Legislative Activity

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2025 officially designates approximately 1.56 million acres of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as protected wilderness. This action places the specified area under the strict protections of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This designation overrides conflicting regulations within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Earth Month" to elevate environmental stewardship beyond a single day. It recognizes the ongoing climate crisis and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities. The measure encourages nationwide participation in conservation efforts, centering Indigenous knowledge and frontline voices in climate action planning. Ultimately, it calls for sustained efforts to promote clean energy, protect natural resources, and ensure a healthy environment for future generations.

The New Start Act of 2025 establishes a five-year grant program, the "New Start Program," administered by the SBA, to fund entrepreneurial training and counseling for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. This initiative aims to reduce recidivism and increase economic stability by supporting justice-impacted individuals in starting or expanding small businesses. Grantees will receive funding to offer comprehensive business training, mentorship, and connections to capital, with the SBA required to report annually on the program's impact.

The FORECAST Act of 2025 aims to significantly enhance the nation's ability to produce accurate, longer-range weather predictions, specifically focusing on subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecasting weeks or months in advance. This bill mandates improvements in research, advanced multi-model forecasting systems, and the integration of emerging technologies like AI. Furthermore, it establishes a new workforce program to recruit and train experts in next-generation weather modeling and data assimilation to support these critical forecasting efforts.

The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025 establishes an Advisory Council within the Department of Health and Human Services to support victims of gun violence. This council will define key terms, assess the needs of victims and service providers, and identify best practices for support. Its primary goal is to share comprehensive information on available medical, financial, and mental health resources with the public and relevant government bodies. The council will operate for five years and is required to issue detailed reports on resource gaps and recommendations for improvement.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense of Congress that paraprofessionals and essential education support staff deserve fair compensation, comprehensive benefits, and improved working conditions. It highlights the critical role these millions of workers play in schools while addressing current issues like low wages, benefit gaps, and job instability. The resolution calls for stable employment, living wages, affordable healthcare, and greater inclusion in school decision-making. Ultimately, it affirms that respecting support staff is vital for student success.

This Senate resolution formally expresses the view that Donald Trump is constitutionally ineligible to be elected or serve as President or Vice-President in any future election. The resolution cites the Twelfth and Twenty-Second Amendments, noting that Trump has already been elected to the presidency twice. Therefore, the Senate declares its sense that he cannot hold those offices again.

The Safety Starts at the Top Act of 2025 updates the qualifications for large organizations holding certain FAA delegations (ODA holders). Specifically, entities with over \$15 billion in annual revenue must now ensure their board of directors includes labor representatives and aerospace safety experts. The FAA is required to promptly review and rescind delegations from any current ODA holder that fails to meet these new board composition standards within 90 days of enactment.

The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act (ABC Act) mandates a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to significantly simplify application processes, forms, and communications. This effort aims to reduce the burden on family caregivers by eliminating redundant information requests across agencies. The responsible officials must report their simplification plans and progress to Congress within two years of enactment.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to significantly expand and reform the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address soaring energy costs and climate-related weather emergencies. The bill mandates increased, uncapped funding for the program and establishes new protections against utility shutoffs and late fees for recipients. Furthermore, it streamlines eligibility requirements, prioritizes energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for low-income homes, and requires energy suppliers to partner with states on affordability initiatives.

This act designates the Deerfield River system in Massachusetts and Vermont for a formal study under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Secretary of the Interior must complete this comprehensive study, which includes major tributaries, within three years of funding. Upon completion, a report detailing the findings will be submitted to Congress.

This act officially renames the Salem Maritime National Historic Site to the Salem Maritime National Historical Park. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on expanding the park's boundaries to potentially include sites related to maritime, coastal defense, and military history. The Secretary must report their findings and recommendations to Congress within three years of the study commencing.

The Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act of 2025 establishes a new EPA program to enhance security and information sharing for water systems. This initiative focuses on supporting community water systems and treatment works in joining and utilizing the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WISA Center). The goal is to improve the sector's ability to detect, defend against, and recover from cyber threats and natural hazards. The Act authorizes $20 million in funding across fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support these efforts.

The Tar Sands Tax Loophole Elimination Act amends the tax code to explicitly classify tar sands products as "crude oil" for excise tax purposes. This ensures that various oil sands derivatives are subject to existing petroleum excise taxes. The bill also grants the Secretary authority to include other fuel products under these tax rules if they pose a significant environmental hazard when spilled.

The Stop Giving Big Oil Free Money Act aims to eliminate unwarranted financial benefits for certain oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. It prevents companies holding specific older leases that lack price caps from obtaining new leases unless they renegotiate those existing leases to include mandatory royalty payments above certain price thresholds. Furthermore, the bill adjusts the terms for royalty suspension on some existing leases, setting new price triggers that will take effect in late 2026.

The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025 establishes new grant opportunities specifically for sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response efforts. This legislation creates a dedicated, interest-bearing fund within the U.S. Treasury to support these critical activities. The Act authorizes up to $5 million annually through 2030 to fund eligible organizations focused on stranded sea turtle care.

The No Cuts to Public Schools Act ensures that critical federal education programs, including IDEA and key ESEA titles, maintain their funding levels from Fiscal Year 2024 through 2027. If annual appropriations bills result in a reduction for any of these designated programs, the Treasury must automatically provide the necessary funds to cover the shortfall. This legislation guarantees stability for essential educational services without counting against standard budgetary scorekeeping rules.

The "Right to Contraception Act" establishes a statutory right for individuals to access and for health care providers to offer contraception, free from governmental restrictions or bans. It overrides any conflicting federal or state laws, ensuring access to contraception and related services, and allows legal recourse for violations of these rights. The Act aims to protect individual autonomy in making decisions about contraception and reproductive health.

This resolution supports the continuation of arms control agreements, particularly with Russia and China, to reduce nuclear threats and prevent nuclear war. It condemns nuclear threats, urges compliance with the New START Treaty, and encourages diplomatic talks for future arms control agreements. The resolution emphasizes the importance of U.S. leadership in reducing nuclear risks and promoting international stability through arms control.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. must include standard equipment capable of receiving AM broadcast signals within a few years of the law's enactment. This requirement aims to ensure drivers retain access to crucial emergency alerts, overriding conflicting state or local laws. The bill also directs the GAO to study the reliability of AM radio versus other emergency alert technologies in vehicles.