Legislative Activity

The No Tariffs on Groceries Act of 2025 restricts the President's authority to impose new tariffs or tariff-rate quotas on articles of food. Under this Act, any new food-related tariff requires both a formal request from the President to Congress and subsequent approval via a specific joint resolution enacted by Congress. This limitation does not apply to existing trade enforcement duties like antidumping or countervailing duties.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 directs the FAA to establish a committee to review and recommend updates to policies regarding the medical certification of pilots and air traffic controllers with mental health conditions. The bill mandates regulatory updates to encourage aviation personnel to seek mental health care without fear of penalty. Furthermore, it allocates funding to enhance the FAA's capacity to process reviews and launches a public campaign to reduce mental health stigma within the industry.

This Act amends the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act to establish new supplemental trust funds for groundwater and surface water development. It also creates a new grant program to fund mutual-benefit water infrastructure projects with non-Pueblo entities, including provisions for alternative offset infrastructure. These amendments update definitions and provide specific mandatory funding allocations, adjusted for inflation, to support these water management and infrastructure goals.

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.

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 Right to Representation for Department of Veterans Affairs Workers Act of 2025. It grants most VA employees the right to have a representative present during certain examinations if they believe the exam could lead to disciplinary action. This representation can occur during paid duty time upon the employee's request.

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.

This resolution honors Dr. Jane Goodall for her groundbreaking work as an ethologist, conservationist, and activist, recognizing her pioneering research on chimpanzees. It highlights the significant impact of the Jane Goodall Institute and her global efforts in environmental restoration and youth engagement. The resolution further designates specific national days to commemorate her birthday and enduring legacy.

The END Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act amends federal law to explicitly mandate the destruction of any imported tobacco products found to be adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit. This legislation strengthens the ability of the FDA to stop illicit Chinese tobacco products at the border.

The Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025 ensures the uninterrupted continuation of all Head Start projects and activities throughout fiscal year 2026, even if full appropriations are delayed. This legislation provides necessary continuing funding based on the terms of existing 2025 continuing resolutions. Funding authority under this Act will terminate upon the enactment of regular 2026 appropriations or by September 30, 2026.

The No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act prohibits the United States from conducting any explosive nuclear testing unless a foreign state tests first or a specific technical need is certified. Before any test, the President must notify Congress 180 days in advance, and Congress must approve the action through a joint resolution. Approval requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the Senate, with specific, rigorous procedural requirements outlined for both chambers.

The Presumptive CLARITY Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs publicly list all conditions and veteran cohorts currently under review for establishing or removing service connection presumptions related to toxic exposure. This requirement ensures transparency by detailing the review process, timelines, and opportunities for public comment. The VA must implement this public posting requirement within 180 days of the Act becoming law.

This Senate resolution urges the Department of Agriculture to immediately use its contingency funds and interchange authority to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is fully financed. The Senate asserts the administration has a legal obligation to use these existing resources to support millions of vulnerable Americans through November. This measure expresses a position and does not enact new law.

The Pay Our Capitol Police Act appropriates necessary funds to ensure officers, employees, and contractors of the Capitol Police receive full pay and benefits for work performed during the government shutdown beginning October 1, 2025. These funds will be charged against future official appropriations for the Capitol Police. The funding remains available until regular appropriations are enacted or until September 30, 2026.

The Armed Forces Pay Act of 2025 ensures continued funding for the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces and certain civilian intelligence employees through fiscal year 2026, should full appropriations bills not be enacted. This temporary measure provides necessary financial continuity until regular appropriations legislation is passed or until September 30, 2026. The Act also authorizes intelligence-related funds for FY 2026 until the relevant Intelligence Authorization Act is signed into law.

This resolution commemorates the seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's murder and addresses ongoing transnational repression by the Government of Saudi Arabia. It calls for accountability for those responsible for Khashoggi's death and urges Saudi Arabia to release all wrongfully detained individuals. Furthermore, the resolution emphasizes that these human rights abuses strain the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

This resolution officially designates November 1, 2025, as National Bison Day to recognize the historical, cultural, and economic significance of the North American bison. It honors the bison's status as the national mammal, its importance to Indian Tribes, and its role in conservation and rural economies. The resolution encourages nationwide observance of this day annually on the first Saturday of November.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that essential nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC, continue to provide benefits without interruption if full appropriations for the Department of Agriculture are not enacted for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation immediately makes funds available to cover benefits and state operating costs during any funding lapse, retroactive to September 30, 2025. These special appropriations terminate once the standard FY 2026 funding bill is passed or by September 30, 2026.

This resolution designates October 30, 2025, as a national day of remembrance to honor the hundreds of thousands of individuals who contributed to the United States nuclear weapons program since World War II. It specifically recognizes the service and sacrifices of workers like uranium miners, plutonium processors, and atmospheric test participants. The day serves to acknowledge those who developed serious illnesses as a result of their patriotic service to the nation's defense.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, contractors, and service members affected by a government funding lapse starting October 1, 2025, receive retroactive back pay for the period they worked without funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits agencies from initiating permanent staffing reductions or furloughs during such a lapse. These provisions are designed to provide financial security and stability to essential government personnel during periods of lapsed appropriations.