Legislative Activity

This joint resolution officially terminates the national emergency concerning energy that was declared on January 20, 2025. By enacting this measure, all special authorities and regulations implemented under the National Emergencies Act due to the energy crisis are immediately canceled.

This resolution expresses deep concern over the rising trend of book banning and threats to freedom of expression across the United States. It strongly opposes censorship in schools and libraries, citing constitutional rights and the harm done to democratic discourse. The measure urges local entities to protect students' access to diverse viewpoints and calls for the reversal of restrictive orders impacting educational materials.

The FAST Justice Act grants federal employees the right to sue in federal district court if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) fails to issue a decision on their appeal within 120 days. This allows individuals to challenge the underlying personnel action when the MSPB causes undue delay. The bill outlines specific rules for where these lawsuits can be filed and how the court must review the case. Filing such a lawsuit requires the MSPB to immediately pause its work on the original appeal.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 ensures federal agencies compensate contractors for employee costs incurred due to government funding lapses or shutdowns. This act mandates contract price adjustments to cover reasonable expenses for furloughed or impacted contractor employees, up to a specified weekly limit. The law also provides necessary appropriations to cover these adjustments and requires public reporting on the compensation provided.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2025 provides financial relief to federal employees affected by government shutdowns. This bill waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty on Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions up to \$30,000 taken due to a shutdown. Furthermore, it establishes rules allowing furloughed or non-paid employees to take TSP loans and prevents missed loan payments during a shutdown from being treated as a taxable distribution.

The Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 allows individuals affected by a federal government shutdown to make penalty-free withdrawals of up to $30,000 from their retirement plans. These "Federal Government shutdown distributions" allow affected contractors, grantees, and D.C. employees to access funds during a lapse in appropriations lasting at least two weeks. Withdrawals are spread out over three tax years for income tax purposes, and individuals have three years to repay the withdrawn amount.

The Child Care for Every Community Act establishes a universal, high-quality, and affordable early learning system, guaranteeing access to eligible children nationwide. It mandates rigorous federal standards for programs, facilities, and staff compensation, linking pay to public school benchmarks. The bill requires local governance through "prime sponsors" who must plan for equitable access and coordinate closely with K-12 education systems. Finally, it ensures state funding continuity through a maintenance of effort requirement to secure federal support.

This Senate resolution strongly reaffirms the unwavering commitment to the First Amendment, emphasizing that freedom of speech and the press are essential foundations of American democracy. It explicitly warns against government officials using regulatory power to coerce or censor protected speech, citing key Supreme Court precedents. Furthermore, the resolution directs federal agencies, including the FCC, to uphold these constitutional rights and condemns any threats or violence against those exercising free expression.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a specific rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services concerning the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Market Integrity and Affordability." If enacted, this measure would prevent the CMS rule from having any legal force or effect.

This resolution officially recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, running from September 15 to October 15, 2025. It celebrates the immense and vital contributions of Latinos to the United States across culture, the economy, and civic life. The bill encourages all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities honoring this heritage.

This resolution formally recognizes October 2025 as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the rich history and culture of Filipino Americans. It highlights their significant and long-standing contributions across all sectors of American life, including military service, healthcare, and public office. The measure encourages all Americans to observe the month with appropriate programs to promote the study of this vital community's heritage.

The Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act aims to increase consumer protection by regulating the sale of used vehicles with known safety defects. This bill prevents dealers from selling or leasing unrepaired used cars subject to a manufacturer safety recall. Furthermore, it establishes a reimbursement system requiring manufacturers to compensate dealers for holding vehicles when recall repairs are significantly delayed.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It recognizes the critical economic, ecological, and protective value of estuaries to the nation. The bill applauds ongoing efforts by federal, state, and local partners to study, protect, and restore these vital coastal environments.

The Management of Individuals’ Neural Data Act of 2025 (MIND Act) addresses growing concerns over the collection and use of sensitive brain data derived from neurotechnology. This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study and report on necessary federal governance, privacy protections, and regulatory frameworks for neural data. Ultimately, the Act aims to establish clear rules to prevent exploitation, manipulation, and discrimination while encouraging responsible innovation in brain-computer interfaces.

The Reconciliation in Place Names Act establishes a formal, public process for reviewing and replacing offensive place names across the United States. It creates an Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names, composed of diverse experts and tribal representatives, to gather and propose new names for geographic features and federal land units. The Board on Geographic Names must then review these proposals, approving them unless a compelling reason exists not to, thereby promoting names that reflect fairness and respect for all Americans.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2025 requires colleges receiving federal aid to update their campus safety reports with comprehensive anti-harassment policies that specifically address technology-facilitated harassment. This legislation also establishes a competitive grant program to fund campus initiatives focused on harassment prevention, counseling, and training. Crucially, the Act supplements existing civil rights laws without overriding any current student protections or legal remedies.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The Patients Over Profit Act (POP Act) prohibits entities from simultaneously owning or controlling both a health insurance issuer and certain healthcare providers under Medicare. This aims to prevent conflicts of interest arising from vertical integration in healthcare delivery and payment. Violators will be required to divest one of the assets and may face legal action, including the forfeiture of illegally earned revenue. The law specifically restricts Medicare Advantage and Part D organizations from contracting with entities that violate this new common ownership ban.

The Billionaires Income Tax Act fundamentally changes how the wealthiest Americans are taxed by requiring them to pay taxes annually on the unrealized gains of their investment assets, eliminating indefinite tax deferral. It also removes several existing tax deferral mechanisms and imposes stricter tax consequences on these "applicable taxpayers" regarding investment income, expatriation, and deferred compensation. In essence, the bill aims to ensure that the ultra-wealthy pay taxes yearly on their growing wealth rather than waiting until assets are sold.

This resolution officially designates September 25, 2025, as "National Lobster Day." It recognizes the lobster's significant historical, economic, and cultural importance to the United States, highlighting the industry's long-standing commitment to sustainability. The measure encourages Americans to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities celebrating this iconic seafood.