Legislative Activity

This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2025, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, acknowledging the ongoing crisis and need for increased awareness, resources, and updated research. It calls on the public to remember the lives lost and support the victims' families, while also urging the Department of Justice to conduct a new study to update statistics on this critical issue.

The "America the Beautiful Act" reauthorizes and expands the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through 2033, increasing its funding to $2 billion. It prioritizes projects with private donations, mandates annual project lists to Congress, and allows fund allocation even without full-year appropriations. The act also focuses on promoting donation opportunities, managing cash donations, disposing of unneeded assets, and improving preventative maintenance.

This resolution condemns North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens since the 1970s, demanding the release of all abductees, the return of remains and information on deceased abductees, reparations, and a formal apology. It urges North Korea to cease these activities and encourages the President to address this issue in future interactions with North Korean officials. The resolution affirms that these abductions violate fundamental principles of liberty and freedom.

The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2025 aims to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and forced labor in the seafood industry by establishing a blacklist of offending vessels, imposing sanctions on individuals involved, enhancing enforcement measures, and promoting international cooperation. The Act also directs the creation of strategies to improve data collection and prevent illegally harvested seafood from entering the U.S. market, while encouraging investment in sustainable fisheries management and technical assistance to combat IUU fishing and forced labor globally. Finally, the Act requires studies and reports on the impact of technology, collaboration between fishing industries, and the overall effectiveness of strategies to counter IUU fishing.

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates and reauthorizes key programs to reduce earthquake risks. The bill expands the focus of these programs to include tribal governments, improve building standards and retrofitting, and address multiple hazards linked to earthquakes. It also directs agencies to improve communication for early warning systems and enhance post-earthquake functional recovery. Finally, the bill authorizes specific appropriations for these programs through 2028.

The "Building Ships in America Act of 2025" introduces several tax incentives and modifications to support the U.S. maritime industry. It establishes a "United States Vessel Investment Credit" for investments in U.S.-built vessels, excludes certain maritime security payments from gross income, and eliminates restrictions on domestic operations for qualifying vessels. The act also provides tax credits for shipyard facility construction, modifies incentives for merchant marine capital construction funds, and exempts student incentive payments from gross income. Additionally, it extends fuel tax exemptions and treats maritime prosperity zones as opportunity zones to further stimulate investment in the sector.

**Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 Summary:** This bill aims to expand and improve the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program by updating state allocation formulas, reforming tenant eligibility requirements, and modifying credit eligibility rules. It also focuses on increasing affordable housing opportunities for Native Americans and in rural areas. Additionally, the bill updates terminology in the Internal Revenue Code to replace "low-income" with "affordable" when referring to housing tax credits, and promotes data sharing and discourages discriminatory land use policies to enhance transparency and effectiveness.

The Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act aligns leave provisions for members of the Public Health Service with those of the Armed Forces. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include a chapter on leave and repeals the section that previously addressed this issue.

The "Mining Regulatory Clarity Act" amends mining laws to allow operators to locate multiple mill sites on public land for mining-related activities, sets a 5-acre limit for each site, and specifies that these sites do not grant mineral rights. It establishes an "Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund" using claim maintenance fees from mill sites to support abandoned mine cleanup, and makes clerical updates to existing fee regulations. The bill clarifies the use of mill sites for waste disposal and mineral development, while preserving existing claimant rights and government regulatory authority.

The "America's First Fuels Act" introduces tax credits and increases existing credit limitations for biomass energy. It provides a tax credit of 30% for open-loop biomass heating property and increases the energy-efficient home improvement credit for biomass stoves and boilers. These changes aim to incentivize the use of biomass for heating and energy production. The provisions of this act will take effect after December 31, 2025.

The PEER Support Act aims to enhance mental health and substance use disorder recovery support by formally recognizing and supporting peer support specialists. It mandates the Office of Management and Budget to create a specific job category for peer support specialists and establishes an Office of Recovery within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to promote their training, integration, and professional development. Additionally, the Act requires a report on criminal background checks for peer support specialists, with recommendations to reduce barriers to certification.

The PRO Veterans Act of 2025 seeks to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operations through increased oversight and accountability. It mandates quarterly budget briefings to Congress, limits critical skill incentives for VA Senior Executive Service employees, and establishes a Veterans Experience Office to enhance customer service and gather data on veteran satisfaction. The act also requires annual reports and congressional reviews to ensure effective implementation and improvement of veteran services.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Louisiana Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr., recognizing his contributions to energy policy, natural resource conservation, and Louisiana's cultural heritage. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to notify the House of Representatives and send a copy of the resolution to Senator Johnston's family. Upon adoption, the Senate will adjourn in his honor.

The "Trade Review Act of 2025" mandates that the President must notify Congress within 48 hours of imposing or increasing import duties, explaining the justification and potential economic effects. Any such duty will expire after 60 days unless Congress approves it through a joint resolution. Congress can also disapprove and nullify a duty through a joint resolution. This act excludes antidumping and countervailing duties and establishes expedited procedures for congressional review.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners and originating sites, and making waivers for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native American health facilities permanent. It also enhances program integrity by clarifying fraud and abuse laws, authorizing additional funding for oversight, and addressing unusual billing patterns. Additionally, the act supports beneficiaries and providers by requiring the development of resources and training, reviewing quality measures, and mandating the publication of data on telehealth services. These changes aim to make telehealth a more accessible, high-quality, and permanent option for patients, particularly those in underserved areas.

The "SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act" amends the Social Security Act to increase the resource limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples in 2025. After 2025, these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. This update aims to allow SSI recipients to save without losing their benefits, encouraging financial stability.

The "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025" mandates a wide range of sanctions on Russia, its government, affiliated individuals and entities, and sectors of its economy in response to actions against Ukraine. It requires the President to make regular determinations regarding Russia's behavior and imposes escalating penalties, including financial restrictions, import bans, and increased duties, if Russia refuses to negotiate peace, violates agreements, or takes further aggressive actions against Ukraine. The Act also targets international entities that support Russia's sanctioned activities and sets conditions for the termination and reimposition of sanctions based on Russia's adherence to peace agreements.

This resolution designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to recognize the vital role of women in agriculture. It acknowledges women's significant contributions as producers, educators, leaders, and mentors within the agricultural sector. The resolution supports celebrating women's impact on food resources and the agricultural workforce, encouraging their continued involvement and leadership in the field.

The Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2025 seeks to improve support and resources for veterans and former service members, particularly those affected by military sexual trauma (MST). The bill mandates a comprehensive review of VA policies related to MST, especially concerning online or technological communications, and aims to improve the disability claims process for veterans who have experienced MST by ensuring sensitive communication, enhancing training for VA personnel, and allowing veterans more control over their medical examinations. Additionally, it expands access to healthcare and support services for veterans and former service members who have experienced MST, including those who leave service academies before completion.

The "Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act of 2025" amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to allow farm credit banks and production credit associations to provide credit and financial services to businesses that support the operational needs of the commercial fishing industry. This expansion aims to bolster the fishing industry by improving access to capital for essential service providers.