Legislative Activity

The AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 streamlines defense cooperation under the AUKUS agreement by modifying U.S. arms transfer requirements. This legislation exempts certain defense article reexports and temporary imports between the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. from specific presidential consent requirements. Furthermore, it eliminates the mandatory certification process for commercial technical assistance or manufacturing license agreements involving Australia and the United Kingdom.

This bill, the Counter-UAS Authority Extension Act, extends the existing authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to detect, track, and stop dangerous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Specifically, it pushes the expiration date for these counter-UAS powers from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2028. This ensures federal agencies maintain their current legal framework for addressing drone threats for an additional three years.

This resolution officially designates the week beginning October 19, 2025, as "National Character Counts Week." It emphasizes the critical role of families, schools, and communities in teaching foundational ethical values like trustworthiness and responsibility to young people. The designation encourages nationwide activities and programs focused on strengthening the character of America's youth.

This resolution expresses support for designating October 5 through October 11, 2025, as National 4-H Week. It recognizes 4-H as a vital youth development program that empowers millions of young people through hands-on learning. The bill encourages citizens to celebrate the organization's significant impact on developing confident and compassionate leaders.

The Consistent Egg Labels Act of 2025 aims to prevent consumer confusion by ensuring food labels accurately reflect the contents of egg and egg substitute products. This legislation establishes clear definitions for what legally constitutes a real egg or egg product for labeling purposes. The bill mandates that products marketed using egg terminology must meet established federal standards to prevent misleading consumers, especially regarding nutritious, affordable shell eggs. The FDA is required to issue new guidance on enforcing these labeling standards within one year of enactment.

The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act aims to reduce erroneous government payments by improving data sharing between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Do Not Pay working system. This legislation mandates the SSA to share relevant information to prevent improper benefits and recover mistaken payments, provided clear evidence of death is established. The bill also outlines procedures for correcting records if an individual is wrongly marked as deceased.

The Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act aims to streamline the process for agricultural workers to obtain and maintain restricted commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). This legislation mandates that the Secretary of Transportation update federal regulations to allow states to offer online renewal systems for these seasonal licenses. Furthermore, the Act clarifies that implements of husbandry are not classified as commercial motor vehicles under CDL requirements.

The Equal Campus Access Act of 2025 ensures that public colleges receiving federal funding must grant religious student organizations the same rights, benefits, and privileges afforded to all other student groups. This prevents institutions from denying resources or penalizing religious groups based on their beliefs, practices, speech, leadership selection, or conduct standards. Essentially, the bill mandates equal treatment for all student organizations on campus to maintain federal funding eligibility.

The SEVER Act of 2025 amends existing law to grant the U.S. government the authority to deny entry visas to individuals designated as representatives to the United Nations. This denial power is specifically triggered if the individual is subject to sanctions under Executive Order 13876, as it stands on September 16, 2025. In essence, the bill strengthens visa enforcement by adding specific sanctions compliance as a mandatory ground for inadmissibility for UN representatives.

The Transparency in Contracting Act of 2025 mandates that certain government contractors must report significant, unexplained price increases on covered contracts within 30 days. These reporting triggers are set at a 25% increase over the previous year's price or a 50% increase over the price from five years prior. Furthermore, the bill requires non-compliant contractors who fail to report these price hikes to be publicly listed in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

This resolution formally condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honors his life and legacy as a devoted husband, father, and founder of Turning Point USA. It recognizes his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses across the nation. The Senate also extends its deepest sympathies to his surviving family.

The Fertilizer Research Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive, year-long study of the U.S. fertilizer industry. This report will detail market size, pricing trends over 25 years, import volumes, and supply chain dynamics. A key focus is evaluating industry concentration and recommending whether a new system for transparent fertilizer price reporting should be established.

The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025 establishes an automatic, 14-day continuing funding mechanism to keep federal programs operational if Congress fails to pass a full budget by the start of the fiscal year. This automatic funding continues in two-week increments until a final budget is enacted, while simultaneously imposing strict travel and procedural limitations on Congress and federal employees during these lapses. The Act is designed to prevent government shutdowns by ensuring continuity of essential services while incentivizing timely budget passage.

The Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 mandates quarterly budget briefings for Congress by the VA Secretary and places new restrictions on critical skills bonuses for senior executives. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Veterans Experience Office, reporting directly to the Secretary, tasked with improving beneficiary satisfaction and reporting on customer feedback data to Congress. This new office will sunset on September 30, 2028, following a review by the Comptroller General.

The Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the domestic biobased products industry by increasing federal procurement of items made from renewable farm materials. The bill updates definitions, enhances reporting and accountability for federal purchasing programs, and establishes a new USDA Biobased Task Force to coordinate efforts. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to boost rural economies, reduce reliance on oil, and promote American biomanufacturing.

This resolution celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), recognizing its foundational role in strengthening American energy security and supporting rural economies. It affirms that the RFS has successfully driven innovation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and provided significant economic benefits nationwide. The bill concludes by supporting the continued diversification of the nation's transportation fuel supply through the RFS.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. It condemns the multiple attempts against his life and other political officials, while honoring the victims and first responders involved in the July 2024 shooting. The measure further calls for an end to the incitement of political violence that threatens the democratic process.

This resolution officially designates July 30, 2025, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day." It honors individuals who report waste, fraud, and abuse, recognizing their vital role in government accountability. Furthermore, the bill directs federal agencies to use this day to educate employees and the public about whistleblower rights and acknowledge the importance of their service.

The Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act requires the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate existing research on menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life health for servicewomen and veterans. This evaluation must specifically examine how military service and exposures may impact these conditions and their mental health. Following the review, both departments must submit reports to Congress with recommendations and develop strategic plans to address identified research gaps in treatment options.

The Federal Building Threat Notification Act mandates the Federal Protective Service (FPS) to establish clear, standardized emergency communication guidance for all federal tenants in protected buildings. This guidance must ensure rapid notification and safety instructions for occupants during law enforcement-related events, such as active threats or suspicious packages. The law also requires regular testing of these crisis response procedures and a final report to Congress detailing the new protocols.