Legislative Activity

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act of 2025 modifies existing provisions for the STEM Scholarship program. This bill adjusts eligibility criteria and recalculates certain numerical values related to the scholarship. Furthermore, it establishes new priority guidelines for recipients and mandates that the scholarship benefit can only be used after exhausting other educational assistance entitlements.

This bill aims to enhance the safety and security of Members of Congress, their families, and staff by restricting the public dissemination of sensitive personal information. It prohibits government agencies and data brokers from publishing or selling "covered information," such as home addresses and personal phone numbers, upon request. Furthermore, it grants covered individuals the right to sue entities that fail to remove this protected data from public online records within 72 hours.

This resolution supports the designation of September 22–26, 2025, as "National Hazing Awareness Week." It emphasizes the widespread problem of hazing, referencing tragic incidents to underscore the need for strong prevention policies and transparency on college campuses. The bill encourages all stakeholders to use this designated week to actively promote nationwide awareness and education efforts against hazing.

The Register America to Vote Act of 2025 aims to modernize and secure voter registration nationwide by establishing automatic registration systems. This includes automatically registering citizens when they turn 18 and implementing opt-out registration through state motor vehicle agencies. The Act provides federal funding to states to upgrade technology and mandates new national security and privacy standards for handling voter data.

The Same Day Registration Act mandates that all states allow eligible citizens to register to vote or update their registration at the polling place on Election Day for any federal election. This ensures that individuals can register and cast their ballot simultaneously, provided the state does not already have a no-registration requirement. States must ensure registration forms are available at all polling locations, with full compliance generally required starting with the November 2026 general election.

The Enhancing First Response Act mandates the FCC to hold annual hearings and issue reports following major disaster communications outages to identify areas for improvement. It also requires the Office of Management and Budget to officially classify 911 dispatchers as a protective service occupation. Furthermore, the bill directs the FCC to report on the enforcement and effectiveness of existing laws regarding multi-line phone system compliance for emergency calls.

This resolution formally honors the victims and survivors of the August 27, 2025, mass shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. It recognizes the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained during the attack. Furthermore, the resolution commends the bravery of first responders and community members who assisted during the crisis. Finally, it expresses the Senate's solidarity with the affected community and condemns all acts of violence.

The Safe at Home Act mandates that all federal executive agencies and courts must accept the designated address provided by participants in state address confidentiality programs. This ensures individuals using these safety measures are not penalized for using their confidential address instead of their physical location. Agencies must establish procedures to obtain physical addresses only when necessary, and any disclosed physical addresses are protected from public release under FOIA. Participants must notify federal entities if they leave the program.

The STOP Act 2.0 strengthens security measures for international mail by imposing new criminal penalties for fraudulently misrepresenting a package's country of origin during customs reporting. It also ends future exemptions for countries failing to transmit 100% advance electronic shipping data and mandates detailed annual reports on compliance and enforcement efforts. Furthermore, the bill promotes public-private partnerships and enhanced training to combat the trafficking of synthetic opioids through the mail system.

The Treatment Court, Rehabilitation, and Recovery Act of 2025 revamps federal funding for specialized courts addressing addiction and mental health by establishing a new discretionary grant program. This funding supports various treatment courts, including juvenile, family, tribal, and adult drug courts, ensuring participants receive evidence-based treatment and fair financial requirements. The Act mandates strict eligibility criteria, prohibits participation for certain violent offenders, and requires recipients to adhere to national best practice standards while ensuring equitable access and retention for all participants.

The Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act aims to streamline and enhance support for Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. mission. It establishes new processes for remote refugee processing, creates a pathway to conditional permanent resident status for eligible allies already in the U.S., and creates a new Special Immigrant Visa category for certain relatives of U.S. service members. The bill also mandates increased reporting and interagency coordination to improve efficiency and transparency in these resettlement efforts.

The Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nation's drug supply chain by improving how manufacturers report potential disruptions for critical medicines. This legislation mandates earlier and more detailed notifications to the government regarding production halts, demand spikes, or supply interruptions for life-supporting drugs. Furthermore, it requires drug makers to report their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) suppliers twice annually, increasing transparency into the entire supply chain.

The 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2025 aims to boost small businesses by updating the 504 loan program goals to prioritize workforce training, energy efficiency, and disaster recovery. The bill significantly increases the maximum loan amount available for manufacturing projects from $\$5.5$ million to $\$10$ million. Furthermore, it streamlines loan closing procedures for accredited lenders and eases several contribution and collateral requirements specifically for small manufacturers.

The Energy Efficiency for Affordable Housing Act increases the tax credit available for rehabilitating existing affordable housing to make it significantly more energy-efficient. This legislation allows eligible projects that achieve "enhanced energy performance" to count 130% of their rehabilitation spending toward the credit, or 160% in high-cost areas. Enhanced performance is defined by meeting new Department of Energy standards or following a qualified retrofit plan designed to cut energy use by 50% or more. These increased credit incentives generally apply to projects allocated after December 31, 2025.

The Election Mail Act mandates same-day processing of incoming federal election ballots by the Postal Service and requires states to implement Intelligent Mail Barcodes for tracking outgoing ballots starting in 2026. It also ensures completed federal mail-in ballots receive free First-Class postage and sets a uniform national standard requiring states to count ballots postmarked by Election Day if received within seven days after the election. Furthermore, the bill prohibits service cuts that could impede election mail delivery in the 120 days before a federal election.

The Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Act of 2025 directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a dedicated program offering comprehensive assistance to military spouses starting and growing small businesses. This initiative will provide online resources, mentorship, and specialized training to address challenges unique to military life, such as frequent relocation and deployments. The SBA must first survey existing barriers before implementing the tailored support services.

The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025 updates federal assistance for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. This legislation introduces new competitive grants specifically for developing and demonstrating pilot-scale biorefineries. It also modifies the criteria for existing loan guarantees, allowing for greater flexibility in reviewing projects with proven technologies. Overall, the bill aims to accelerate the commercial viability of domestic biobased manufacturing through targeted financial support.

The Promoting Rural Exports Act of 2025 establishes a new National Rural Export Center, supported by up to nine regional centers, within the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. These centers will provide rural businesses with customized market research and strategic support to overcome obstacles to international trade. Success will be measured by tracking the number of businesses assisted and the resulting dollar value of new exports generated.

The ABLE Employment Flexibility Act modifies retirement plan rules to allow eligible individuals with disabilities to direct some of their employer's retirement contributions into their ABLE account. This change aims to protect working ABLE individuals from losing essential benefits while enabling them to save more money. The bill also clarifies how these redirected contributions are treated for tax and anti-discrimination purposes. Ultimately, it provides greater financial flexibility for employees with disabilities saving through ABLE accounts.

This resolution officially designates June 23, 2025, as "Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day." The day is established to honor victims, survivors, and their families affected by the dangers of social media, including cyberbullying and exploitation. It encourages public awareness, education, and collaborative efforts to improve online safety and digital well-being.