Legislative Activity

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from any hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been explicitly authorized by Congress. It affirms Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and mandates expedited procedures for considering this measure. The resolution ensures that any ongoing military action against Venezuela ceases unless Congress provides a specific authorization for the use of force.

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 DINE Act, or Disease Intervention through Nutrition Education Act, aims to integrate "food is medicine" and food-based interventions into services for older adults under the Older Americans Act. This legislation mandates screening and referrals for federal and non-federal food-based programs during routine health assessments. It also encourages states to use innovative nutrition delivery systems, such as produce prescriptions, to improve health outcomes for seniors.

The Respite CARE Act amends the Older Americans Act to establish grants for eligible organizations to create or expand integrated caregiver support services. These grants fund programs that combine respite care with other supportive services for family caregivers. Funds must ensure accessibility through technology, translation, and appropriate formats.

The Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act aims to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes by ensuring comprehensive and affordable maternity coverage. It establishes special enrollment periods for pregnant individuals across various health plans, including employer-sponsored and exchange plans. Furthermore, the bill mandates that dependent coverage must include maternity care and makes 12 months of continuous postpartum coverage mandatory under Medicaid and CHIP.

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Race Discrimination Act of 2025 invalidates predispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers for claims involving race discrimination. This means individuals alleging race discrimination can choose to pursue their claims in court rather than being forced into private arbitration. Federal law will determine the applicability of this rule, and courts, not arbitrators, will decide if the chapter applies to any given agreement.

The Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment Act (SWIFT Act) of 2025 aims to significantly improve Social Security benefits for surviving spouses and divorced spouses. It removes the age restriction for disabled survivors to receive full benefits and introduces new incentives for delaying the claiming of survivor benefits. Furthermore, the bill raises the age limit for a child to qualify a parent for child-in-care benefits from 16 to 18. These major changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a previous law (Public Law 11921). This repeal effectively reinstates the original statutes that were previously altered by those sections.

This act extends the existing 6% interest rate cap under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to cover new student loan consolidation or refinancing debts incurred by servicemembers *during* their active military service. This protection specifically applies when servicemembers refinance pre-service student loans. The reduced interest rate takes effect immediately upon the creation of the new refinancing loan.

The FINANCE Act establishes a new grant program to provide essential financial planning services specifically for family caregivers under the Older Americans Act. This program aims to support those who informally care for older adults or individuals with Alzheimer's or related disorders. Eligible entities will receive funding to offer comprehensive guidance on benefits, budgeting, long-term care costs, and legal planning resources. The services must be delivered in an accessible manner, accommodating diverse needs including language and technology barriers.

The Background Check Expansion Act mandates that nearly all private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals must go through a licensed dealer to complete a federal background check. This legislation establishes a universal background check requirement for these transactions, with specific exceptions for family gifts and law enforcement transfers. The bill aims to close loopholes in existing firearm transfer laws while explicitly prohibiting the creation of a national firearms registry.

This bill establishes the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act, aiming to formally recognize Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) by requiring the Office of Management and Budget to consider creating a distinct occupational category for them in the federal classification system. The legislation also authorizes significant federal grants to states to establish or expand paid family and medical leave programs. If a separate DSP classification is not created, a report explaining the decision must be submitted to Congress.

The NOPAIN for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must include specific, FDA-approved non-opioid pain management drugs in its national formulary. This ensures veterans have access to alternatives that do not act on opioid receptors for pain relief. The bill sets clear deadlines for the inclusion of these non-opioid products.

The Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act recommends a nationwide moratorium on electric and natural gas utility disconnections when the federal government experiences a funding lapse affecting the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill specifically prohibits electric utilities from terminating service during these funding gaps. It also outlines procedures for how utilities can recover costs incurred from maintaining service during the shutdown period.

This resolution officially recognizes November as National Native American Heritage Month. It celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and significant contributions of Native Americans to the United States across various fields. The resolution also reaffirms the government's commitment to tribal self-governance and the government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes.

The Anti-Cash Grab Act repeals a specific provision (Section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). This repeal effectively restores a previous law, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005. The legislation is designed to take effect retroactively as if the repealed section had never been enacted.

This resolution observes the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, honoring the 29 lives lost in the tragic 1975 storm on Lake Superior. It recognizes the ship's legacy, commends the initial rescue efforts, and reaffirms a commitment to maintaining safety standards for Great Lakes shipping.

The Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2025 aims to enhance national resilience against flooding and environmental challenges. It grants the Secretary authority to implement higher-level watershed restoration measures when in the long-term interest of the area. The bill also revises federal funding structures for rehabilitating aging infrastructure, increasing support for limited resource areas. Finally, it updates the purposes of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to prioritize regional-scale natural resource concerns, including flood and drought mitigation.

The Fair Credit for Farmers Act of 2025 aims to provide financial relief and reform loan processes for farmers and ranchers. It mandates a two-year deferment of principal and interest payments on direct farm loans for eligible borrowers, while also waiving guarantee fees for covered producers on certain loans. Furthermore, the bill introduces significant reforms to farm loan administration, including stricter requirements for adverse decision letters and limitations on using a principal residence as loan collateral. Finally, it shifts the burden of proof in certain appeals to the agency for low-income appellants.

This bill, the Restoring Access for Detainees Act, mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provide detained individuals with free, limited telephone and electronic communication services. It aims to ensure detainees can consult with legal counsel and maintain essential family ties at no cost. The legislation specifies minimum free calling minutes, required access for legal consultation, and prohibits monitoring of confidential communications with attorneys.