Legislative Activity

This Senate resolution addresses the significant health and safety impacts of Canadian wildfire smoke on U.S. residents. It calls upon the Canadian government to take greater responsibility for mitigating these fires and emphasizes the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation in forest management and wildfire prevention.

The Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act of 2026 streamlines geothermal energy development by eliminating federal drilling permit requirements for projects on non-federal surface land where the U.S. holds less than 50% of the subsurface mineral interest. Under this legislation, operators may proceed with state-approved projects without undergoing federal environmental reviews, provided they continue to meet existing royalty obligations. These exemptions do not apply to Indian lands or resources held in trust for Indian Tribes.

This act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide up to $50 million in federal grants to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation for the establishment of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. These funds are contingent upon the Foundation first securing $100 million in non-federal matching funds. The bill also permits the loan of federal artifacts to the Library for public exhibition.

The SCALE Act of 2026 establishes a five-year grant program to assist states and eligible Indian Tribes in improving soil health and wildlife habitat on agricultural lands. This program provides federal funding to support existing or new conservation efforts, requiring states and Tribes to meet performance measures and provide matching funds. Importantly, the bill ensures that federal grant money supplements, rather than replaces, existing state or tribal spending on these conservation activities.

This bill aims to strengthen agricultural cooperation between the United States and Israel by enhancing the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD Fund). It expands the Fund's focus to include mid-stage research collaborations and establishes a new Accelerator Program to fast-track promising joint projects. The legislation also authorizes specific funding for the BARD Fund through fiscal year 2031.

The BINS Act of 2026 amends existing law to make fertilizer eligible for loans under the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program. This allows agricultural producers to secure financing for essential nutrient storage infrastructure, including dry bins, liquid tanks, and related handling equipment. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to update regulations to implement these changes quickly.

This Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 wild horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It requires the development of a cost-effective management plan that protects park resources. The bill strictly limits the removal of horses from the park except as necessary for herd management or safety.

The Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026 authorize over $1.4 billion in inflation-adjusted funding to support critical municipal, rural, and Tribal water infrastructure projects across North Dakota. This legislation ensures the completion of essential water treatment, supply, and distribution systems while providing necessary technical updates to existing water resource laws.

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.

The SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act aims to stabilize healthcare funding by allowing certain services provided at off-campus hospital outpatient departments to be reimbursed under the standard hospital outpatient payment system. This legislation specifically targets services with low annual physician fee schedule costs, ensuring more consistent Medicare payment structures for these facilities.

This bill reestablishes the National Coal Council as a federal advisory committee under the Department of Energy. The Council will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters related to coal. Its operations will adhere to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

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.

This Senate Resolution officially designates October 26, 2025, as the "Day of the Deployed." The resolution honors the service and sacrifice of all deployed members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, particularly those serving since September 11, 2001. It calls upon the nation to observe this day with appropriate reflection and ceremonies.

This bill provides the necessary funding and sets strict operational rules for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and related agencies for Fiscal Year 2026. It allocates billions across farm support, rural development, and domestic nutrition programs while imposing significant oversight on agency spending, vehicle purchases, and the enforcement of certain FDA regulations. Key provisions focus on infrastructure investment, maintaining local access to farm services, and ensuring compliance with domestic sourcing requirements.

The FARMER Act of 2025 modifies federal crop insurance by increasing premium support for certain whole-farm revenue or yield protection plans. It also raises the government subsidy percentage for the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and adjusts its coverage level calculations. Finally, the bill mandates a study on expanding the SCO to cover areas larger than 1,400 square miles.

The North American Energy Act establishes a new federal certification process for building or modifying energy infrastructure that crosses the U.S. border, such as pipelines and electric transmission lines. It streamlines approvals for trade with Canada and Mexico by eliminating the need for Presidential permits for border facilities. The Act sets specific timelines for agencies like FERC and the Secretary of Energy to issue these new certificates, provided the projects are deemed in the U.S. public interest. These new rules will take effect one year after the law's enactment.

The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025 establishes a process for North Dakota to exchange state trust lands located within Indian reservations for equal-value, unappropriated federal lands outside reservations. This exchange requires mutual agreement on valuation, ensures that existing tribal rights are protected, and mandates that transferred lands are free of hazardous materials. Any state land relinquished within a reservation will be taken into trust for the benefit of the affected Indian Tribe upon completion of the swap.

The Producer and Agricultural Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen agricultural financing by significantly increasing the maximum loan amounts available for farm ownership and operating expenses. It also updates the calculation method for inflation adjustments in farm programs and raises the cap on microloans. Furthermore, the bill establishes new procedures allowing the Farm Service Agency to refinance certain troubled guaranteed loans into direct loans, provided the operation has a reasonable chance of future success.

The Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act modifies permitting requirements for oil and gas leases under the Mineral Leasing Act when the federal government owns a minority of the mineral rights in a drilling unit or when wells on non-federal land access federal mineral estates. It limits the Secretary of the Interior's authority to require permits to drill, bonds, land access, mitigation, or surface reclamation approvals in certain situations. The Act requires lessees to notify the Secretary of the Interior when submitting state drilling permits and provide access agreements for inspections. This act does not apply to Indian lands and does not affect royalty payments.

The "Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025" aims to bolster the air traffic control workforce by enhancing training programs, providing financial support to educational institutions, and improving mental health resources for controllers. It establishes an Enhanced-CTI grant program, promotes the use of Terminal Simulation Systems, and mandates the creation of a mental health training course for aviation professionals. The act also requires reports on airport surveillance technology and radar systems.