Legislative Activity

This resolution designates May 4-10, 2025, as Public Service Recognition Week, honoring public servants at the federal, state, and local levels, including uniformed service members, for their dedication and contributions to the United States. It recognizes the wide range of crucial services they provide and expresses gratitude for their commitment to the nation's welfare, security, and ideals. The resolution also encourages promoting public service careers and remembering those who died in service.

This resolution congratulates the University of Oklahoma women's gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, marking their seventh national title in program history. It recognizes the team's outstanding performance, including their record-breaking scores and the achievements of individual athletes. The resolution celebrates the team's dedication and success in representing the University of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma.

This resolution commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, recognizing the victims, survivors, and the courageous response of first responders and volunteers. It honors the resilience of the Oklahoma community and affirms the importance of the Oklahoma City National Memorial as a symbol of unity and compassion in the face of tragedy. The resolution also encourages all Americans to emulate the bravery and selflessness displayed in the wake of the attack.

The "Safeguarding Charity Act" clarifies that federal tax exemptions for certain organizations, such as charities, are not considered federal financial assistance unless explicitly stated in law or regulation. This ensures that these organizations are not unintentionally subjected to additional regulations or requirements associated with federal financial assistance. The Act aims to provide clarity and stability to the non-profit sector by defining the scope of federal financial assistance.

The POWER Act of 2025 amends the Stafford Act to allow electric utilities to use disaster relief funds for cost-effective hazard mitigation activities alongside power restoration. Receiving power restoration assistance will not disqualify utilities from receiving hazard mitigation assistance, as long as they meet the requirements. This change applies to funds allocated after the Act's enactment.

The Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act amends the Social Security Act to revise physician self-referral exemptions, particularly for physician-owned hospitals. It defines and exempts "covered rural hospitals" from certain restrictions, focusing on hospitals located in rural areas and meeting specific criteria. The act also lifts the prohibition on the expansion of existing physician-owned hospitals, effective from the date of enactment.

The "No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act of 2025" amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate tax-exempt status for bonds used to finance professional sports stadiums. This change applies to bonds issued after the law's enactment, ensuring that these projects are no longer subsidized by federal tax exemptions.

This resolution affirms religious freedom as a fundamental right and a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. It expresses concern over increasing global threats to religious freedom, condemning persecution, violence, and imprisonment based on faith. The resolution urges the Department of State to prioritize religious freedom in foreign policy, utilize sanctions against violators, and support human rights advocates.

The "Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act" establishes the Historic Greenwood District-Black Wall Street National Monument in Oklahoma as part of the National Park System to preserve and interpret the history of the Greenwood District and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for the monument and enter into cooperative agreements for its management. Additionally, it creates an advisory commission to assist the Secretary in developing and managing the National Monument. The commission will consist of descendants of individuals who lived or worked in Tulsa's Greenwood District in 1921, members with experience in historic preservation, and a member recommended by the Mayor of Tulsa.

The CAMPUS Act aims to counter adversarial partnerships with China in U.S. educational institutions by identifying and restricting funding to entities involved in military-civil fusion. It prohibits the use of Department of Defense and Education funds for institutions and schools with ties to entities supporting China's military or defense industry, and limits visas for individuals involved in these activities. The Act also encourages partnerships with Taiwan to promote Mandarin language and Chinese cultural programs, lowers the threshold for disclosing foreign gifts to colleges and universities, and restricts federal grants to entities contracting with companies on the Entity List.

The Security and Oversight for International Landholdings Act of 2025 aims to increase oversight of foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land and real estate near military installations. It expands the types of transactions subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), prohibits federal assistance to certain foreign-owned agricultural land, and broadens disclosure requirements for foreign agricultural land holdings. The Act also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to publish an annual report on foreign holdings of agricultural land in the U.S., with detailed analysis by country, state, county, and industry.

The Belt and Road Oversight Act directs the State Department to monitor and report on China's global activities, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, through designated Country China Officers in U.S. embassies. It requires comprehensive reviews and annual reports on Chinese-funded projects, debt implications, and potential risks to host countries' economies and sovereignty. The Act also mandates strategies to counter Chinese influence and identifies procurement needs to offer alternatives to Chinese financing. Finally, it encourages the United States International Development Finance Corporation to prioritize projects that counter China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The "Protecting Children Over Profits Act" amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to prevent electronic communication and remote computing service providers from receiving compensation for providing information or assistance related to child exploitation. This bill modifies sections 2706, 2518, and 3124 to ensure that providers are not reimbursed for expenses related to child exploitation records or assistance. The aim is to remove financial incentives for service providers in handling cases of child exploitation.

This resolution acknowledges the distinguished life and career of the Honorable David Lyle Boren, who served Oklahoma as a state legislator, Governor, U.S. Senator, and President of the University of Oklahoma. It expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and directs the Secretary of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives and send a copy of the resolution to his family. Upon adoption, the Senate will adjourn in honor of Senator Boren.

The "BEST Facilitation Act" establishes a pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to create image technician positions that will review images of cargo and conveyances entering and exiting the U.S. to identify potential contraband or illegal activity. These technicians, supervised by CBP officers, will undergo specialized training and annual assessments, and will be located in five regional command centers. The Act also mandates semiannual reports to Congress detailing the program's implementation, performance metrics, and impact on interdiction rates and CBP operations. The pilot program is set to sunset after five years, with provisions for transferring the image technician positions to other roles within CBP or DHS.

The "MERP Clarifications Act of 2025" amends the Clean Air Act to modify the Methane Emissions Reduction Program by exempting certain small oil and gas producers from methane emission reporting requirements and charges, delaying the methane charge until grants are distributed and reporting rules are finalized. It also requires a public comment period for related regulations and mandates the EPA to establish an expedited appeal process for facilities disputing the methane charge. The authority provided under this section sunsets on December 31, 2034.

The "No Deductions for Marijuana Businesses Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit businesses involved in marijuana or controlled substance trafficking from claiming tax deductions or credits for business expenses. This applies regardless of whether such activities are illegal under federal or state law, impacting taxable years following the Act's enactment.

The "Ensuring Accountability and Dignity in Government Contracting Act of 2025" aims to strengthen protections against trafficking in government contracting by requiring more robust compliance and reporting measures. It mandates prompt reporting of trafficking-related activities, Inspector General investigations, and potential payment suspensions until corrective actions are taken. Additionally, the Act directs the Office of Management and Budget to assess the feasibility of enhancing contractor anti-trafficking plan compliance and streamlining related agency reporting.

The "Direct Property Acquisitions Act" establishes a pilot program allowing certain local governments to directly apply to FEMA for assistance with property acquisition, demolition, or relocation projects related to hazard mitigation. FEMA will select a limited number of "covered communities" based on specific criteria and will report annually to Congress on the program's effectiveness. The pilot program is authorized for a maximum of eight years, after which Congress will determine whether to make the program permanent, extend it, or end it.

The "Expediting Hazard Mitigation Assistance Projects Act" aims to streamline disaster recovery by allowing FEMA to waive certain environmental and historic preservation requirements for property acquisition, demolition, or relocation projects. This applies to projects supported by specific sections of the Stafford Act and the National Flood Insurance Act. FEMA must consult with local officials and consider project specifics before granting waivers, and is required to submit annual reports to Congress on the use of these waivers.