Legislative Activity

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the national understanding and prevention of stillbirths. It authorizes federal grants to help states enhance stillbirth surveillance, data collection, and analysis, ensuring all collected data remains de-identified. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of clear federal guidelines for standardized data collection and the development of public educational materials regarding stillbirth risk factors.

The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act establishes a federal grant program to help student parents remain in college by making childcare accessible. The Secretary of Education can award five-year grants to eligible colleges and universities to provide on-campus or subsidized childcare services to student parents who qualify for Pell Grants. Grantees must ensure the funded programs meet specific quality benchmarks within three years and report annually on student outcomes. The Act authorizes $500 million annually for this program from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to grant Congress and the states clear authority to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. It explicitly allows for setting reasonable spending limits and establishing public financing systems for political campaigns. The amendment also permits banning spending by corporations and other legal entities while safeguarding the freedom of the press.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The Stop CMV Act of 2025 establishes a framework for voluntary newborn screening for congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) across the United States. It tasks states with developing testing procedures, while authorizing federal funding through HRSA grants to support implementation and CDC grants for data collection and education. The bill also directs the NIH to expand research into CMV screening, prevention, and treatment.

The FAMILY Act establishes the Family and Medical Insurance Leave program, creating a new office within the Social Security Administration to manage paid benefits for qualified caregiving and serious health conditions. This law outlines eligibility requirements, a tiered formula for calculating monthly benefit payments, and protections against employer retaliation for taking leave. The Act also provides funding mechanisms for states that already have similar paid leave programs in place.

This resolution expresses support for designating November 16, 2025, as "National Warrior Call Day" to combat isolation and suicide among service members and veterans. It encourages all Americans to reach out and connect with those who have served to strengthen vital support structures. The day aims to foster peer-to-peer connection as a critical step in addressing the mental health challenges faced by our military community.

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.

The Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2025 establishes advance funding mechanisms for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the Indian Health Service (IHS), beginning in fiscal year 2026. This legislation requires these agencies to provide Congress with detailed budget estimates looking one year ahead of the proposed budget year. Additionally, the bill mandates annual consultation with Tribal nations and reporting on resource sufficiency for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Small Business RELIEF Act exempts qualifying small businesses from import duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 due to a national emergency declaration. This legislation also mandates refunds for any such duties already paid by these small businesses. The goal is to provide immediate financial relief to small businesses impacted by these specific emergency tariffs.

This Act authorizes the transfer of specified federal land in La Paz County, Arizona, to the County for fair market value to support solar energy development. The transfer requires the protection of cultural and historical resources, including consultation with the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Furthermore, the designated land is immediately withdrawn from all mining and mineral leasing activities.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act aims to address healthcare staffing shortages by recapturing unused employment-based immigrant visas from previous years. These recaptured visas are specifically reserved for professional nurses (25,000) and physicians (15,000) to expedite their entry into the U.S. The bill also mandates premium processing for these petitions without imposing extra fees and includes worker protection attestations to prevent displacement of U.S. workers.

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.

The RAISE Act of 2025 mandates that states incorporate specific academic standards for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies when developing or revising their K-12 curriculum guidelines. This ensures that AI literacy becomes a required component of state academic standards under federal education law.

The Veterans Scam And Fraud Evasion Act of 2025, or VSAFE Act, establishes a new Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This Officer will lead efforts to prevent, respond to, and track fraud targeting veterans while coordinating with other federal agencies. Additionally, the bill makes a minor technical adjustment by extending the expiration date of certain existing limits on veterans' pension payments by two months.

The Lowering Electric Bills Act extends crucial tax credits for residential clean energy installations until 2034. It also modifies the phase-out schedule for the Clean Electricity Production and Investment Credits, tying their continuation to achieving specific emissions reduction targets or the year 2032. These changes aim to provide long-term stability for clean energy investments.

The SEIZE Act authorizes the President to treat weapons and materiel seized en route from Iran to the Houthis in Yemen as if they were already U.S. military stock. This new designation allows the President to transfer these seized items to foreign partners using existing defense assistance authorities. The law also mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing the use of this authority.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 mandates the President to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or groups whose actions threaten the peace and stability of the West Bank. These penalties specifically target those involved in violence against civilians, property destruction, or terrorism. The law requires regular reporting to Congress detailing those sanctioned and the steps being taken to mitigate violence in the region.

This resolution officially designates August 1, 2025, as "Gold Star Children's Day." It serves to recognize and honor the children who have lost a parent serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The measure encourages all Americans to observe this day to show support for the families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.