Legislative Activity

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding programs for counties containing federal lands through fiscal year 2026. This legislation ensures the continuation of secure payments and resource advisory committee authorities established under the original 2000 Act. It also streamlines payment elections for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 by carrying over the previous year's choice. Finally, the bill includes technical corrections to improve the administration of these rural support programs.

This act reauthorizes and makes permanent the Wildlife Crossings Program, dedicating \$100 million annually from 2027 through 2031. It increases federal funding support, especially for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, and provides technical assistance to Tribal entities. The bill aims to enhance wildlife connectivity by establishing this long-term federal program.

The American Voices in Federal Lands Act revises public involvement procedures for rulemaking on federal lands managed by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. This bill mandates that only comments from U.S. citizens be considered for new Bureau of Land Management regulations. Additionally, it requires the use of CAPTCHA technology to prevent automated submissions during the public comment period for these lands.

The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to drastically increase the use of controlled burns on federal lands to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and restore ecosystems. It achieves this by establishing new funding mechanisms, mandating annual acreage increases for prescribed fire treatments, and streamlining implementation through expanded partnerships. The bill also enhances support and liability protection for federal fire staff and non-federal partners executing these burns, while requiring robust reporting on progress.

The Brian Head Town Land Conveyance Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer approximately 24 acres of Dixie National Forest land to the Town of Brian Head, Utah. This no-cost conveyance allows the town to utilize the land for public works facilities or other necessary community purposes. Following the transfer, the Dixie National Forest boundary will be formally adjusted to reflect the change in ownership.

The CLEAR Act of 2025 invalidates a specific Forest Service rule concerning criminal prohibitions. This legislation strips the rule of all legal force and explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from enforcing it or any substantially similar future rule.

The Decreasing Russian Oil Profits Act of 2025 imposes sanctions on foreign persons involved in purchasing or importing Russian oil and petroleum products. The President has the authority to grant limited exceptions, such as allowing funds to be deposited into an account specifically designated to support Ukraine. These sanctions will terminate five years after the date of enactment.

This bill reauthorizes and amends the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to strengthen drowning prevention efforts. It establishes a new grant program managed by the CPSC, making states, Indian Tribes, and eligible nonprofits eligible to receive funding for safety enforcement and public education. The legislation also reauthorizes the CPSC's national education and awareness campaigns and mandates annual reporting to Congress on the grant program's effectiveness.

This resolution officially designates December 2, 2025, as "World Nuclear Energy Day." It recognizes the historical milestones and significant contributions of nuclear energy to the U.S. economy, national security, and carbon-free electricity generation. The resolution celebrates the innovators in the field and encourages continued global cooperation in advancing safe nuclear technology.

This bill mandates the U.S. Air Force to integrate depot-level maintenance coordination into its multinational exercises within the Indo-Pacific region. It requires annual planning sessions with allied nations to enhance maintenance cooperation, streamline logistics, and achieve mutual certification recognition. Furthermore, the Secretary of the Air Force must report to Congress on potential maintenance partnerships with Australia and South Korea.

This bill establishes a new tax-exempt status for organizations focused on making essential drugs and medical devices affordable. To qualify, these "public interest" organizations must meet strict criteria regarding their purpose and leadership ties to for-profit companies. The legislation also defines which drugs or devices qualify for this status based on factors like shortage risk or cost reduction potential. Finally, it sets rules to prevent excess benefit transactions involving these newly designated entities.

This resolution strongly condemns the Government of Iran for its ongoing, state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority. It highlights decades of systematic human rights abuses, including imprisonment, job discrimination, and violence against Baha'is. The resolution urges the Iranian government to immediately release all religious prisoners and reverse discriminatory policies. Furthermore, it calls on the U.S. President and Secretary of State to condemn these actions and utilize existing authorities to impose sanctions on responsible Iranian officials.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 enhances the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for new molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the priority review voucher program designed to incentivize the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases until September 2030. Furthermore, the bill mandates studies to assess the effectiveness of these new drug investigation requirements and the existing voucher program.

The Streamline Transit Projects Act allows large urban transit agencies to assume federal responsibilities for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for routine projects. Qualified agencies can take over making "categorical exclusion" determinations for designated activities, provided they meet capacity requirements and enter into a formal agreement with the Secretary of Transportation. This reform aims to speed up project delivery by streamlining the environmental compliance process for eligible transit improvements.

The VISIT USA Act transfers \$160 million from the Travel Promotion Fund to Brand USA to support international tourism promotion. This funding is specifically allocated from existing unobligated balances collected through certain travel-related fees. The transfer is made within 30 days of the law's enactment.

The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act of 2025 mandates the establishment of new safety standards to protect wildland firefighters from dangerous smoke exposure. This legislation requires federal agencies to develop and implement strategies to ensure appropriate respiratory protective equipment is available and used when smoke levels exceed established limits. Furthermore, the bill calls for ongoing reviews of these safety standards to best protect the health of wildland firefighting personnel.

The Fire Innovation Unit Act of 2025 establishes a seven-year public-private partnership pilot program to test and deploy new wildfire technologies. This program will connect private entities with federal agencies to demonstrate innovations in areas like fuels reduction, modeling, and autonomous suppression systems. The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior must coordinate testing, evaluate effectiveness, and report annually to Congress on scaling successful technologies.

The COACH Act establishes a mandatory Child Care Resource Guide to support small businesses operating as child care providers. This guide, published by the Small Business Administration, will offer essential guidance on operations, finances, compliance, and quality. It must be updated regularly and distributed widely to ensure child care providers have access to necessary resources.

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 Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025 addresses operational failures of diesel vehicles in extreme cold. It directs the EPA to revise regulations allowing manufacturers to temporarily suspend engine derate or shutdown functions triggered by emissions control faults when temperatures are below freezing. Additionally, the bill provides a year-round exemption from Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system requirements for vehicles primarily operated in far northern latitudes or areas with persistently freezing conditions. This measure aims to ensure essential transportation and safety in cold weather regions without waiving overall emissions compliance.