Legislative Activity

The U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act mandates a comprehensive review of the current relationship between the two nations based on concerns over South Africa's foreign policy alignment with Russia, China, and Hamas. Following this review, the President must report to Congress and certify whether South Africa's actions harm U.S. national security interests. If such harm is certified, the bill requires the President to identify sanctionable officials and immediately terminate South Africa's eligibility for key trade preference programs.

This resolution commends the Caesars Superdome on the occasion of its golden jubilee, celebrating 50 years of service to Louisiana and the United States. It recognizes the venue's history of hosting major sporting events, cultural performances, and serving as a vital shelter during numerous hurricanes. The resolution officially honors the facility's enduring legacy and recent modernizations.

This resolution urges all NATO members to commit to spending a minimum of 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense, clarifying the breakdown between traditional and non-traditional defense expenditures. It emphasizes that failing to meet current spending goals reflects a lack of political will rather than financial inability. Ultimately, the resolution reaffirms the U.S. Senate's strong support for a unified and robust NATO alliance.

The Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act aims to increase federal contract awards to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. It mandates that the Small Business Administrator provide specialized training to any agency failing to meet its established contract goals for these businesses. Furthermore, the Act requires the Administrator to issue best practices guidance and report annually to Congress on agency compliance and training efforts.

The Build Now Act of 2025 adjusts Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations by rewarding cities and counties with faster recent housing growth and reducing funds for those with slower growth. It establishes a "Housing Growth Improvement Rate" based on historical housing unit increases to determine eligibility for bonus funding or mandatory allocation cuts. The law mandates the use of precise Census data for these housing counts and requires annual public reporting on the resulting adjustments.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's final rule regarding the Barred Owl Management Strategy in Washington, Oregon, and California. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the submitted management rule, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is overturning the executive branch's specific plan for managing the Barred Owl population in these states.

This resolution congratulates the Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSU Shreveport) baseball team for achieving the first undefeated season in collegiate baseball history. It specifically recognizes their perfect 59-0 record and their victory in the 2025 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) World Series. The measure also honors the team's top performers and Head Coach Brad Neffendorf for bringing significant pride to the university and the State of Louisiana.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a recent rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) concerning the review of applications under the Bank Merger Act. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this measure nullifies the specific OCC regulation regarding bank mergers. If enacted, the disapproved rule will have no legal force or effect.

The CFPB Pay Fairness Act of 2025 grants the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the authority to set and adjust the basic pay rates for all Bureau employees. This new pay structure will align CFPB employees with the standard General Schedule pay system used by many other federal workers. This change will take effect 90 days after the Act is enacted into law.

The Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act mandates that colleges and universities prominently display critical mental health and suicide prevention resources on student ID cards or main websites. This includes contact information for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and the campus mental health center. Schools will have one year after the Act's enactment to comply with these new requirements.

The EDUCATE Act conditions federal funding for graduate medical schools on certifying they do not mandate agreement with specific divisive tenets regarding race or sex. This legislation prohibits medical schools from requiring diversity statements or establishing DEI offices as a condition for admission or employment. Furthermore, it requires accrediting agencies to ensure they do not mandate policies contrary to these provisions for medical education programs. The Act includes provisions to protect existing First Amendment rights and academic freedom.

This resolution formally commends Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) on the occasion of its Centennial anniversary. It recognizes the university's significant history, growth since its founding in 1925, and its ongoing service to the State of Louisiana and the United States. The Senate directs that official notice of this commendation be sent to key university leaders.

The CRAWDAD Act expands emergency assistance programs to better support agricultural producers facing disaster-related losses. It specifically updates the Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program to include drought as an eligible trigger and explicitly covers losses to crawfish harvest due to adverse weather or drought. Additionally, the bill broadens the definition of "livestock" under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program to ensure coverage for unweaned animals.

The Same Care, Lower Cost Act aims to reduce Medicare spending by establishing "site-neutral" payments for certain medical services starting in 2027. This means Medicare will pay the same rate for specific procedures regardless of whether they are performed in a hospital outpatient department or an ambulatory surgical center. The Secretary must identify at least 66 service categories subject to this standardized payment, though emergency and critical care visits are exempt. This legislation directs the Secretary to align payment rates based on the service provided rather than the facility location.

The FIGHT Act of 2025 significantly strengthens federal prohibitions against animal fighting ventures, particularly those involving roosters, by expanding illegal activities to include attendance by minors and gambling. This bill enhances enforcement by tightening restrictions on interstate transport and advertising, while also empowering private citizens to file lawsuits to enjoin violations. Furthermore, the Act allows for the seizure of real property used to facilitate these illegal fighting activities.

The Targeting Child Predators Act of 2025 shifts authority over certain administrative subpoenas from the Treasury to Homeland Security and imposes strict 180-day nondisclosure requirements on recipients when an investigation is certified as sensitive. This Act establishes a new judicial review process allowing recipients to challenge these secrecy orders in federal court. Courts can uphold or extend the nondisclosure period only if disclosure risks endangering lives, flight from prosecution, or evidence tampering.

The No Dollars for Dictators Act of 2025 prohibits the U.S. from supporting the allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through the IMF to any member country that has committed genocide in the last decade or is currently designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. This restriction remains in place unless Congress explicitly authorizes the vote through new legislation. The bill ensures that U.S. financial influence is not used to benefit regimes engaged in genocide or terrorism.

The Quality Loss Adjustment Improvement for Farmers Act mandates that the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation conduct external reviews of its quality loss adjustment procedures every five years, starting in 2025, ensuring input from regional industry stakeholders. Furthermore, the bill requires the Corporation to establish local "discount factors" for soybean quality loss adjustments following a federal disaster declaration, reflecting actual regional market prices. These changes aim to improve the fairness and accuracy of quality loss payments, particularly for soybeans during crises.

The Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act mandates stricter and clearer public disclosure of stock transactions by corporate directors, officers, and principal stockholders. This legislation updates existing securities law to ensure greater transparency regarding insider trading activities. Furthermore, it requires the SEC to finalize the necessary implementing rules within 90 days of enactment.

This joint resolution nullifies the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's rule on the Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources. By disapproving the rule, Congress prevents its enforcement or implementation.