Legislative Activity

The Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act aims to combat illegal drug manufacturing by tightening regulations on equipment used to make counterfeit pills. This bill expands the definition of regulated persons to include those dealing in specific pill-making machinery and their critical parts. It mandates permanent serial numbers on these machines and parts, requiring transaction reporting to the Attorney General. Furthermore, the Act prohibits the removal or alteration of these required identification numbers.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

The Federal Government Spectrum Inventory Act mandates the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to produce an annual public report detailing the Federal Government's use of radio frequencies between 225 MHz and 50 GHz. This report must include official allocation tables, usage details, and planned future applications for these critical spectrum bands. The goal is to increase transparency regarding how federal agencies utilize these shared national resources.

This resolution formally condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honors his life and legacy as a devoted husband, father, and founder of Turning Point USA. It recognizes his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses across the nation. The Senate also extends its deepest sympathies to his surviving family.

This resolution formally honors the life and dedicated service of Undersheriff Brandon Gaede, who tragically died in the line of duty. It expresses the deepest condolences of the Senate to his family and recognizes his ultimate sacrifice for public safety. The measure also calls for support for his surviving family from all levels of government.

The NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act aims to significantly upgrade the reliability and reach of the NOAA Weather Radio network through infrastructure modernization, expanded coverage in underserved areas, and improved alert specificity. It also establishes national standards for flash flood warning systems in high-risk zones, ensuring alerts function even without reliable internet or cell service. Furthermore, the bill protects critical NOAA warning-related positions from hiring freezes and mandates a 10-year staffing plan for the National Weather Service.

The MARA Act of 2025 aims to establish and grow a regulated domestic offshore aquaculture industry by creating a dedicated Office of Aquaculture for centralized oversight. The bill sets up a framework for assessing commercial-scale demonstration projects under strict environmental and safety standards. Finally, it provides significant federal support through workforce development, financing mechanisms, and mandated scientific studies to guide future regulation.

The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025 updates the Conservation Reserve Program to enhance flexibility for farmers, particularly regarding land management. Key changes include allowing continuous enrollment for certain wildlife enhancement lands and establishing specific, limited conditions under which emergency haying may occur during the final weeks of nesting season. Furthermore, the bill introduces cost-sharing for necessary grazing infrastructure and significantly raises the maximum annual CRP rental payment cap to \$125,000.

This resolution formally honors the life and dedicated service of fallen Kansas Deputy Elijah Ming. It expresses the deepest condolences of the Senate to his family and loved ones. The measure further calls upon all levels of government to support the family following his tragic sacrifice in the line of duty.

This bill establishes the Servicewomen and Veterans Menopause Research Act to direct the VA and DoD to create a comprehensive research program on menopause and mid-life health for servicewomen and veterans. The legislation mandates an evaluation of current research, identifies knowledge gaps—especially concerning military service exposures—and requires the submission of strategic plans to Congress. Ultimately, this Act aims to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare delivery for menopause-related conditions affecting women who serve or have served.

The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 expands eligibility for the Public Safety Officers Death Benefits program to include certain retired law enforcement officers. This legislation provides benefits to retired officers, or their families, if their injury or death resulted from a targeted attack directly related to their prior service. These changes are effective immediately and apply retroactively to qualifying incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2012.

The Hire Student Veterans Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to incentivize employers for hiring veterans actively using federal educational assistance benefits. This legislation modifies eligibility requirements, allowing employers to claim the tax credit for hiring veterans utilizing benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Furthermore, it removes the standard minimum employment period requirement for these specific veteran hires, potentially allowing employers to claim the credit sooner.

The ABLE Employment Flexibility Act modifies retirement plan rules to allow eligible individuals with disabilities to direct some of their employer's retirement contributions into their ABLE account. This change aims to protect working ABLE individuals from losing essential benefits while enabling them to save more money. The bill also clarifies how these redirected contributions are treated for tax and anti-discrimination purposes. Ultimately, it provides greater financial flexibility for employees with disabilities saving through ABLE accounts.

The Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act establishes the new **Veteran Small Business Start-up Credit** to incentivize entrepreneurship among veterans and their spouses. This credit allows eligible veteran-owned small businesses operating in underserved communities to claim a tax credit of up to $7,500 annually based on qualified start-up expenditures. The provision aims to support veteran business creation by offering a direct financial benefit during the initial years of operation.

The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025 updates federal assistance for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. This legislation introduces new competitive grants specifically for developing and demonstrating pilot-scale biorefineries. It also modifies the criteria for existing loan guarantees, allowing for greater flexibility in reviewing projects with proven technologies. Overall, the bill aims to accelerate the commercial viability of domestic biobased manufacturing through targeted financial support.

The CLEAR Waters Act narrows the definition of "navigable waters" under federal law. This legislation explicitly excludes features like wastewater treatment systems, ephemeral streams, and groundwater from federal water protection regulations. The goal is to clarify which bodies of water fall under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

The Farmers First Act of 2025 aims to enhance mental health support for agricultural producers. This legislation increases funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and mandates the inclusion of dedicated crisis lines within its services. Furthermore, it formalizes partnerships between network recipients and various certified healthcare providers to improve access to mental health and substance use treatment.

The Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding for both Type 1 Diabetes research programs and diabetes programs serving Native Americans. This legislation secures specific annual appropriations of \$160 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, along with a transition allocation in late 2027. The bill ensures continued financial support for these vital public health initiatives through the end of 2027.

This resolution formally condemns the recent surge in antisemitic attacks across the United States, citing specific tragedies in Washington, D.C., and Boulder, Colorado. It acknowledges the widespread celebration of this violence online and highlights alarming statistics showing the dramatic increase in religiously motivated hate crimes against Jewish Americans. Ultimately, the Senate reaffirms its commitment to fighting antisemitism as a threat to American democracy.

The Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act of 2025 aims to support intelligence community personnel by simplifying the tax treatment of required relocations. This bill allows intelligence community employees and appointees to utilize specific moving expense deductions when changing duty stations. Furthermore, it ensures that reimbursements for qualified moving expenses related to these official relocations are excluded from taxable income.