Legislative Activity

The Student Loan Tax Elimination Act aims to reduce the cost of federal student loans by eliminating origination fees. This change will apply to new Federal Direct Loans and Direct Consolidation Loans disbursed or applied for after July 1 following the enactment of the law.

This joint resolution directs the President to immediately remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against vessels in the Caribbean Sea or Eastern Pacific Ocean that were not authorized by Congress. It asserts that the time limit under the War Powers Resolution for these ongoing actions has expired. The bill mandates that military force in these areas can only continue with a formal declaration of war or a specific authorization from Congress.

The Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act of 2025 aims to curb violence in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean fueled by U.S. firearms trafficking. This bill transfers regulatory control of certain munitions exports from the Commerce Department back to the State Department. It mandates comprehensive reporting and strategy development to disrupt illegal trafficking networks and tightens restrictions on future arms exports to designated "covered countries."

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to strengthen survivor benefit presumptions for miners who died from black lung disease. It establishes a new program to cover certain attorney fees and medical expenses for claimants with long-pending cases. Finally, the bill mandates the GAO to conduct several studies on benefit payment sufficiency and the impact of interim payment recoupment.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 establishes a resident's right to designate at least one "essential caregiver" who must be granted in-person access to the resident in healthcare facilities, even during periods of restricted visitation. This right is designed to prevent the isolation and decline seen during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring family support remains available. Facilities can only deny access under strict, time-limited conditions if the caregiver violates agreed-upon safety protocols.

The Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025 aims to protect Medicare beneficiaries by prohibiting the implementation of the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) model. This legislation prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from introducing the WISeR model or any substantially similar payment and service delivery system under Medicare.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in federally funded schools and educational programs. It establishes strict national standards for when physical restraint is permitted, mandates comprehensive staff training, and empowers parents with immediate notification rights and the ability to sue for violations. Furthermore, the bill requires states to submit plans, publicly report data on restraint incidents, and utilize federal grants to implement preventative, evidence-based safety strategies.

The Background Check Completion Act of 2025 mandates that a completed background check must occur before any firearm transfer can take place. This law removes the previous "default proceed" provision that allowed transfers after three business days if the check was incomplete. It also updates related federal laws to align with this new, stricter requirement.

This resolution designates December 6th of each year as "National Miners Day." The day will honor the contributions and sacrifices of miners across the United States. It also commemorates the tragic Monongah mining disaster of 1907, which spurred significant improvements in miner safety.

The International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 establishes a permanent program within the Department of State, led by a dedicated Special Envoy, to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. Global Strategy to address international discrimination and violence against this community. Furthermore, it authorizes foreign assistance to support local organizations and requires detailed reporting on LGBTQI human rights abuses in annual State Department reports.

This bill authorizes $74 million in U.S. funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Congress finds that UNFPA is essential for global sexual and reproductive health, preventing maternal deaths, and combating gender-based violence worldwide. The legislation affirms that supporting UNFPA is a strategic U.S. foreign policy priority that advances global health and stability.

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act seeks to establish comprehensive federal labor protections for domestic workers, including nannies, caregivers, and housekeepers. It mandates key standards such as overtime pay, earned sick leave, written work agreements, and fair scheduling practices. The bill also creates a standards board to recommend future workplace improvements and includes funding mechanisms to help states cover the costs of extending these protections to Medicaid-funded in-home care providers. Ultimately, this legislation aims to increase job security, predictability, and legal recourse for this historically excluded workforce.

This resolution strongly condemns white supremacy, hate, and antisemitism, specifically targeting the promotion of these dangerous ideologies by Nick Fuentes. It further condemns Tucker Carlson and Kevin Roberts for platforming and defending Fuentes's documented antisemitic and Holocaust-denying statements. The resolution affirms the nation's commitment to fighting antisemitism and urges all leaders to reject these hateful views.

The Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization Act addresses the growing threat of transnational cyber-enabled fraud originating from criminal operations, often involving human trafficking victims in Southeast Asia. This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter these scam compounds and hold the responsible criminal organizations accountable. Furthermore, it establishes new authorities for imposing sanctions on facilitators and requires a review of legal tools to ensure victims can receive financial redress from seized assets.

The EARLY Benefits for Workers Act grants states greater flexibility in using federal funds to offer immediate reemployment services and eligibility assessments to unemployment claimants upon filing their initial claim. This allows for earlier intervention to help workers return to the workforce quickly. Importantly, a claimant's initial benefit eligibility cannot be denied solely for not participating in these early services before receiving their first payment.

This resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and recognizes its transformative impact on ensuring a free, appropriate public education for children with disabilities. It honors the millions who have benefited from IDEA and reaffirms commitment to its principles. *Note: The provided text also includes details about a separate "Housing for All" program, which is not addressed in this summary as the primary focus of the resolution appears to be IDEA.*

This resolution strongly condemns the pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, detailing his extensive involvement in a major drug-trafficking conspiracy. It outlines how Hernández used his presidential power to facilitate the smuggling of hundreds of tons of cocaine into the U.S. while protecting criminal associates. The resolution asserts that the pardon undermines the rule of law and damages U.S. credibility in combating international drug trafficking.

The Medicare-X Choice Act of 2025 establishes a new, low-cost public health insurance option, the Medicare Exchange plan, available nationwide on the ACA marketplaces starting in 2028. The bill also creates a national reinsurance program to lower individual market premiums and expands premium tax credit eligibility by removing the 400% income cap and fixing the "family glitch." Furthermore, it grants Medicare the authority to negotiate prescription drug prices and increases funding for antitrust enforcement in healthcare markets.

The SAFE Chips Act of 2025 establishes strict new export controls on advanced integrated circuits to foreign adversary countries. This law mandates a license for the export or transfer of these specified high-performance chips, with a policy to deny all such applications. The bill specifically defines "advanced integrated circuit" based on technical performance thresholds or existing export control classifications, excluding those not designed for data center use.

This bill, the Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, strictly prohibits the use of U.S. military funds for hostilities against Venezuela. Any military action must be specifically authorized by a new law passed by Congress or authorized consistent with the War Powers Resolution. The Act maintains exceptions for self-defense or defense of U.S. personnel, as well as for humanitarian aid and certain counternarcotics operations.