Legislative Activity

This concurrent resolution recognizes March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day" to honor the courage and essential care provided by abortion clinic staff. The measure condemns recent legal and political restrictions on abortion access and affirms a commitment to protecting the safety of providers and the reproductive rights of patients.

This bill amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to formally establish and rename the Institutes of Tropical Forestry and Pacific Islands Forestry. It mandates minimum staffing levels for both institutes, requiring at least 50 staff for the Puerto Rico institute and 30 for the Pacific Islands institute. The legislation ensures both facilities receive adequate resources to advance critical forestry science and research in their respective regions.

The Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act of 2026 requires the Attorney General to evaluate whether local governments with over 100,000 residents are credibly reporting hate crime data to the FBI. Jurisdictions found to be failing to report hate crimes may lose eligibility for certain federal funding. An exception to this penalty exists if the jurisdiction demonstrates significant community education and awareness initiatives regarding hate crimes.

This bill establishes the **Hawai‘i National Cemetery Act** to address the critical lack of burial options for veterans in Hawaii. It mandates the construction of a new national cemetery in the state due to the current facility being nearly full. The legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to select a site, prioritize accessibility, and regularly report on the progress toward opening the new cemetery.

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 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.

This resolution supports the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance by formally recognizing the epidemic of violence targeting transgender people. It specifically honors the lives lost to violence over the past year, particularly transgender women of color. The resolution calls on Congress and the executive branch to enact inclusive legislation and policies to protect transgender lives and ensure their dignity.

This resolution designates September 30, 2025, as "Impact Aid Recognition Day" to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Impact Aid program. The program provides crucial financial assistance to local school districts that educate students living on or whose parents work on federal property. This recognition highlights the federal government's ongoing commitment to ensuring quality education in these uniquely impacted communities.

This resolution formally recognizes October 2025 as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the rich history and culture of Filipino Americans. It highlights their significant and long-standing contributions across all sectors of American life, including military service, healthcare, and public office. The measure encourages all Americans to observe the month with appropriate programs to promote the study of this vital community's heritage.

The Protect Adoptees and American Families (PAAF) Act aims to clarify and secure automatic U.S. citizenship for certain internationally adopted individuals. This bill establishes clear pathways for adopted persons, regardless of when their adoption was finalized, to gain citizenship upon meeting specific residency and custody requirements. It also removes grounds of inadmissibility for those entering the U.S. to claim this citizenship, provided they pass a necessary criminal background check.

The Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act establishes a dedicated initiative to protect vital tropical crops from diseases and pests. This law authorizes new research and extension grants specifically targeting threats to plants like coffee, bananas, and mangoes. It extends the program's funding authorization through 2030 to support science-based pest management and plant health research.

This resolution expresses support for designating a week in September 2025 as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes the vital role these institutions play in educating a significant portion of AANHPI students, many of whom are low-income and first-generation college attendees. The bill encourages these schools to seek funding for culturally relevant programs that boost student success. Ultimately, this measure celebrates the contributions of these institutions to American higher education and cultural diversity.

This resolution commemorates the 69th anniversary of the continuous operations of the Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO). It recognizes the MLO as the premier global site for long-term atmospheric measurements, crucial for tracking climate-altering gases like carbon dioxide. The bill honors the dedicated workforce and reaffirms Congressional support for the observatory's vital scientific mission.

The Saving NIST’s Workforce Act imposes a temporary moratorium on layoffs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This freeze prevents NIST from conducting reductions in force under specific federal regulations until Congress enacts the full-year appropriations budget for fiscal year 2026. The goal is to maintain current staffing levels at the agency until the next budget is finalized.

The Saving NSF’s Workforce Act imposes a temporary moratorium on layoffs at the National Science Foundation (NSF). This freeze on reductions in force will remain in effect until Congress enacts the full-year funding bill for the NSF for Fiscal Year 2026. This measure ensures job stability at the agency until its full budget is secured.

The Saving NOAA’s Workforce Act imposes a temporary moratorium on workforce reductions and layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This freeze on involuntary separations will remain in effect until Congress enacts the full-year appropriations bill for NOAA for fiscal year 2026. The Act ensures job stability for NOAA employees during this period of budgetary uncertainty.

The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to update Social Security by changing how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated using a new index specific to the elderly (CPI-E). It also modifies contribution and benefit fairness by adjusting how earnings above the current wage limit are treated starting in 2026. Furthermore, the bill incorporates a portion of these higher earnings into the formula used to determine an individual's final benefit amount. These changes are designed to better reflect senior spending and adjust benefits for higher earners.

The Saving NASA’s Workforce Act places an immediate moratorium on all workforce reductions, including layoffs, at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This freeze on involuntary separations will remain in effect until Congress enacts the full-year budget for NASA for Fiscal Year 2026. The goal of the act is to ensure stability for the agency's current personnel.

The Time Off to Vote Act mandates that employers provide employees with at least two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Employers retain control over the timing of this leave, which cannot result in the loss of existing benefits. This federal requirement supplements, but does not override, any state or local laws that offer greater employee protections.

This resolution calls upon the Senate to provide its advice and consent for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It argues that joining this widely accepted international treaty is crucial for securing U.S. economic and security interests globally. Ratification would grant the U.S. a stronger voice in resolving maritime disputes and governing critical seabed resources. Ultimately, the resolution urges the Senate to make ratifying UNCLOS a top priority.