits to ensure transparency and accountability.

The "Concrete and Asphalt Innovation Act of 2025" aims to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. cement, concrete, and asphalt industries by promoting research, development, and deployment of technologies that reduce emissions from production. This includes establishing research programs, demonstration initiatives, and manufacturing institutes focused on low-emissions materials. The Act also encourages the use of these materials in highway projects through grants and technical assistance to states, and forms an interagency task force to coordinate efforts and provide recommendations. Ultimately, the goal is to foster innovation, reduce environmental impact, and create domestic jobs in these sectors.

The Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2025 aims to increase landlord participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program, particularly in high-opportunity neighborhoods, by offering financial incentives such as one-time payments, security deposit assistance, and landlord liaison bonuses. It also establishes a fund to support these initiatives and authorizes funding for the Tribal HUD-VASH program. The bill streamlines housing quality standards by accepting inspections from other housing programs and allowing pre-approval of units and modernizes the Section 8 Management Assessment Program. Finally, it mandates the use of small area fair market rents in certain metropolitan areas to expand housing options and requires annual reports on the Act's effectiveness.

The "Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism Act" or the "UNITED Act," aims to enhance the economic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom through a comprehensive trade agreement. It grants the President the authority to negotiate such an agreement, targeting tariff and non-tariff barriers, while ensuring consultation with Congress throughout the negotiation process. The Act sets a deadline for initiating negotiations and specifies that any agreement cannot be waived, suspended, or terminated without congressional approval, emphasizing adherence to trade priorities and accountability.

The "RESTORE Patent Rights Act of 2025" aims to strengthen patent protection by restoring the presumption that patent holders are entitled to an injunction against those who infringe on their patents. This bill seeks to reverse recent court decisions that have made it more difficult for patent owners to stop infringement, particularly benefiting individual inventors, universities, startups, and small businesses. By making it easier for patent holders to obtain injunctions, the act intends to discourage patent infringement and promote innovation.

The "Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to provide retirement benefits to U.S. nationals who were wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. It ensures these individuals are credited with deemed wages for each month of their detainment or hostage situation, based on the national average wage index, for the purpose of calculating Social Security benefits. The bill requires the Social Security Commissioner to establish regulations for application and certification, with the changes taking effect 24 months after enactment.

The "Fair Credit for American Hostages Act of 2025" amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to protect individuals who have been unlawfully or wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. It prevents consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information in a consumer report about a "covered consumer" if the information is from the period of their detention or hostage situation and can be authenticated. This bill aims to ensure that Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad are not penalized on their credit reports due to their captivity.

The "Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025" postpones tax deadlines for U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, including their spouses. It also allows these individuals to apply for a refund or abatement of certain tax penalties and fines paid between January 1, 2021, and the bill's enactment. The Secretaries of State, the Attorney General, and the Treasury will coordinate to identify eligible individuals and implement these provisions.

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act, or NO BAN Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion and national origin in nonimmigrant visas and immigration benefits. It limits the President's authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens, requiring specific justification, narrow tailoring, and congressional consultation. The Act also mandates reports on visa applicants and the impact of any suspensions or restrictions. Finally, it allows affected parties to sue the government if these regulations are not followed.

This resolution recognizes the critical role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in advancing U.S. national security interests. It emphasizes USAID's importance in reducing global threats, promoting stability, addressing migration and extremism, and maintaining U.S. leadership against China. The resolution also references the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which requires USAID to consult with Congress on significant organizational changes.

The STABLE Trade Policy Act aims to limit the President's ability to unilaterally impose tariffs on imports from U.S. allies and free trade partners. It requires the President to seek congressional approval before enacting new or increased duties on these countries by submitting a request justifying the tariffs, which Congress must then approve through a joint resolution. This ensures that trade policy decisions impacting allies and free trade partners are subject to congressional oversight.

This bill instructs the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to acquire a statue of Benjamin Franklin by December 31, 2025, and place it in a publicly accessible location within the U.S. Capitol by December 31, 2026. The statue's placement must allow viewing during Capitol Visitor Center tours.