Legislative Activity

This Act mandates that any final convention or agreement on pandemic preparedness resulting from the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Negotiating Body must be treated as a formal treaty. Consequently, the United States cannot adopt or implement such an agreement without receiving the "advice and consent" of the Senate. This ensures that the Senate has a final, two-thirds majority vote on any binding international health instrument negotiated by the WHO.

This resolution formally declares the nation's foundational belief in the inherent right to life for every human being, including the unborn. It recognizes the Supreme Court's decision to return authority over life protection laws to the people and their elected officials. Furthermore, the bill establishes an annual "Life Month" to commend organizations supporting life and urge lawmakers to enact protections for the unborn.

The VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025, or VALID Act, aims to increase awareness of VA loan options for consumers. It mandates that FHA disclosures include information about assuming VA-backed loans. Furthermore, the Act requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to add a mandatory military service question to the standard mortgage application form.

The HEALTH Panel Act establishes a new Panel of Health Advisors within the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) composed of 15 independent experts. This Panel will provide technical guidance and recommendations to improve the CBO's analysis, modeling, and cost estimates related to federal health care policy. The CBO Director must publicly report on how these expert recommendations are incorporated into official CBO projections.

The Protecting Veteran Community Care Act aims to expand veterans' access to timely community care, particularly for mental health and substance-use services when the VA cannot provide them quickly. This legislation prevents the VA from using its own scheduling delays as a reason to deny veterans access to outside care options. Furthermore, the bill mandates increased transparency by requiring the VA to report detailed metrics on all community care requests and limits the VA's ability to unilaterally change community care access standards without Congressional approval.

The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Bond Guarantee Program. This legislation adjusts the calculation and sets new annual limits for government guarantees on bonds issued for community and economic development. Furthermore, it extends the program's authorization period and mandates the Treasury Secretary to report twice on the program's effectiveness to Congress.

The Orbital Sustainability Act of 2025 (ORBITS Act) aims to reduce dangerous space debris by establishing a government-backed program to fund and demonstrate technologies for active debris removal. The bill also mandates the update of U.S. orbital debris mitigation standards and promotes the creation of uniform practices for space traffic coordination. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of access to space for government and commercial activities.

This bill seeks to permanently reauthorize the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by repealing its scheduled expiration date. By removing the sunset provision, Congress ensures these sanctions against Iran's weapons programs and support for terrorism remain in effect indefinitely. The legislation reaffirms the U.S. policy to fully enforce the existing sanctions.

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 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 Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 authorizes livestock producers and their employees to take action against black vultures that are harming or threatening livestock or related property. This provision allows for the capture, killing, or dispersal of the birds, provided that poisoning is strictly prohibited. Those who take action must report the activity to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once the required reporting form is made available.

The Timely and Accurate Benefits Act mandates that states implement an "Enhanced Income Identification and Verification Platform" within one year to continue receiving federal funding for covered benefit programs. This platform requires states to use comprehensive, real-time data matching to verify "enhanced gross income" from all sources, including bank transactions (with claimant permission). The goal is to ensure accurate eligibility and benefit levels for federal assistance programs.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes new federal crimes for the intentional sharing of nonconsensual intimate images, including realistic AI-generated deepfakes, with enhanced penalties for content involving minors. It mandates that online platforms create clear reporting systems and remove reported nonconsensual intimate content within 48 hours. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these notice and removal requirements against covered platforms.

The Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act amends the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program to prohibit coverage for gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 18. This restriction defines gender-affirming care broadly to include hormones and surgeries related to gender transition. The bill includes several specific medical exceptions to this prohibition, such as for disorders of sexual development or life-saving procedures. Any existing hormone therapy for minors must be phased out within one year of the Act's effective date.

The COUNTER Act grants the Department of Defense (DoD) expanded authority to neutralize threats from unmanned aircraft systems (drones) operating outside of the United States. This legislation delegates response authority, clarifies mitigation methods like remote identification, and exempts security details regarding these operations from public disclosure. Furthermore, it limits the application of certain criminal and security laws to authorized DoD and Coast Guard activities aimed at countering these aerial threats overseas.

The LOCOMOTIVES Act clarifies federal authority under the Clean Air Act regarding emissions standards for certain existing locomotives and engines used in construction or farm equipment. This legislation ensures that federal standards, rather than varying state standards, apply to these specific engines, particularly those under 175 horsepower and locomotives engaged in commerce. Essentially, it centralizes regulatory power over these emissions sources at the federal level.

This Act mandates that the U.S. government actively oppose restrictions imposed by major international financial institutions on financing for fossil fuel and civil nuclear energy projects. The Treasury Secretary must direct U.S. representatives to reverse current policies blocking these energy sources and promote financing for reliable, affordable power in developing nations. Furthermore, U.S. funding to the World Bank's lending arm may be significantly reduced until it certifies the removal of these financing bans and adopts policies promoting these energy projects.

The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections for healthcare entities and individuals who object to participating in specific medical procedures, such as abortion, based on moral or religious beliefs. It prohibits discrimination against providers who refuse such services and significantly bolsters enforcement mechanisms within the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, the Act explicitly grants individuals and affected parties the right to file private lawsuits seeking damages when these conscience protections are violated.

This resolution officially supports the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, observed from May 11 through May 17, 2025. It recognizes the essential, high-quality care provided by the nation's hospitals and the vital work performed by their dedicated staff. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week with appropriate programs to honor the crucial role hospitals play in community health.

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.