Legislative Activity

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Louisiana Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr., recognizing his contributions to energy policy, natural resource conservation, and Louisiana's cultural heritage. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives and send a copy of the resolution to Senator Johnston's family. Upon adoption, the Senate will adjourn in his honor.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, recognizing his public service, military service, and contributions to Wyoming and the nation. It celebrates his work on border security, veterans affairs, entitlement reform, and fiscal responsibility, as well as his dedication to various Wyoming institutions. The resolution expresses sorrow at his passing, directs communication to the House of Representatives and his family, and adjourns the Senate in his memory.

This resolution celebrates the 204th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms the strong relationship between the United States and Greece, rooted in shared democratic values. It recognizes Greece's role as a valued NATO ally and acknowledges the contributions of the Greek-American community to the United States. The resolution also highlights the importance of the U.S.-Greece partnership in areas like energy security and regional stability.

The "Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act" amends the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include projects that connect bicycle or pedestrian paths and reduce safety risks for vulnerable road users. It allows the federal government to cover up to 100% of the cost for these highway safety projects and broadens the types of safety plans that qualify for funding. Additionally, the bill allows funds for highway safety to count towards the non-federal share of project costs under certain conditions.

The Falun Gong Protection Act aims to combat forced organ harvesting in China by imposing sanctions on individuals involved, requiring reports on China's organ transplant practices, and expressing U.S. policy to pressure China to end state-sponsored organ harvesting. It mandates the President to create a list of individuals involved in forced organ harvesting and block their assets and deny them entry into the U.S. The Act also requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on organ transplant policies in China, including the sources of organs and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

The "Regulation Decimation Act" mandates that for every new regulation issued, federal agencies must repeal at least 10 existing regulations, prioritizing those related to the new rule. For major regulations, the cost of the new rule must be equal to or less than the cost of the repealed rules, as certified by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The Act also requires agencies to review and identify costly, ineffective, or outdated rules and submit reports to Congress on rule reduction progress.

The "Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act" aims to enhance cooperation between federal and local law enforcement by allowing state and local officers to act as agents of the Department of Homeland Security and protecting them from liability when complying with immigration detainers. It defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as those that restrict information sharing or compliance with federal detainment requests, and it makes these jurisdictions ineligible for certain federal grants, reallocating those funds to non-sanctuary jurisdictions. This act does not protect individuals who knowingly violate civil or constitutional rights.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, while also modifying gift tax laws. It adjusts gift tax calculations, addresses transfers in trust, sets an initial $10,000,000 amount for calculating tentative tax, and adjusts for inflation. These changes apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers occurring, and gifts made on or after the enactment date of this Act.

The Fair Access to Banking Act aims to ensure equal access to financial services by preventing banks and credit unions from denying services to individuals or entities engaged in lawful activities based on subjective or politically motivated reasons. It sets requirements for banks with over $10 billion in assets, prohibiting them from denying services based on reputational risk and requiring them to justify denials with documented, risk-based standards. The act also allows individuals to sue financial institutions that violate these requirements, with the potential for treble damages and attorney fees awarded to successful plaintiffs. Furthermore, it restricts access to Federal Reserve lending programs and the Automated Clearing House Network for institutions that fail to comply with the Act.

The Hearing Protection Act seeks to deregulate firearm silencers by treating them like firearms, preempting state laws, and changing the tax structure. It mandates the destruction of existing silencer registration records and modifies the definition and marking requirements for silencers under federal law. The bill also imposes a 10% tax on firearm silencers or mufflers.

This resolution designates the week beginning February 3, 2025, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week," recognizing the vital role of TCUs in providing culturally relevant education to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other students. TCUs serve over 230 federally recognized Indian Tribes by offering high-quality postsecondary education and workforce preparation. The resolution encourages the public to participate in activities and programs that support these institutions.

This resolution designates January 26 through February 1, 2025, as "National School Choice Week," recognizing the importance of diverse educational options (public, charter, magnet, private, online, and homeschooling). It emphasizes the role of parents in choosing the best educational environment for their children and encourages awareness of the benefits of school choice. The resolution supports celebrating educational choice and acknowledges the contributions of students, parents, teachers, and school leaders.

The Laken Riley Act mandates the detention of illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting. It empowers state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State if they believe the state or its residents are harmed by violations of immigration enforcement or visa granting. The bill aims to ensure that these aliens are detained throughout their removal proceedings and to provide states with legal recourse against perceived failures in federal immigration enforcement.

The "A PLUS Act" allows states to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to consolidate certain federal education funds, excluding those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to improve academic achievement. States must ensure transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. The Act limits administrative expenses and requires equitable participation of private schools in funded activities. This aims to provide states and local communities more flexibility in deciding how to improve academic achievement and implement education changes.

The "Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025" aims to protect vulnerable children by establishing rigorous vetting standards for sponsors, including comprehensive background checks and mandatory home visits. It also requires retroactive vetting of past sponsors and mandates monthly reports to Congress on the well-being and whereabouts of these children. The bill prioritizes the safety and accountability in the placement of unaccompanied alien children.

The "Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act" seeks to restrict federal funding to foreign and domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish abortion-related items, or support entities involved in such activities. It expands existing policies to include a broader range of organizations and activities, including counseling, lobbying, and training. The bill also requires domestic organizations receiving federal funds to maintain complete separation from abortion-related activities. The goal is to codify these restrictions to ensure consistent application across different presidential administrations.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025" seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortions and for health benefits coverage that includes abortion coverage, with exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It clarifies that premium credits and cost-sharing reductions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot be used for health plans that include abortion coverage, allowing for separate purchase of abortion coverage without federal tax credits. The Act also requires health plans to transparently disclose the extent of abortion coverage and any related premium surcharges to enrollees.

The Student Empowerment Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow 529 savings accounts to cover a broader range of elementary and secondary education expenses, including homeschooling costs such as curriculum, materials, tutoring, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. This expansion aims to provide families with greater flexibility in using 529 accounts to support their children's education.

The "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act" (SAVE Act) aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens register to vote in federal elections by requiring documentary proof of citizenship during voter registration. It amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to include citizenship verification and mandates states to verify citizenship using various databases and federal information. The Act also establishes penalties for registering non-citizens and provides guidance for states to implement these changes.

The "Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act" extends the statute of limitations for criminal charges and civil actions related to fraud in pandemic-era programs, increasing the time to bring charges or initiate actions to 10 years after the offense or discovery of the violation. This extension applies to offenses and violations related to funding and programs authorized under laws like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. The bill aims to provide more time to identify and prosecute those who defrauded COVID-19 relief programs.