Legislative Activity

The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act aims to remove annual numerical caps on employment-based visas specifically for special immigrant juveniles. This change ensures that these vulnerable youths are no longer subject to the same yearly visa limitations as other categories. By updating relevant sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the bill prioritizes their access to available visas.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify how federal excise taxes collected on distilled spirits shipped from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are transferred back to those territories. It removes previous limitations on these tax transfers. Additionally, the bill establishes a new requirement mandating that Puerto Rico dedicate a portion of these transferred funds to its Conservation Trust Fund.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act streamlines the regulatory pathway for biosimilar biological products by simplifying application requirements and clarifying the criteria for automatic interchangeability. This legislation sets a specific transition date after enactment to determine when newly licensed biosimilars are deemed interchangeable with their reference products. Furthermore, it protects existing exclusivity periods and mandates the Secretary to update all relevant FDA guidance documents within 18 months.

The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates federal grant programs to strengthen the nursing pipeline. It expands eligibility for advanced nursing education grants to cover more specialized roles and updates funding for modernizing nursing school resources like simulation labs. The bill also increases the authorized funding levels for these critical nursing workforce programs through Fiscal Year 2030.

This resolution recognizes National Foster Care Month to highlight the challenges faced by children in the foster care system and encourages Congress to implement policies that improve their lives. It reaffirms the commitment to supporting prevention, reunification, adoption, and successful transitions for youth aging out of care. The resolution also specifically honors the resilience of foster youth and the dedication of foster parents, advocates, and child welfare workers.

The Public Service Worker Protection Act expands the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to explicitly cover federal, state, and local government employees. This ensures that public service workers are protected by federal workplace safety standards. The effective date varies depending on whether a state already has an approved OSHA plan.

This resolution formally congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the first American Pope. The Senate recognizes the Pope as a global symbol of peace and justice, acknowledging his commitment to human dignity and interfaith dialogue. The measure also expresses hope for strengthening relations between the United States and the Holy See.

The Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax credit to help offset the cost of essential access technology for blind individuals. This credit covers expenses for hardware or software that converts visual information into usable formats for the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent. The credit is capped at \$2,000 over any three-year period and is set to expire for tax years beginning after December 31, 2030.

This resolution serves as a formal tribute honoring the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. It recognizes his decades of public service, including his terms as Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator, where he championed infrastructure, agriculture, and conservative values. The Senate expresses deep sadness over his passing and directs that official copies of this tribute be sent to his family.

The SMART Prices Act aims to strengthen Medicare by significantly accelerating and expanding the number of drugs eligible for price negotiation. This bill lowers the time requirements for certain single-source drugs to qualify for negotiation and adjusts the maximum fair price ceilings for negotiated drugs starting in 2028. Overall, the legislation seeks to increase price competition and lower costs within the Medicare drug program.

The International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act of 2025 (IBEM Act) updates permitting requirements for international bridges and land ports of entry. It expands the scope of projects requiring permits to explicitly include land ports of entry alongside bridges. Crucially, the bill prohibits the Secretary from using environmental documents required under NEPA as the basis for issuing Presidential permits for new projects.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 aims to modernize and increase transparency in the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans. This bill mandates the adoption of electronic prior authorization systems and requires plans to publicly report detailed data on their approval, denial, and appeal rates. Furthermore, it establishes new standards to protect enrollees and grants the Secretary authority to enforce faster decision timelines for care requests.

The DOGE BROS Act significantly increases the financial penalties for various federal offenses related to the misuse and unauthorized disclosure of sensitive government data. This bill raises maximum fines for misusing personal records, hacking government computers, and improperly sharing information held by the SSA, HHS, the IRS, and the Census Bureau. The overall goal is to bolster safeguards and increase accountability for protecting government electronic data.

The Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act expands who can certify the medical necessity for Medicare coverage of diabetic shoes. This bill allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign the required documentation, in addition to physicians. This change aims to improve access to necessary footwear for individuals with diabetes.

The STOP Screwworms Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and operate facilities for rearing and releasing sterile New World screwworm flies to control infestations. This legislation dedicates $300 million to build these modular rearing facilities in at-risk areas and mandates annual public reporting on the threat level and control efforts. The goal is to actively combat the spread of screwworm flies threatening U.S. agriculture.

The Kids Online Safety Act establishes a comprehensive "duty of care" requiring online platforms to design features that mitigate specific harms to minors, such as those related to mental health and exploitation. It mandates that platforms provide minors with default, restrictive safety settings and robust parental controls over data sharing and recommendations. Furthermore, the legislation demands significant transparency regarding algorithmic ranking systems and grants the FTC enforcement authority.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Police Week." It serves to honor the valor and integrity of law enforcement officers across the nation. The resolution specifically remembers the officers killed in the line of duty during 2024 and encourages the public to observe this week to show appreciation for law enforcement personnel.

This resolution calls for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the severe crisis facing civilians in Gaza, highlighting widespread hunger and the collapse of essential services due to blocked aid. It urges the Administration to immediately use all diplomatic tools to secure the release of hostages, lift the blockade on aid, and work toward a lasting end to the fighting.

The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 establishes new federal standards for training programs for local school food service personnel. This bill mandates that required training must occur during paid work hours and be provided at no cost to the employee. It also ensures that staff are fairly compensated, including overtime, for any training conducted outside of regular hours, and prohibits retaliation against employees who cannot attend.

The Quantum Leadership in Emerging Applications and Policy Act of 2025 establishes the Commission on American Quantum Information Science and Technology Dominance. This independent body is tasked with reviewing the nation's standing in quantum science and technology to ensure U.S. national and economic security. The Commission will analyze global competition, investment strategies, workforce needs, and commercialization barriers before delivering comprehensive recommendations to Congress and the President.