Legislative Activity

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 aims to increase the federal minimum wage to $17.00 per hour over a five-year period, after which it will be adjusted annually based on the percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees. The bill also gradually raises the minimum wage for tipped employees and newly hired employees under 20, eventually eliminating the separate wage tiers. Additionally, it increases the minimum wage for individuals with disabilities and promotes their economic self-sufficiency by phasing out special certificates that allow employers to pay them a subminimum wage.

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act, giving states more control over which contaminants trigger a response. It broadens eligibility for EPA grants, prioritizing aid for disadvantaged communities, small communities lacking financial capacity, and owners of private wells. These changes aim to improve states' ability to respond to contaminants in drinking water.

The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996, allowing military aircraft to be used for dropping water, in addition to fire retardant, for wildfire suppression. It ensures that aircraft sold by the Department of Defense are exclusively used for wildfire suppression services. This act extends the Department of Defense's authority to sell aircraft and parts for wildfire suppression until October 1, 2035.

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.

The "Tax Fairness for Workers Act" allows above-the-line tax deductions for union dues and other employee-related business expenses. This amends the Internal Revenue Code to ensure these deductions are not subject to certain limitations, providing tax relief for workers. These changes will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The "Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act" aims to foster competition in the pharmaceutical market by preventing brand-name drug and biosimilar manufacturers from entering into anticompetitive agreements that delay or prevent the entry of generic drugs and biosimilars. It prohibits agreements where generic or biosimilar applicants receive compensation to limit competition, with certain exceptions, and empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these prohibitions. The Act also requires companies to certify that their agreements with generic drug or biosimilar manufacturers are complete and include all related terms and clarifies that forfeiture of the 180-day exclusivity period can occur if an agreement violates the Federal Trade Commission Act. Finally, the Act directs the FTC to submit a recommendation on a potential amendment regarding the exclusion of certain damage claims and sets a statute of limitations for enforcement proceedings.

The "Driving Forward Act" permanently exempts qualifying school bus drivers from specific pre-trip vehicle inspection skills tests outlined in the Federal Register. States participating in this exemption must submit annual reports to the Secretary of Transportation for six years, detailing the number of drivers licensed under this exemption.

The Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act aims to improve school facilities in federally impacted communities through a Federal-local partnership. It authorizes funds for both competitive and formula grants to local educational agencies eligible for Impact Aid, prioritizing those with the most critical facility needs and limited financial resources. These grants can be used for construction, renovation, or repair of school facilities, with a focus on addressing health, safety, and accessibility issues. The Act also requires local education agencies to contribute a percentage of the project cost, based on their learning opportunity threshold.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners and originating sites, and making waivers for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native American health facilities permanent. It also enhances program integrity by clarifying fraud and abuse laws, authorizing additional funding for oversight, and addressing unusual billing patterns. Additionally, the act supports beneficiaries and providers by requiring the development of resources and training, reviewing quality measures, and mandating the publication of data on telehealth services. These changes aim to make telehealth a more accessible, high-quality, and permanent option for patients, particularly those in underserved areas.

The "Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act" or the "ABC Act" requires a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to simplify processes and improve communication for family caregivers. This includes reducing red tape, improving website accessibility, and providing timely and accessible information. The act mandates regular reports to Congress on the progress and impact of these improvements. Additionally, the act encourages states to conduct similar reviews to reduce administrative burdens on caregivers at the state level.

The "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025" mandates a wide range of sanctions on Russia, its government, affiliated individuals and entities, and sectors of its economy in response to actions against Ukraine. It requires the President to make regular determinations regarding Russia's behavior and imposes escalating penalties, including financial restrictions, import bans, and increased duties, if Russia refuses to negotiate peace, violates agreements, or takes further aggressive actions against Ukraine. The Act also targets international entities that support Russia's sanctioned activities and sets conditions for the termination and reimposition of sanctions based on Russia's adherence to peace agreements.

This resolution designates April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" to highlight the importance of local news in American democracy. It recognizes the decline of local news outlets and the negative impact this has on informed citizens and communities. The resolution acknowledges local journalism as a public good and affirms its valuable contributions.

The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act amends title 38 of the United States Code to expand eligibility for the disabled veterans outreach program. This expansion includes spouses and surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces. These individuals will now have access to career services under this program.

The "Housing Vouchers Fairness Act" aims to increase housing affordability by allocating additional rental vouchers to public housing agencies in high-growth areas. The Secretary will distribute these vouchers based on population size, unmet housing needs, and historical funding shortfalls. This act prioritizes areas with populations over 100,000 that experienced significant growth between 2012 and 2022, allocating $2 billion for fiscal year 2025.

The "Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025" aims to limit the use of special Government employees to 130 days per year and increase transparency by requiring a public database of these employees, including their positions, pay rates, and tenures. The Act also mandates the public release of financial disclosures filed by these employees, with exceptions for national defense information. This bill seeks to ensure that individuals temporarily working for the government are appropriately classified and that their activities are transparent to the public.

This resolution recognizes and celebrates the heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas to the United States across various sectors, including the economy, arts, sciences, and military. It also acknowledges the economic disparities Latinas face, such as the wage gap, and emphasizes the importance of investing in their future to address these challenges and ensure their continued growth and impact.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Congress and states to regulate campaign finance, setting reasonable limits on contributions and expenditures to promote democracy, political equality, and the integrity of government and elections. It aims to clarify the power to differentiate between natural persons and corporations in campaign finance regulations, potentially restricting corporate spending in elections. The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of the press from any restrictions.

The Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act mandates the State Department to create a national registry of Korean Americans separated from family in North Korea since the Korean War, to facilitate reunions. It requires the Secretary of State to include family reunion progress in discussions with North Korea and consult with South Korea. Additionally, the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues must report annually on the registry's status, reunion progress, and North Korea's actions regarding family reunions. The bill allocates \$1,000,000 for these activities.

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.