Legislative Activity

The PILLS Act introduces two new tax incentives designed to boost domestic manufacturing of essential generic drugs and biosimilars. It establishes a production credit rewarding companies for manufacturing eligible drug components within the U.S., with bonuses for using American-sourced materials. Additionally, the Act creates an investment credit to encourage building and equipping U.S. facilities dedicated to producing these vital medicines. Both credits offer options for direct payment or transferability, ensuring their utility for businesses.

The SAFE FOOD Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on consolidating federal food safety agencies into a single entity. The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for initiating this study within 60 days of enactment. A final report, including recommendations on whether to proceed with consolidation, must be submitted to Congress within one year.

The COUNTER Act grants the Department of Defense (DoD) expanded authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems (drones) operating outside of the United States. This legislation delegates response authority, clarifies mitigation methods like remote identification, and exempts security details regarding these operations from public disclosure. Furthermore, it limits the application of certain criminal and security laws to authorized DoD and Coast Guard activities aimed at countering these aerial threats overseas.

The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 creates a mandatory national organization, the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), to standardize health, safety, and medication rules across participating states. This body will establish uniform, science-based regulations for medication control and racetrack safety, enforced through a comprehensive disciplinary framework. The legislation also mandates the creation of expert committees to continuously update these standards for specific horse breeds. Participation requires states to adopt specific anti-deceptive sales laws and adhere to the RHSO's overriding rules.

This bill primarily repeals and modifies numerous existing requirements across federal science and technology acts, specifically targeting and eliminating mandates related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in STEM programs and research funding. It also restricts federal agencies from imposing policy requirements on funding recipients that are not explicitly established in law. The legislation streamlines various programs while maintaining specific encouragement for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs).

The Chip Security Act mandates the implementation of security mechanisms on advanced integrated circuit products before they are exported to protect U.S. national security interests. This requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure chips include features verifying location and reporting unauthorized use or tampering. Furthermore, the Act calls for an assessment and potential rollout of secondary security features to enhance export control compliance and prevent misuse by adversaries. The goal is to maintain the U.S. competitive edge by securing sensitive hardware sent to allies and partners.

The ABC Safe Drug Act aims to secure the U.S. drug supply chain by restricting federal health programs from purchasing prescription drugs with active ingredients sourced from China, phasing in a 100% requirement by 2030. To encourage domestic production, the bill also provides a temporary 100% immediate tax deduction for U.S. investments in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing property through 2030. Furthermore, it mandates clear labeling of the country of origin for all active drug ingredients.

The Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 updates federal regulations to allow for the control of destructive double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities. This update expands the scope of the existing depredation order to include lake and pond managers in twelve additional states. The Secretary of the Interior must reissue these updated rules within one year of the Act's passage.

The Stephen Hacala Poppy Seed Safety Act aims to prevent deaths and adverse effects linked to morphine contamination in poppy seeds. This legislation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish maximum allowable limits for morphine and codeine in poppy seeds within two years. Poppy seeds exceeding these federal safety limits will be deemed adulterated food and banned from interstate commerce. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that contaminated poppy seeds remain subject to controlled substance regulations.

The Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act eliminates the federal transfer tax previously imposed on certain firearms. This legislation repeals Section 5811 of the Internal Revenue Code and updates related tax provisions accordingly. The Act explicitly clarifies that it does not grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission any new oversight authority over firearms.

The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 limits the FCC's authority to prohibit state and federal correctional facilities from using signal jamming systems within their housing areas. This legislation permits prisons to deploy jammers specifically to block communications involving contraband devices or incarcerated individuals. Any facility choosing to use this technology must adhere to strict operational rules, including location limitations and pre-approval notification to local public safety officials and the Bureau of Prisons.

The Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. National Laboratories from granting access to foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba, regardless of the length of their intended visit. This immediate ban applies to both current and future visitors and assignees from these specified countries. Exceptions can only be granted by the Secretary of Energy if they certify that the benefit to the U.S. outweighs the national security risks, following consultation with the FBI. Any granted waiver must be reported to Congress within 30 days.

The "No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act" prohibits individuals convicted of any federal or state crime related to on-campus protests from receiving federal student loan forgiveness or cancellation. Furthermore, these convicted individuals are barred from taking out any new federal student loans. This restriction applies to most existing federal student loan programs.

The WEST Act of 2025 establishes a new 6% federal excise tax on the endowments of very large, non-religious private colleges and universities that meet specific asset thresholds. This tax applies to institutions with prior-year assets exceeding $11.9 billion, or $10.5 billion for certain state-affiliated entities. The tax is calculated based on the total fair market value of the institution's assets at the end of the preceding year, beginning in 2025.

The "Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act of 2025" directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct biennial risk assessments of cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities within the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sector, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It also mandates annual crisis simulation exercises for five years to evaluate and improve the preparedness of government and private sectors in responding to food-related emergencies and cyberattacks. The Act aims to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the agriculture and food sector, protect food safety, and ensure national security. It authorizes \$1,000,000 to be appropriated for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out these activities.

The "DEFENSE Act" allows the Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to authorize state and local law enforcement to use drone countermeasures to protect sites with flight restrictions or large public gatherings. Deputized officers must complete training and will be subject to oversight. The equipment authorized for drone detection and tracking will be limited to a list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.

This resolution authorizes the Select Committee on Intelligence to spend money from the Senate's contingent fund, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government departments or agencies to support its functions, including holding hearings and conducting investigations, from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It sets specific expense limits for multiple periods and outlines how the committee will handle its expenses and agency contributions, ensuring financial oversight and accountability.

The "Focus on Learning Act" aims to study and address the impact of mobile devices on students in schools. It directs the Surgeon General to conduct a comprehensive study on the effects of mobile device use on various aspects of student life and academics. The Act also establishes a pilot program providing grants to schools for creating mobile device-free environments, with specific exemptions and communication protocols. Finally, it allocates funding for the program and the associated administrative and data collection efforts.

The "RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act" directs the U.S. government to officially refer to the "West Bank" as Judea and Samaria, the historical names for the land annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War. The Act prohibits the use of "West Bank" in government documents and amends existing laws to reflect this change, with exceptions for international agreements and potential waivers by the Secretary of State.

The "Restoring Trade Fairness Act" suspends normal trade relations with China, leading to increased tariffs on Chinese goods, with a phased implementation over five years, and directs the President to revise the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) to include duty rates specifically for goods from the People's Republic of China. It also directs the United States Ambassador to the World Trade Organization to change the United States Schedule of Concessions on goods to allow the United States to deny normal trade relations to a WTO member if warranted, without violating the duty concessions in the Schedule. Revenue generated from these tariffs will be allocated to a trust fund to compensate U.S. producers affected by Chinese retaliatory measures and to bolster national defense. The bill also amends Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit duty-free or tax-free admission for articles originating from covered nations, even if they fall under the $800 limit.