Legislative Activity

The American Innovation Act establishes significant, multi-year funding authorizations for key federal science and technology agencies, including the NSF, DOE Office of Science, DoD, NIST, and NASA. This legislation sets specific budget ceilings through fiscal year 2035, with subsequent funding automatically adjusted for inflation. Furthermore, these appropriations are protected from sequestration and do not expire at the end of the fiscal year.

The Federal Firearm Licensee Act significantly overhauls regulations for firearm dealers by mandating stricter physical security, requiring quarterly inventory checks, and increasing associated licensing fees. The bill also repeals outdated restrictions on ATF data sharing and establishes new compliance and recordkeeping standards, including mandatory video surveillance for sales. Furthermore, it introduces new licensing and operational requirements for online firearm transfer facilitators.

The Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance collaboration and streamline processes between federal agencies involved in the patent system. This legislation seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patent coordination across the government.

The Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 aims to streamline the process for international STEM graduates to remain in the U.S. It enhances security vetting for incoming graduate students in STEM fields while creating a new, expedited pathway to lawful permanent resident status for those who earn advanced STEM degrees domestically and secure high-paying jobs. Furthermore, the bill allows current F-1 student visa holders pursuing advanced STEM degrees to apply for permanent residency without jeopardizing their student status.

The AID Youth Employment Act overhauls youth job training by establishing competitive grant programs for subsidized summer and year-round employment opportunities. It defines eligible youth (ages 14-24) and allocates billions in funding for these programs, prioritizing partnerships with local agencies and employers. The Act mandates performance evaluations focused on long-term employment and education outcomes for participants.

The HERO for Youth Act of 2025 modifies the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to encourage employers to hire young workers. This bill expands the existing youth employment credit to cover year-round, part-time student employment. Additionally, it establishes a new WOTC category for "disconnected youth," including those lacking basic skills or aging out of foster care.

The America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act seeks to permanently protect hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands across Utah by designating them as official wilderness areas. This designation ensures the preservation of unique ecological, geological, and cultural resources under the highest level of federal protection. The bill also establishes administrative rules, including securing water rights and managing state inholdings, while explicitly safeguarding existing livestock grazing and Tribal rights.

This Senate resolution affirms the foundational principle that the power to interpret federal law rests solely with the federal judiciary, as established by Article III of the Constitution. It reaffirms the doctrine of judicial review, stating that the courts definitively determine what the law means. Consequently, the resolution mandates that the Executive Branch must abide by all federal court rulings or pursue appropriate legal appeals.

The Baltic Security Initiative Act establishes a new program to deepen U.S. military cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression and implement NATO strategy. This initiative will focus on long-term projects like enhancing air defense, improving cyber resilience, and developing regional military capabilities. The Secretary of Defense must submit a strategy outlining these efforts and is authorized $350 million annually from FY2026 through FY2028 to support the program.

The **Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025** significantly increases accountability for higher education institutions by establishing stricter financial performance metrics, strengthening student protections against deceptive practices, and mandating greater transparency in spending and outcomes. The bill aims to empower students by simplifying loan forgiveness, banning coercive practices like forced arbitration, and ensuring they can access their transcripts regardless of outstanding debt. Furthermore, it overhauls federal oversight by creating a dedicated enforcement unit and requiring better coordination among agencies to monitor institutional integrity and contractor performance. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to protect students and taxpayers by cutting off federal aid to underperforming programs and increasing penalties for institutional misconduct.

The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act establishes a five-year pilot program to ensure the Army's government-owned arsenals receive consistent work. This is achieved by giving significant contractual preference to private partners who agree to utilize these critical defense manufacturing facilities. Specifically, bids from companies that do not partner with an arsenal will have 20 percent added to their price during evaluation. The Secretary of Defense must report annually to Congress on the program's effectiveness and the future needs of the arsenals.

This resolution condemns Russia's abduction, forced transfer, and illegal deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children since February 2022. It highlights the physical and psychological trauma inflicted on these children and their families. The resolution urges Russia to work with international organizations to ensure the swift return of all forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to their families.

This resolution supports designating March 3-7, 2025, as "National Social and Emotional Learning Week" to highlight the role of social and emotional learning in academic success and well-being. It recognizes SEL's impact on students' mental health and career readiness while advocating for expanded access to SEL programs for students and teachers. The resolution also encourages federal agencies to identify opportunities to promote social and emotional learning.

This resolution affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review, emphasizing the Supreme Court's duty to interpret the law. It supports the established precedent that the executive branch must comply with Federal court rulings. The resolution expresses concern over statements suggesting the executive branch may disregard the authority of the Federal Judiciary.

The Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act of 2025 establishes a voluntary certification program within the Department of Agriculture to recognize and promote entities that reduce food loss and waste. This program aims to increase food donations and alternative disposal methods, such as composting. The Act also mandates revisions to an existing agreement between the USDA, FDA, and EPA to enhance coordination on food loss and waste reduction efforts.

The End Tobacco Loopholes Act dramatically increases federal excise taxes across nearly all tobacco products to establish standardized, higher rates, including doubling the tax on cigarettes. This legislation introduces a new excise tax specifically targeting nicotine used in vaping products, treating it similarly to cigarette taxation. Furthermore, the bill mandates annual automatic tax adjustments based on the cost of living starting in 2026. Finally, it imposes a floor stocks tax on existing inventory when the new rates take effect.

This Act mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. strategy to significantly boost American exports of goods and services to Africa and Latin America/the Caribbean by 200 percent within ten years. The President must develop this plan in consultation with various government bodies and private sector groups, submitting the final strategy within 200 days of enactment. The bill also establishes dedicated Export Strategy Coordinators and requires joint trade missions to these regions to ensure successful implementation and job creation.

The Accountability for Endless Wars Act of 2025 aims to restore Congressional oversight by establishing automatic expiration dates for military authorizations. This bill mandates that all future authorizations for the use of military force (AUMFs) will expire after 10 years. Furthermore, it terminates all existing AUMFs just six months after the Act is signed into law.

The "Affordable College Textbook Act" aims to lower the cost of college textbooks for students by expanding the use of open educational resources. It authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to higher education institutions to create and expand the use of open textbooks. The act also amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions to disclose textbook price information, including whether the material is an open educational resource, on online course schedules. Finally, it directs the Comptroller General to prepare a report on the cost of textbooks and the implementation of these provisions.

This resolution affirms the Senate's commitment to ensuring the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains fully funded and operational without interruption. It recognizes the NIH workforce as essential to medical progress and emphasizes that protecting these operations is vital to national health, economic stability, and security.