Legislative Activity

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 Solid American Hardwood Tax Credit Act introduces a new energy-efficient home improvement tax credit for qualifying expenditures on U.S.-grown and processed hardwood materials like flooring and millwork. This bill also extends the availability of this new credit through 2035. Additionally, it terminates the temporarily increased tax credit for carbon oxide sequestration for projects beginning construction after the Act's enactment.

The HERITAGE Act significantly increases the maximum reduction in the fair market value of certain actively farmed rural land for estate tax purposes, raising the limit from $\$750,000$ to $\$15,000,000$. This change only applies to estates of individuals who pass away after the Act is enacted. The bill also makes necessary technical updates to ensure consistent application of the new valuation limits within the tax code.

The Buying American Cotton Act of 2025 establishes a new tax credit to incentivize businesses to use cotton grown in the United States. This Domestic Cotton Consumption Credit is calculated based on the amount of qualified U.S. cotton in an eligible product sold, factoring in processing location and market price. The bill mandates strict digital tracing requirements to prove the origin of the cotton throughout the supply chain. Special enhanced credit multipliers are available for businesses that elect to claim the credit separately for qualified U.S. cotton yarn or fabric components.

The RESTORE Act aims to improve reproductive health outcomes by promoting restorative reproductive medicine and fertility education as alternatives to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). It mandates federal reviews of current infertility standards of care, expands research into conditions like endometriosis and PCOS, and protects healthcare providers who object to participating in ART. Furthermore, the bill seeks to modernize medical coding and reimbursement to better support providers offering comprehensive, restorative treatments.

The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act mandates that essential health benefits under the ACA must comprehensively cover prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care. This legislation explicitly bans all cost-sharing, such as deductibles or copayments, for these critical maternal and newborn health services. The coverage requirements are expanded to include screenings like ultrasounds and services related to pregnancy loss. Furthermore, non-birth parents are entitled to related behavioral health services for one year following the child's birth.

The Rural Health Sustainability Act of 2025 updates the criteria for hospitals seeking the Rural Emergency Hospital designation under Medicare. This bill retroactively adjusts the eligibility review date to January 1, 2014, and adds a new pathway for designation based on certification by the Office of Rural Health Policy. This aims to broaden access to this critical designation for eligible rural facilities.

The Save Healthcare Workers Act establishes new federal penalties for knowingly attacking hospital personnel while they are performing their duties. This legislation increases prison time and fines for assaults involving weapons or serious injury, and mandates a GAO study to review the law's impact on workplace violence and federal prosecution rates. The goal is to enhance the safety and security of healthcare providers across the nation.

This resolution formally recognizes the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and celebrates the city's profound historical significance. It highlights Vicksburg's crucial role in the Civil War, its unique contributions to American commerce and culture, and its ongoing importance today. The Senate encourages national recognition of the city throughout its bicentennial year.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month." It recognizes the critical ecological and economic importance of native plants for supporting local wildlife, maintaining healthy ecosystems, and conserving natural heritage. The designation aims to raise awareness about the vital role these indigenous species play across the United States.

The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025 prohibits all federal funding and support for research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained as a result of an induced abortion. The bill restricts federal agencies to only conducting or supporting research using tissue obtained after a miscarriage or stillbirth, subject to new regulations. Furthermore, it makes it illegal for individuals to solicit or knowingly accept donations of human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an induced abortion.

The "Safer Shrimp Imports Act" aims to ensure the safety of shrimp imported into the United States by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create agreements with foreign governments that have shrimp facilities registered for U.S. consumption. Beginning one year after enactment, shrimp will be denied entry into the U.S. from countries without agreements or whose food inspection systems do not meet FDA standards. The Act also mandates that foreign governments provide information on their food inspection systems and requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on the implementation of these amendments.

The "Respect State Housing Laws Act" repeals a provision in the CARES Act that restricted states' abilities to enforce their own eviction moratoriums. This change clarifies that state laws regarding evictions should be respected.

The "Rural Health Focus Act" establishes an Office of Rural Health within the CDC to address the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities. This office will conduct research, develop programs, and provide grants to improve health outcomes and access to care in rural areas. The office will also work with other federal agencies to coordinate rural health initiatives and avoid duplication of effort.

The "Saving American Workers Benefits Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to require both taxpayers and their qualifying children to have a valid Social Security number for employment purposes in order to claim the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Credit. This ensures that these tax benefits are only received by individuals authorized to work in the United States. This change will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution honors Mississippi's Gestational Age Act and Representative Becky Currie's role in the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. It recognizes the decision to return the authority to regulate abortion to the states and expresses gratitude to states enacting laws to protect mothers and unborn children.

The "Promoting New Bank Formation Act of 2025" aims to encourage the creation of new financial institutions, especially in underserved areas, by phasing in capital standards, allowing changes to business plans, adjusting the Community Bank Leverage Ratio for rural community banks, and expanding agricultural loan authority for federal savings associations. The Act also requires federal banking agencies to study and report on the reasons for the decline in new financial institutions and ways to promote their formation.