Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates October 4, 2025, as "National Energy Appreciation Day." It celebrates the vital role of the U.S. energy sector in driving the economy, creating jobs, and improving quality of life globally. The bill emphasizes support for an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, recognizing the contributions of fossil fuels, coal, nuclear, hydro, and renewables. It encourages public events to raise awareness about the importance of reliable and affordable energy.

The Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025 establishes a dedicated federal program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance science-based fisheries management in the Great Lakes. This initiative authorizes funding to systematically mass-mark hatchery-stocked fish to accurately assess stocking effectiveness and the impact of management strategies. The collected data will be shared with Federal, State, and Tribal partners to support restoration goals and sustain the region's vital fisheries economy.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Literacy Month to raise awareness about the critical importance of reading skills. It highlights the significant national challenges in literacy rates and the economic costs associated with low literacy. The measure calls upon all sectors of society to observe the month by promoting evidence-based reading programs and activities.

This resolution formally condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honors his life and legacy as a devoted husband, father, and founder of Turning Point USA. It recognizes his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses across the nation. The Senate also extends its deepest sympathies to his surviving family.

This bill amends the user fee system for Over-the-Counter (OTC) monograph drugs, establishing new fee collection schedules and revenue targets for the FDA for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. It updates definitions related to OTC monograph changes and extends the authorization for related programs and reporting requirements through 2030. The legislation ensures that collected fees are dedicated to funding OTC monograph drug activities.

The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act of 2025 establishes a five-year Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofits providing service dogs to eligible veterans. This program mandates that the VA provide lifetime veterinary insurance coverage for every service dog placed through the program. Grants will fund the provision of service dogs to veterans with disabilities such as PTSD, TBI, or severe mobility issues, with recipients strictly prohibited from charging veterans any fees.

The College Transparency Act establishes a secure, new Postsecondary Student Data System to track student enrollment, completion, and post-college outcomes across higher education institutions. This system aims to increase transparency for students and families by providing clear data on costs and success rates, while minimizing duplicate reporting burdens for schools. The collected data will be used for secure research and public reporting of aggregate statistics, strictly prohibiting the sale of data or its use for federal college rankings.

The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act allows taxpayers whose original IRS refund check was lost or stolen to elect to receive their replacement refund via direct deposit. This change provides an alternative to receiving a second paper check for the lost funds. The Treasury Department must establish the necessary procedures for this election.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). This bill extends crucial tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and establishes new offices within the Treasury and Labor Departments to provide technical assistance and advocacy. Furthermore, it amends the Small Business Act to ensure ESOP-owned businesses do not automatically lose small business status when they transition to majority employee ownership.

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act aims to drastically increase healthcare price transparency across the board. It mandates that hospitals, diagnostic labs, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly disclose detailed negotiated rates, cash prices, and gross charges in standardized formats. Furthermore, the bill strengthens requirements for health plans to provide consumers with real-time cost estimates and mandates itemized billing for patients after receiving care. These measures are backed by new compliance checks and significant daily penalties for non-compliance.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2025 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2025, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day." The goal is to raise public awareness, combat the stigma surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for service members and veterans. It recognizes the significant impact of combat stress and supports ongoing efforts by the DoD and VA to educate the public and improve care.

The Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding for both Type 1 Diabetes research programs and diabetes programs serving Native Americans. This legislation secures specific annual appropriations of \$160 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, along with a transition allocation in late 2027. The bill ensures continued financial support for these vital public health initiatives through the end of 2027.

The **SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen national efforts against substance use disorders and improve public health infrastructure. It significantly increases and extends funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs through 2030, while also updating regulations for provider training and controlled substance distribution. Key provisions focus on enhancing maternal health support, improving overdose monitoring, bolstering the mental health workforce, and ensuring accountability in state-level mental health spending.

The REFOCUS DODEA Act mandates the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to implement a strict policy banning student smartphone use during the school day. This new regulation requires students to secure their devices in lockers or approved pouches for the duration of the school day. Exceptions will be made only for documented medical needs or high-priority emergencies.

This resolution officially designates May 2025 as "Older Americans Month" to recognize the vital contributions of senior citizens to the nation. It highlights the growing senior population and their continued involvement in the workforce and volunteering. The bill encourages communities nationwide to celebrate older Americans and create opportunities for them to share their wisdom and remain active participants in society.

The Stop the Scroll Act mandates that social media and anonymous content sharing platforms display conspicuous, hourly-refreshing mental health warning labels to users in the U.S. These labels must detail potential harms and provide access to federal resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in consultation with the Surgeon General, is tasked with writing and periodically updating the specific regulations for these warnings. Enforcement authority is granted to both the FTC and State Attorneys General, with significant civil penalties for knowing or repeated violations.

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 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.

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 bill, the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, establishes a new, high federal tax on the profits earned by third-party investors in lawsuits, known as litigation financing. The tax is applied at the highest individual income tax rate plus an additional 3.8 percentage points on "qualified litigation proceeds." To ensure compliance, the law mandates that parties or their attorneys withhold 50% of this tax from payments made to the funder. Importantly, while taxing the funder, the bill explicitly excludes the actual settlement proceeds received by the winning party from their gross income.