Legislative Activity

This concurrent resolution expresses Congress's strong support and deep appreciation for America's law enforcement professionals. It recognizes the increasing dangers, high trauma exposure, and current staffing shortages facing officers nationwide. The resolution calls for enhanced safety measures, better resources, increased penalties for assaulting officers, and improved mental health support for law enforcement personnel. Ultimately, it urges all levels of government to provide the necessary support for officers to effectively protect their communities.

The Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must ensure at least one full-service VA hospital is located within the borders of each of the 48 contiguous states. If a physical hospital is not feasible, the VA must provide comparable services through contracts with other local health care providers. The Secretary must report to Congress within one year on compliance with these new access requirements.

The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act is a comprehensive bill designed to stabilize rural and safety-net hospitals providing maternity care through enhanced financial support, including minimum Medicaid payment rates and anchor payments. It also expands continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for new mothers for a full year postpartum and invests in the maternal health workforce by supporting emergency staffing and simplifying cross-state provider enrollment. Finally, the act mandates greater transparency by requiring hospitals to give advance public notice of obstetric unit closures and report more detailed operational data to Medicare.

The Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act establishes a pilot program to test the use of predictive risk-scoring algorithms to enhance oversight of Medicare payments for durable medical equipment and clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. This voluntary program will use smart technology to flag suspicious transactions *after* they occur, requiring human review before any payment suspension. The goal is to proactively identify and stop fraud and abuse within these specific Medicare service areas.

The IDeA Reauthorization Act of 2025 officially names and updates the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program to support biomedical and behavioral research institutions in states lagging in NIH funding. This legislation mandates increased transparency by requiring the NIH to publicly report annually on the program's strategy, awards, and impact on research quality and workforce development. The bill also clarifies eligibility criteria based on state-level NIH funding levels.

The Taskforce for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams Act (TRAPS Act) establishes a new Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury, to combat electronic payment scams. This group will bring together federal agencies, financial experts, and consumer advocates to examine current scam trends and develop comprehensive prevention strategies. The Task Force is required to produce an initial report within one year detailing its findings, an educational strategy, and recommendations for new laws or rules. It will continue to issue annual updates before automatically dissolving three years after its first report.

The COACHES Act, or Creating Opportunity for Athletic Coaches to Help Educate Students Act, expands the existing above-the-line tax deduction for educators. This update specifically broadens eligibility to include interscholastic sports administrators and coaches, allowing them to deduct expenses incurred as part of instructional activity for tax years beginning after December 31, 2023.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act streamlines the regulatory pathway for biosimilar biological products by simplifying application requirements and clarifying the criteria for automatic interchangeability. This legislation sets a specific transition date after enactment to determine when newly licensed biosimilars are deemed interchangeable with their reference products. Furthermore, it protects existing exclusivity periods and mandates the Secretary to update all relevant FDA guidance documents within 18 months.

This resolution recognizes National Foster Care Month to highlight the challenges faced by children in the foster care system and encourages Congress to implement policies that improve their lives. It reaffirms the commitment to supporting prevention, reunification, adoption, and successful transitions for youth aging out of care. The resolution also specifically honors the resilience of foster youth and the dedication of foster parents, advocates, and child welfare workers.

The Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2025 redefines and establishes national quality standards for high-level, continuous skilled nursing care provided through Medicaid. This legislation mandates the creation of a working group to develop these standards for complex-care patients receiving home nursing services. Furthermore, the bill ensures these updated standards are integrated into Medicaid's home and community-based waiver services and reviewed regularly.

This bill seeks to permanently reauthorize the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by repealing its scheduled expiration date. By removing the sunset provision, Congress ensures these sanctions against Iran's weapons programs and support for terrorism remain in effect indefinitely. The legislation reaffirms the U.S. policy to fully enforce the existing sanctions.

This resolution serves as a formal tribute honoring the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. It recognizes his decades of public service, including his terms as Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator, where he championed infrastructure, agriculture, and conservative values. The Senate expresses deep sadness over his passing and directs that official copies of this tribute be sent to his family.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month every May. It honors the significant and diverse contributions of AANHPI communities to the history and strength of the United States. The resolution also acknowledges the historical struggles and ongoing challenges faced by these communities. Ultimately, it reaffirms the importance of recognizing their achievements and ensuring their representation.

The SMART Prices Act aims to strengthen Medicare by significantly accelerating and expanding the number of drugs eligible for price negotiation. This bill lowers the time requirements for certain single-source drugs to qualify for negotiation and adjusts the maximum fair price ceilings for negotiated drugs starting in 2028. Overall, the legislation seeks to increase price competition and lower costs within the Medicare drug program.

This resolution reaffirms the deep and steadfast partnership between the United States and Canada, recognizing its critical importance to both nations' economic prosperity and national security. It highlights the massive trade volume, integrated supply chains, and shared commitment to continental defense and energy independence. The bill emphasizes strengthening cooperation across security, technology, and environmental stewardship while ensuring the border remains secure for vital commerce. Ultimately, this is a strong statement of commitment to maintaining and deepening the essential U.S.-Canada relationship.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to modernize and increase transparency in the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and requires plans to publicly report detailed data on their approval, denial, and appeal rates. Furthermore, it establishes new standards to protect enrollees and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timelines for care requests.

This resolution congratulates the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of public charter schools for their ongoing contributions to American education. It highlights the growth, academic achievements, and parental choice offered by these tuition-free public schools. The measure officially recognizes and supports the goals of the 26th Annual National Charter Schools Week, scheduled for May 11–17, 2025.

This resolution officially recognizes the vital roles and significant contributions of teachers across the United States in strengthening the nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being. It specifically designates National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5–9, 2025, to raise public awareness and encourage greater respect for the teaching profession. Ultimately, this measure serves as a formal expression of gratitude from Congress to educators nationwide.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 establishes a presumption that certain cancers leading to death or disability in public safety officers were caused by on-duty exposure to recognized carcinogens. This law defines specific exposure-related cancers and sets conditions, such as five years of service, for the presumption to apply. It also updates review processes for adding new cancers to the list and grants retroactive application and filing extensions for eligible past and present claims.

The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act prohibits covered entities from denying an organ transplant or related services solely because an individual has a disability. The bill mandates reasonable modifications to policies and requires consideration of an individual's support network when assessing their ability to comply with post-transplant requirements. This ensures that qualified individuals receive equal access to the entire organ transplant process, from evaluation through aftercare.