Legislative Activity

The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act aims to support designated primary caregivers for veterans by extending their medical coverage for 180 days after leaving their role. The bill mandates the VA to provide job assistance, including funding for certifications and transition support, for 180 days post-caregiving. Furthermore, it requires studies on establishing "returnship" programs and exploring the feasibility of creating a dedicated retirement savings plan for these essential caregivers.

This bill permanently codifies the existing pilot program allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use contract physicians for disability examinations. It allows the VA to hire non-federal doctors to conduct these crucial medical exams for benefit applicants. The legislation also establishes requirements for these contract doctors and mandates a report to Congress on the program's impact on exam speed and cost.

The Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act of 2025 significantly restructures the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquisition process by establishing a new Office of Acquisition and Innovation led by a dedicated Assistant Secretary. This law mandates stricter management, independent verification, and rigorous cost assessment for all major VA programs to ensure fiscal responsibility and successful project delivery. Furthermore, it grants the VA new authorities to procure innovative health care technologies through specialized contracting methods.

This bill aims to improve veterans' healthcare by updating community care program eligibility and notification processes, enhancing mental health treatment program standards and access, and modernizing the VA's healthcare system through online tools and streamlined processes. It focuses on ensuring timely access to care, accommodating veterans' preferences, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of VA services. The bill also mandates increased transparency and accountability through regular reports to Congress.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 directs the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) to create a joint agreement to coordinate environmental reviews for housing projects they jointly fund. This aims to eliminate redundant processes by establishing a lead agency and allowing for the mutual acceptance of environmental documentation. The bill also mandates the creation of an advisory group composed of various housing stakeholders to ensure efficient implementation without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025 mandates that airline passenger security fees be exclusively used to enhance aviation safety and security, ending any diversion of these funds by 2027. The bill increases dedicated funding for the Aviation Security Capital Fund, ensuring a minimum of \$500 million annually starting in Fiscal Year 2026. Additionally, it establishes the new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund to finance the purchase and maintenance of advanced screening equipment at airports. This legislation aims to guarantee consistent and robust financial support for critical TSA security operations and technology upgrades.

This bill, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, provides comprehensive funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, along with key science agencies like NASA and the NSF, for Fiscal Year 2026. It allocates billions for law enforcement, trade enforcement, scientific research, and infrastructure while imposing strict rules on fund transfers and administrative flexibility across these agencies. The legislation also includes specific provisions governing agency operations, oversight, and limitations on certain activities, such as foreign collaboration and the use of funds for specific types of inmate recreation.

The Expanding Defense Community Partnerships Act enhances the Department of Defense's ability to collaborate with state, local, and tribal governments through Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs). This legislation allows the DOD to involve other federal agencies in these partnerships and expands the funding sources available for support services. Furthermore, it extends the authorization for these agreements and establishes a pilot program allowing for longer-term, 20-year partnerships with the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act restructures Haskell Indian Nations University into a federally chartered corporation, granting it independence from the Bureau of Indian Education. This change establishes an independent Board of Trustees to govern the university, which will continue to provide tuition-free higher education to Native American students. The Act also creates an endowment program, sets specific hiring preferences for Tribal members, and outlines new reporting and facility planning requirements.

This resolution formally recognizes the 250th birthday of the United States Army, celebrating its long history of defending the nation since 1775. It honors the valor, dedication, and core values of the soldiers who have served across two and a half centuries. The Senate encourages all Americans to observe this significant anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and programs.

The FORECAST Act ensures that essential positions within the National Weather Service (NWS), critical for public safety and weather warnings, are exempt from federal hiring freezes. This law mandates the Secretary of Commerce to protect these key roles, including meteorologists and hydrologists, from being affected by such freezes. Furthermore, it voids any cancellations of job offers for these essential positions made since early 2025.

This resolution supports designating May 2, 2025, as "National Space Day" to recognize the significant positive impact of the U.S. aerospace community. It highlights past and current achievements in space exploration and the resulting technological benefits for the nation. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of inspiring the next generation in STEM fields.

The Criminal History Access Act of 2025 amends federal law to explicitly grant access to criminal history records for state Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Agencies. This ensures that agencies responsible for certifying and training law enforcement officers have the necessary information. The Attorney General is required to update federal regulations within 180 days to reflect these changes.

This bill mandates that all aircraft operating within the nation's Class B airspace must be equipped with and actively use both ADS-B In and ADS-B Out tracking technology. It explicitly prohibits the FAA and the Secretary of Transportation from granting any exemptions to this requirement for any aircraft, including military planes. Furthermore, this legislation repeals a previous defense authorization that allowed certain Department of Defense aircraft to bypass ADS-B installation.

This resolution officially honors and commends the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) for its 80th anniversary and its long history of advocacy. It recognizes the BVA's crucial role in securing better healthcare, rehabilitation, and benefits for blind and low-vision veterans. The measure also urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure safe access for service dogs and to appoint specialized staff at all medical centers. Ultimately, this resolution celebrates the BVA's dedication to helping blinded veterans live full and independent lives.

The Preserving Rural Housing Investments Act clarifies tax rules regarding stock ownership in government-sponsored enterprises like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Specifically, it ensures that when determining if an organization qualifies as a tax-exempt entity, the U.S. government's ownership stake in these GSEs is disregarded. This change applies to tax years ending after July 30, 2008.

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025 amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to clarify the definition of "employer." This bill explicitly includes Indian Tribes and their tribally owned enterprises operating on tribal lands under the scope of the NLRA for labor relations purposes. It also establishes clear definitions for "Indian Tribe," "Indian," and "Indian Lands" within this context.

This Act establishes a federal grant program, managed by the Secretary of Transportation, to provide up to $50 million annually for transportation projects supporting U.S. host cities for major international events like the Olympics or FIFA World Cup. The funding aims to assist eligible local entities with transportation planning and infrastructure needs within 100 miles of the event site, starting five years before and ending shortly after the event concludes. Additionally, the bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce to conduct studies analyzing the travel and tourism industry impacts of the 2028 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains operational during a lapse in appropriations by automatically accessing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This mechanism allows essential FAA operations, research, and grants to continue at the previous year's funding level until a new budget is enacted. The bill prevents disruptions to aviation services by providing a stable, temporary funding source during government shutdowns.

This bill establishes the Southwestern Power Administration Fund (SWPA Fund) as a dedicated, non-expiring Treasury account for the Southwestern Power Administration. The Fund will consolidate all SWPA receipts and appropriated funds to cover the costs of power operations, maintenance, and construction. This structure grants the Administrator greater flexibility to commit funds for authorized expenses ahead of annual appropriations.