Legislative Activity

The Government Spectrum Valuation Act requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to estimate the value of the electromagnetic spectrum assigned to each Federal entity. These estimates, conducted with the FCC and OMB, must be based on the spectrum's potential value if reallocated for commercial wireless services, considering both commercial needs and the operational requirements of Federal entities. The NTIA will publicly disclose how each value estimate was determined, and Federal entities must report the spectrum's estimated value in their budget and annual financial statements.

The Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act overhauls federal student loan programs by terminating most existing loan options and introducing Federal Direct simplification loans with set interest rates and loan limits. It also phases out loan forgiveness programs for new loans made after July 1, 2025, with limited exceptions. The bill introduces alternative state accreditation systems for postsecondary institutions and programs to qualify for Title IV funding and mandates increased transparency by requiring colleges to publish detailed information on student outcomes and loan data. Finally, it introduces financial accountability measures for schools based on student loan default rates.

The Saving Privacy Act is a comprehensive bill focused on strengthening individual financial privacy and limiting government data collection. It tightens federal access to bank records, mandates the termination of the centralized Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) system, and explicitly prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Furthermore, the Act increases penalties for illegal information sharing, adjusts IRS reporting thresholds for online payment processors, and requires Congressional approval for major new federal regulations.

This bill mandates the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to conduct a comprehensive audit of all radio frequencies currently assigned to every Federal entity. The resulting report must detail the specific usage, geographic allocation, and sharing status of these spectrum bands, including any unused frequencies. This audit aims to provide Congress with a clear, detailed accounting of the government's current spectrum holdings.

The Guarding Readiness Resources Act ensures that funds reimbursed to the National Guard Bureau by states or territories are directly returned to the specific budget account that covered the initial expense. These returned funds are strictly limited to being used for the repair, maintenance, or replacement of the military assets involved. This guarantees that reimbursement money directly supports the readiness of the equipment used by the National Guard.

The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that host or provide pornographic content to use technology to verify users' ages, preventing minors from accessing harmful material. Platforms must implement age verification measures within one year of the Act's enactment, prioritizing data security and user privacy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will oversee compliance, conduct regular audits, and provide guidance to platforms, while the Comptroller General will report to Congress on the Act's effectiveness and impact. This act aims to protect children from the harmful effects of online pornography by ensuring only adults can access such content.

The "DEFUND Act of 2025" terminates U.S. membership in the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, repealing key acts such as the United Nations Participation Act of 1945. It prohibits U.S. contributions to the UN, participation in peacekeeping operations, and revokes diplomatic immunity for UN personnel. The bill also withdraws the U.S. from the World Health Organization and any UN conventions, while barring future reentry into the UN without Senate approval.

The Modernizing Retrospective Regulatory Review Act aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal regulations by leveraging technology in retrospective reviews. It mandates a report on the availability of regulations in machine-readable format and requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance on using technology for these reviews. Furthermore, each agency must submit a retrospective review plan detailing their strategy for implementing the technology guidance. Ultimately, this act seeks to streamline regulatory processes, reduce burdens, and ensure regulations are up-to-date and effective.

The "Healthy SNAP Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, redefining "food" under SNAP to exclude items like alcohol, tobacco, and sugary products, while directing the Secretary to designate specific healthy foods that qualify. It requires the Secretary to consider nutritional value, fat, sugar, and salt levels when designating foods and to review these designations regularly. The bill also ensures prepared meals meet nutritional standards and allows for culturally appropriate food substitutions.

The "Reorganizing Government Act of 2025" aims to streamline the executive branch by allowing for the elimination of unnecessary government operations and amending or eliminating outdated regulations. It broadens the definition of "executive department" and removes restrictions on abolishing enforcement functions through reorganization plans. The act also sets goals to reduce the number of federal employees and ensure no net increase in federal workers or expenditures as a result of reorganization, extending executive reorganization authority until December 31, 2026.

This resolution authorizes the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to spend money from the Senate's contingent fund, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government entities to support its functions, including holding hearings and conducting investigations, from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It sets specific expense limits for the committee during three defined periods, covering costs such as salaries, consultants, staff training, and agency contributions related to employee compensation. Vouchers approved by the chairman will cover the committee's expenses, with some exceptions for routine costs like salaries and telecommunications. Payments for agency contributions related to committee employee compensation will be authorized from the Senate's Inquiries and Investigations expense account.

This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, eliminating the requirements for the President to report to Congress on decisions to withhold or delay budget authority and for Congress to approve such actions.

The "Defund Government-Sponsored Propaganda Act" eliminates all federal funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). Funds slated for these organizations will instead be used to reduce the national debt for fiscal years 2025-2027.

The Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025 amends the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 to include Utah in the program. This inclusion aims to enhance wildfire research and prevention efforts within the state.

The BOWSER Act repeals the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which currently grants a limited form of self-government to the District of Columbia. This repeal would take effect one year after the BOWSER Act is enacted. Effectively, this would end the current system of local governance in DC.

The "Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act" mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security initiate removal proceedings for any alien whose visa has been revoked due to security concerns or related issues as outlined in section 237(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This act clarifies visa revocation procedures and emphasizes the Secretary's authority in such matters. There is no judicial review allowed.

The "No CBDC Act" prohibits the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) by the Federal Reserve directly to individuals. It stops the Federal Reserve from offering related services or holding digital currencies issued by the U.S. government on its balance sheets. This bill aims to maintain the current financial system structure by preventing the direct issuance of digital currency to individuals by the Federal Reserve.

The PLCAA Federal Jurisdiction Act allows firearm manufacturers, sellers, or trade associations to move civil lawsuits from state to federal court if they believe the case qualifies as a "qualified civil liability action." The federal court then determines if the case meets this definition and has the power to dismiss it.

The Ensuring Naval Readiness Act allows the U.S. Navy to construct vessels in foreign shipyards under specific conditions to potentially reduce costs and enhance readiness. Construction in foreign shipyards is permitted only if they are located in a NATO member country or a country in the Indo-Pacific Region with a mutual defense treaty with the U.S., and if the construction cost is less than in a U.S. shipyard. The Act requires certification that the foreign shipyard is not owned or operated by a Chinese company or a multinational company based in China.

This joint resolution nullifies the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's rule regarding anti-money laundering regulations for residential real estate transfers. By disapproving the rule, the resolution prevents it from taking effect.