Legislative Activity

The America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act seeks to permanently protect hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands across Utah by designating them as official wilderness areas. This designation ensures the preservation of unique ecological, geological, and cultural resources under the highest level of federal protection. The bill also establishes administrative rules, including securing water rights and managing state inholdings, while explicitly safeguarding existing livestock grazing and Tribal rights.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Agriculture to immediately honor and pay all existing, unfrozen contracts with farmers and related entities. This legislation prevents the cancellation of signed agreements unless the terms have been violated by the recipient. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 60 days' notice to Congress before closing any local Farm Service Agency, NRCS, or Rural Development offices.

This Senate resolution clarifies that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 only addressed the PRC's representation at the UN and does not endorse China's "One China Principle" regarding Taiwan's sovereignty. The resolution strongly opposes the People's Republic of China's efforts to misuse this vote to isolate Taiwan internationally. It reaffirms the U.S. position that the issue of Taiwan's final status remains unsettled and supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in global organizations.

This resolution formally honors the life and distinguished public service career of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former U.S. Senator for Wyoming. It celebrates his extensive tenure in both state and federal government, highlighting his focus on fiscal responsibility and support for veterans. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow at his passing and directs that the day's adjournment serve as a final tribute to his memory.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment granting Congress and the states the explicit authority to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. If ratified, it would allow for setting reasonable limits on spending intended to influence elections to protect democratic fairness. The amendment also specifically empowers regulators to treat corporations and other entities differently than individuals regarding election spending, while explicitly protecting the freedom of the press.

The Unity through Service Act of 2025 establishes an Interagency Council on Service to unify and expand opportunities across military, national, and public service sectors. The bill promotes joint research and coordinated recruitment strategies between these service branches to strengthen civic duty nationwide. It also enhances transition assistance for service members entering civilian life and requires several reports to Congress on integration efforts and recruitment lessons learned.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

This resolution expresses strong support for the nation's public K-12 schools and condemns any efforts to defund or dismantle the Department of Education. It affirms the crucial federal role in ensuring equitable funding and support for students, especially those with disabilities and from low-income families. The resolution warns that weakening the Department would severely disrupt vital programs serving millions of students nationwide.

The "District of Columbia Local Funds Act, 2025" appropriates local funds from the District's General Fund for the current fiscal year, in accordance with the Fiscal Year 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024. The total appropriation for the District's operating expenses in fiscal year 2025 cannot exceed the estimates in the Fiscal Year 2025 Local Budget Act of 2024 or the total revenues of the District for that year, with specific exceptions. The appropriated amount can be increased by proceeds from one-time transactions used for emergency or unanticipated needs, provided these increases are approved by local District law and comply with reserve requirements in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. The Chief Financial Officer must ensure the District meets these requirements but cannot reprogram funds from bonds, notes, or other obligations issued for capital projects for operating expenses.

The FIGHT China Act of 2025 establishes new government powers to safeguard U.S. national security against risks posed by the People's Republic of China. The bill imposes sanctions on specific foreign persons and prohibits U.S. investment in certain high-technology sectors involving entities from the "country of concern." Furthermore, it mandates reporting requirements and strengthens restrictions on U.S. persons holding securities in Chinese military-industrial complex companies.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act mandates that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) adopt specific industry standards as mandatory safety rules for lithium-ion batteries in personal electric transportation within 180 days of enactment. These rules will automatically update when the underlying industry standards are revised, unless the CPSC determines the update does not improve safety. The CPSC must also report to Congress five years after enactment regarding battery-related incidents involving these consumer products.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act aims to combat bullying and harassment in schools by requiring states that accept federal funding to establish clear anti-bullying policies, define prohibited conduct based on protected characteristics, and implement systems for reporting and tracking incidents. This legislation mandates that local districts inform all stakeholders about prohibited conduct and establish formal complaint processes. Furthermore, the bill requires regular state and federal evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these measures in reducing harmful behavior while respecting existing non-discrimination laws and free speech rights.

The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill designed to aggressively tackle the national housing crisis through multiple avenues. It seeks to make housing more affordable by injecting massive funding into federal programs and incentivizing local regulatory reform to boost construction. Furthermore, the Act aims to reverse historical inequities by establishing new assistance for first-generation homebuyers and overhauling community reinvestment rules for banks. Finally, it strengthens anti-discrimination protections and enacts significant reforms to the federal estate and gift tax structure.

The Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 aims to accelerate the development of new cancer treatments for children by expanding the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the incentive program that grants priority review vouchers to encourage the development of drugs for rare pediatric diseases. The bill mandates studies on the effectiveness of these new requirements and the existing voucher system.

The Tariff Transparency Act of 2025 directs the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to investigate and report on the economic effects of proposed or announced tariffs on trade with Mexico and Canada. This comprehensive report must detail the impact of potential duties on consumer prices, the fallout from retaliatory measures, and the costs associated with ongoing trade uncertainty. The USITC is required to submit its findings to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment.

The Stop Comstock Act aims to modernize and streamline federal laws concerning obscene materials. This legislation removes outdated and overly broad language, such as "indecent" and "immoral," from various sections of the U.S. Code and the Tariff Act. The bill focuses on technical clean-up to clarify existing statutes regarding the distribution and importation of materials.

The Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act aims to significantly restrict the detention of pregnant and postpartum noncitizens in immigration custody. It mandates immediate testing for pregnancy upon intake and establishes a strong presumption against detention unless extraordinary, case-by-case public safety risks are proven. Furthermore, the bill strictly limits the use of physical restraints on pregnant detainees and requires comprehensive medical care, including reproductive health services, alongside detailed public reporting on detention statistics and restraint incidents.

The Protect Veteran Jobs Act aims to provide reinstatement eligibility for federal employees who are veterans and were unfairly removed from their civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and the date the Act is signed into law. This legislation also mandates that Executive agencies regularly report to Congress on the number and reasons for any veteran dismissals during the specified period.

The Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act of 2025 establishes new, aggressive federal standards for wildfire response times on public lands, aiming for initial evaluation within 30 minutes and full suppression deployment within three hours. The bill mandates that relevant federal agencies develop and report on plans to meet these goals, including necessary increases in firefighting fleets and streamlined contracting processes. This legislation seeks to significantly improve the speed and coordination of federal wildfire suppression efforts nationwide.