Legislative Activity

This Senate resolution strongly condemns the recent rise in ideologically motivated attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions across the United States, including specific violent incidents in Colorado and Washington, D.C. It reaffirms the Senate's commitment to combating antisemitism and politically motivated violence. The resolution calls for thorough investigation of these acts and urges leaders to speak out against all forms of religious and political intimidation.

This bill, the "Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act," amends immigration law to classify certain drunk driving offenses resulting in death or serious injury as an aggravated felony for non-citizens. Conviction of this new aggravated felony would make an alien inadmissible to the United States. These changes apply immediately upon enactment, even for prior convictions that trigger the new inadmissibility rules.

This comprehensive bill authorizes funding and sets policy across the entire Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2026, covering everything from military procurement and research to personnel benefits and base construction. Key provisions include modernizing defense acquisition, reforming military healthcare, strengthening cybersecurity, and authorizing significant construction projects for all service branches. Additionally, the bill includes authorizations for the Department of Energy's national security programs, the Coast Guard, and the State Department, while also establishing new oversight for outbound U.S. investments in China.

This Act, the Hershel ‘Woody' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, designates a specific location for the National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington D.C. It overrides standard placement rules to ensure the monument is situated within the "Reserve." This action supports the immediate honoring of Medal of Honor recipients, whose numbers are rapidly declining.

This resolution expresses strong opposition to any attempt by foreign entities, specifically citing the EU's Digital Services Act, to censor or penalize the constitutionally protected speech of United States persons. It finds that foreign regulations attempting to dictate content moderation on U.S. platforms undermine fundamental American free speech rights. The resolution commits the Senate to opposing such extraterritorial censorship and urges a firm response to any imposed penalties.

This resolution expresses unwavering support for the United States-Japan alliance in the face of escalating political, economic, and military pressure from the People's Republic of China. It condemns China's coercive actions against Japan following statements regarding Taiwan's security. The resolution reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Japan's defense, including the Senkaku Islands under Article V of the mutual security treaty. Finally, it commends Japan for its efforts to maintain regional peace and stability while increasing its defense capabilities.

The Growing University Artificial Intelligence Research for Defense Act of 2025, or GUARD Act of 2025, establishes the National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute program. This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Defense to create AI research institutes at eligible U.S. universities to focus on national security challenges. These institutes will foster partnerships, drive innovation, and support workforce development in critical AI disciplines. Awards will be made competitively for five-year periods, ensuring all funding supports domestic research and development.

The Preventing Unnecessary Resource Expenditures Act (PURE Act) addresses the current methamphetamine crisis driven by high-purity imports. This bill reforms federal law by removing outdated purity-based weight thresholds in trafficking prosecutions to reduce the burden on crime labs. It also directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to update guidelines to ensure penalties adequately reflect the severe harm caused by methamphetamine offenses.

The Stop Sextortion Act criminalizes threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material, even if the material does not exist, to intimidate or coerce victims. This legislation establishes severe penalties for making such threats, mirroring those for actual distribution. Furthermore, the Act increases maximum prison sentences by ten years for crimes involving the use of child sexual abuse material to threaten or harm an individual.

The SAFE Act directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and update federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving child sexual abuse material. This update must account for the actual harm to victims, modern technology, and the spectrum of offender culpability. The Commission is required to develop new guidelines that specifically address factors like the use of multiple online channels, involvement in prohibited sexual conduct against a child, and the impact on the victim. Importantly, the Act prohibits lowering the existing base offense level for these crimes.

The ECCHO Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally coercing a minor under 18 to commit harmful acts, including self-harm, violence against others or animals, arson, or specific online offenses like swatting. This legislation defines coercion broadly to include manipulation, threats, and intimidation used to force a child into these prohibited actions. Penalties vary based on the severity of the coerced act, with life imprisonment possible for coercing suicide or homicide. The Act also updates existing federal laws to incorporate this new offense and ensure comprehensive enforcement.

The Back the Blue Act of 2025 establishes new federal crimes and harsher penalties for killing or assaulting law enforcement officers and other public safety officials. The bill also creates specific aggravating factors for the federal death penalty in such cases and places new restrictions on federal habeas corpus relief for related state convictions. Finally, it expands federal protections allowing active and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms in various federal locations.

The Inspector General Access Act of 2025 amends existing law to streamline investigations of Department of Justice personnel. Specifically, this bill removes a previous exception regarding certain types of allegations from the general investigation procedures governing the Inspector General. This change ensures that the Inspector General has broader authority to investigate all relevant matters concerning DOJ personnel.

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act requires the TSA to update its guidance for the hygienic handling of breast milk, baby formula, and certain other liquids during airport security screening. This updated guidance must be developed in consultation with maternal health organizations to minimize contamination risks during any necessary extra screening. Furthermore, the Inspector General will audit compliance with these new hygienic standards.

The RECAPTURE Act amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to change how unspent federal broadband (BEAD) grant funds are handled when states or entities miss deadlines. Under this bill, any unallocated remaining grant funds that were not designated for a specific purpose will be deposited into the U.S. Treasury for deficit reduction. The remaining funds designated for specific purposes may still be made available to the eligible entity.

This Act establishes the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Program, managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The program aims to identify Jewish servicemembers mistakenly buried under non-Jewish markers in overseas cemeteries. It authorizes funding for contracts with nonprofit organizations over ten years to help correct these historical errors and properly honor these fallen service members.

This Act, the Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act, amends Medicare rules to prohibit residency programs from requiring participation in abortion training. Programs that mandate abortion training or discriminate against residents who opt out or refuse to participate will no longer qualify as "approved" under Medicare. This ensures medical residents are not forced to perform, assist, or refer for abortions as a condition of their training.

The Flight Risk Reduction Act amends federal law to establish a new presumption against pretrial release for non-citizens who are not lawful permanent residents. This change mandates a detention hearing for these individuals and requires courts to presume detention is necessary. Crucially, defendants cannot use ties to family or employment in the U.S. to overcome this presumption.

The Citizen Ballot Protection Act amends federal voter registration requirements, specifically concerning mail-in registration forms. It updates the required federal agency reference and grants states the option to require proof of U.S. citizenship after federal elections. This allows states to add an additional citizenship verification step for applicants.

This Act strengthens prohibitions against foreign nationals donating to specific voter activities, including registration and get-out-the-vote efforts. It also clarifies that state and local ballot initiatives are included in the definition of an election for these purposes. Furthermore, the bill restricts the federal government from collecting or publicly releasing the identity of donors to most tax-exempt organizations, with strict penalties for unlawful disclosure.