Legislative Activity

This resolution recognizes the increasing threat of climate change-driven extreme weather events while simultaneously noting significant staffing and budget cuts to critical weather monitoring systems like the National Weather Service. It formally acknowledges the link between climate change and severe weather, mourns recent losses of life, and stresses the urgent need to fully fund and staff essential weather safety infrastructure.

The Schedules That Work Act aims to provide employees, particularly those in retail, food service, and warehouse sectors, with greater stability and predictability in their work hours. It grants employees the right to request schedule changes for caregiving, education, or other needs, and requires employers to discuss these requests in good faith. Furthermore, the Act mandates advance notice of schedules, predictability pay for last-minute changes, and a minimum rest period between shifts.

This resolution recognizes that solar, storage, and wind power are the fastest and most cost-effective solutions to meet the United States' rapidly growing electricity demand. It highlights that these renewable sources currently dominate new power capacity additions and are essential for avoiding future power shortages. The Senate resolution calls for accelerating the deployment of solar, storage, and wind energy across the country.

This resolution affirms that the Federal Government should actively support school districts in investing in clean school buses. It highlights the significant health risks posed by diesel exhaust to children and the positive impact clean alternatives, like electric buses, would have on air quality and educational outcomes. The bill encourages continued federal support for this transition, building on past bipartisan efforts.

This resolution highlights the severe stress on Florida's insurance market due to climate risks, noting the departure of major insurers and the insolvency risk of smaller ones. It calls on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to examine the rating practices of Demotech, which significantly impacts mortgage eligibility. Furthermore, the Senate requests a study on the likelihood of state-backed insurers, like Florida's Citizens Property Insurance, requiring a federal financial bailout.

This resolution formally recognizes that climate change is a reality supported by sound science, not a hoax. It details the historical scientific understanding and current overwhelming consensus that human activity, primarily burning fossil fuels, is causing global warming. The bill further finds that climate change is already causing severe impacts and calls for Congress to protect legally mandated climate research programs.

This resolution recognizes the serious health risks associated with ozone pollution, including lung disease and cardiovascular problems. It expresses the Senate's support for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2024 methane pollution standards. Furthermore, the resolution urges the EPA to continue taking action to reduce smog pollution.

This resolution recognizes the severe health risks associated with mercury pollution, such as permanent brain damage and birth defects, primarily stemming from burning fossil fuels. It highlights that power plants are the largest source of these emissions, leading to widespread contamination through the food chain. The Senate formally asserts that existing pollution controls on power plants should not be weakened.

This bill establishes the Calumet National Heritage Area across parts of Indiana and Illinois, recognizing its unique blend of industrial history, cultural diversity, and significant natural resources. It designates the Calumet Heritage Partnership as the local entity responsible for managing the area. The legislation requires the submission of a management plan within three years, while federal funding authority is set to terminate 15 years after enactment.

This Act establishes the **Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act** to create direct employer liability for federal law enforcement agencies when their officers violate an individual's constitutional or legal rights. It allows civil actions against the United States for officer misconduct, regardless of whether an official policy caused the violation or if the officer has individual immunity. This measure waives sovereign immunity for claims against federal agencies under these circumstances.

The Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025 aims to protect Medicare beneficiaries by prohibiting the implementation of the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) model. This legislation prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from introducing the WISeR model or any substantially similar payment and service delivery system under Medicare.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools and educational programs. It establishes strict national standards for when physical restraint is permitted, mandates comprehensive staff training, and empowers parents with immediate notification rights and the ability to sue for violations. Furthermore, the bill requires states to submit plans, publicly report data on restraint incidents, and utilize federal grants to implement preventative, evidence-based safety strategies.

The FAAN Act establishes a new grant program to support nursing schools in addressing critical workforce shortages and modernizing education. These funds aim to increase faculty and student capacity, enhance preparedness for public health emergencies, and improve educational infrastructure. Priority is given to schools serving medically underserved, rural, or minority-serving areas.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 1300 East Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois. The building will henceforth be known as the "Bernie Bluestein Post Office Building." This designation must be used in all future official federal references to the location.

The Moving Transit Forward Act of 2025 establishes a new federal grant program to improve public transportation in urbanized areas. These grants can fund operating costs and planning to enhance service quality, frequency, and geographic availability. Additionally, funds are available for capital projects and operating expenses dedicated to increasing system safety and security. Funding is distributed to urban areas based on a ratio of their reported operating expenses.

The Background Check Completion Act of 2025 mandates that a completed background check must occur before any firearm transfer can take place. This law removes the previous "default proceed" provision that allowed transfers after three business days if the check was incomplete. It also updates related federal laws to align with this new, stricter requirement.

This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States. It honors the immense sacrifices and significant contributions of Southeast Asian Americans across all sectors of American life. The bill also acknowledges the challenges these communities have faced since arriving. Finally, it reaffirms the nation's commitment to supporting these vibrant communities.

The Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act establishes new federal grant programs to coordinate local efforts in preventing trauma and building community resilience. It also expands support and training for professionals working with children and youth affected by trauma, violence, or addiction. Key provisions include funding for hospital interventions to reduce repeat injuries and strengthening the national network for child traumatic stress. Overall, the bill aims to improve outcomes for trauma survivors through coordinated community programming and a better-prepared workforce.

The Reuniting Families Act is comprehensive legislation designed to significantly reform U.S. immigration by drastically reducing visa backlogs and prioritizing family unity across various immigration categories. It achieves this by recapturing unused visas, reclassifying immediate relatives, and extending spousal immigration rights to permanent partners. Furthermore, the bill enhances diversity visa opportunities and establishes time-bound processes to ensure refugee families can reunite more quickly.

The International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 establishes a permanent program within the Department of State, led by a dedicated Special Envoy, to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. Global Strategy to address international discrimination and violence against this community. Furthermore, it authorizes foreign assistance to support local organizations and requires detailed reporting on LGBTQI human rights abuses in annual State Department reports.