Legislative Activity

This resolution supports the designation of May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to recognize the benefits of renewable fuels. It highlights the positive impact of biofuels on the economy, job creation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing reliance on foreign oil. The resolution acknowledges the role of renewable fuels in lowering fuel prices, supporting rural communities, and reducing the carbon footprint of the United States.

This resolution supports the designation of May 4-10, 2025, as "National Small Business Week". It recognizes the significant role of over 34.5 million small businesses in the U.S. that contribute to the economy and provide over 59 million jobs. The resolution celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit, achievements, and resilience of small business owners and their employees.

The BE GONE Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include sexual assault and aggravated sexual abuse in the definition of aggravated felonies. This change would mean immigrants convicted of these crimes would be subject to deportation.

**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 "Find It Early Act" aims to improve early breast cancer detection by requiring health insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs, to cover additional breast screenings and diagnostic imaging without cost-sharing for individuals at higher risk or who need it due to age, race, ethnicity, or family history, starting in 2026. This ensures that more women have access to potentially life-saving screenings, regardless of their ability to pay. By removing financial barriers, the Act seeks to promote early detection and improve outcomes for those at risk of breast cancer.

The Physician Led and Rural Access to Quality Care Act amends the Social Security Act to revise physician self-referral exemptions, particularly for physician-owned hospitals. It defines and exempts "covered rural hospitals" from certain restrictions, focusing on hospitals located in rural areas and meeting specific criteria. The act also lifts the prohibition on the expansion of existing physician-owned hospitals, effective from the date of enactment.

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.

The "Food Security and Farm Protection Act" prevents state and local governments from interfering with the production of agricultural products in other states, especially regarding preharvest standards. It allows those affected by such regulations to sue in federal court to invalidate the regulation and recover economic damages. Courts are required to temporarily block the regulation while the case proceeds, unless the state demonstrates a high likelihood of winning the case and that the injunction would cause irreparable harm. The Act establishes a 10-year window for filing lawsuits.

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.

This resolution disapproves and nullifies the EPA's rule that allowed California to set its own vehicle and engine pollution control standards. The rule in question is the "Advanced Clean Cars II" and "Waiver of Preemption." By disapproving this rule, the resolution seeks to prevent California from implementing stricter emission standards than the federal government.

The "Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025" directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and report to Congress on the practices of pharmacy benefit managers and other intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain, including their impact on drug prices and competition. The FTC is required to identify any legal or regulatory barriers hindering antitrust enforcement in the pharmaceutical industry and suggest improvements for transparency and competition. Additionally, the FTC must report on complaints of anticompetitive behavior by sole-source drug manufacturers and recommend policies to enhance enforcement.

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 "Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields Act of 2025" (SAFETY Act) seeks to protect the ability of U.S. agricultural producers to use common names for their products in foreign markets. It defines "common name" and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to negotiate agreements with foreign countries, in coordination with the United States Trade Representative, to ensure these names can continue to be used. The Secretary and the United States Trade Representative must provide semi-annual briefings to the relevant congressional committees on their progress.

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 Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 limits the scope of court-ordered relief, such as injunctions and declaratory judgements, to only the parties directly involved in a case. It modifies the rules for temporary restraining orders and clarifies the scope of judicial review. The act ensures that courts cannot grant relief to non-parties unless those parties are represented.

The "Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act" aims to broaden access to dental coverage by enabling individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans through the Health Insurance Exchange, irrespective of their enrollment status in a qualified health plan. This expands dental insurance options for individuals, promoting better oral health.

The "Rural Veterinary Workforce Act" allows veterinarians working in underserved rural areas to be exempt from paying federal income tax on student loan repayment assistance received from federal or state programs. This bill aims to incentivize veterinary professionals to practice in rural communities, addressing the shortage of veterinary services in these areas. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, recognizing his public service, military service, and contributions to Wyoming and the nation. It celebrates his work on border security, veterans affairs, entitlement reform, and fiscal responsibility, as well as his dedication to various Wyoming institutions. The resolution expresses sorrow at his passing, directs communication to the House of Representatives and his family, and adjourns the Senate in his memory.

The LEDGER Act mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a system for tracking all government expenditures within 180 days of enactment. This system will monitor spending across all branches of the U.S. Government, providing detailed oversight of appropriations, receipts, and fund accounts. The goal is to enhance transparency and accountability in government spending by tracking when and how funds are used.

This resolution supports the designation of May 29, 2025, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to bring attention to mental health challenges within the agricultural community. It aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness among farmers and farmworkers, who face unique stressors and have higher suicide rates. The resolution promotes the use of available resources like the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and encourages the prioritization of mental well-being in agriculture.