Legislative Activity

The TRAFFIC Act of 2025 establishes permanent disqualification from holding various transportation-related licenses and certificates for individuals convicted of human trafficking violations. This applies across sectors including maritime, rail, commercial driving, and aviation. The legislation mandates that federal authorities deny or revoke credentials for those convicted of offenses related to human trafficking under federal, state, local, or tribal law.

The SAFE KIDS Act addresses concerns that foreign entities of concern are exploiting U.S. surrogacy laws, potentially risking national security and human trafficking. This bill voids surrogacy agreements involving citizens from these designated foreign entities and establishes criminal penalties for brokers who facilitate such arrangements. Custody of any resulting child will be determined by state law based on the child's best interests, disregarding the voided contract.

This resolution honors the strategic importance of the C5+1 diplomatic platform, recognizing the deepening partnership between the United States and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It acknowledges past cooperation, particularly regarding Afghanistan operations, and highlights the platform's role in fostering regional stability, security, and economic opportunities. The Senate affirms the platform's value in promoting shared interests in energy, critical minerals, and counterterrorism efforts.

This bill grants the President the authority to extend nondiscriminatory trade treatment (normal trade relations) to products from specific countries. This action would terminate the application of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 for those designated countries. The authority applies to all countries except Belarus, Cuba, and North Korea.

The DETECT Nitazenes Act of 2025 mandates that the Department of Homeland Security update its drug detection and identification requirements. This legislation specifically requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to include nitazenes, alongside fentanyl and xylazine, when developing capabilities to detect illicit drugs. The goal is to enhance national security measures against emerging synthetic opioid threats.

The Nitazene Sanctions Act aims to combat the production and flow of dangerous 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids, which are potent synthetic substances. The bill mandates a report detailing China's role in precursor production and outlines strategies for international cooperation to curb this flow. Furthermore, it amends the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to specifically target Chinese entities and officials involved in opioid trafficking and expands the authority to impose sanctions on foreign governments materially contributing to this crisis.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the office's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, assess HUD program effectiveness, and evaluate the agency's resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD operations.

This Act establishes a clear U.S. policy to hold Chinese officials accountable for gross human rights violations against religious groups by making them subject to sanctions. It mandates that the Department of State actively promote and monitor religious freedom within the People's Republic of China. Furthermore, Congress urges the designation of China as a "country of particular concern" and calls for robust diplomatic action to secure the release of unjustly detained religious prisoners.

The Reliable Power Act mandates that the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) conduct annual long-term assessments of the bulk-power system's ability to meet future energy demand. If the ERO identifies a risk of generation inadequacy, it must notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC then reviews any pending agency actions that could affect generation resources, requiring agencies to modify or justify actions that might negatively impact grid reliability before finalizing them.

This Act mandates the immediate preparation for sanctions against any entity supporting People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression against Taiwan, including actions like invasion or blockade. It establishes an interagency PRC Sanctions Task Force to identify potential targets and develop comprehensive strategies for imposing and coordinating economic measures with allies. The Task Force must also brief Congress and submit annual reports detailing sanctions plans, economic impact assessments, and coordination efforts.

This resolution commemorates the 74th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, affirming the strong bilateral security alliance between the two nations. It strongly condemns the escalating aggression and unlawful territorial claims by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea. The bill urges the President to continue actions that support Philippine defense modernization and enhance deterrence against coercion. It reaffirms that an armed attack against Philippine public vessels in the region would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty.

The United States-Taiwan Partnership in the Americas Act affirms the U.S. commitment to supporting Latin American and Caribbean nations that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The bill directs the State Department to monitor and counter coercive economic influence and pressure tactics by the People's Republic of China aimed at severing these relationships. Furthermore, it mandates increased coordination between the U.S. and Taiwan regarding development and engagement in the Western Hemisphere.

The Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that active duty and reserve military personnel continue to receive pay and essential allowances if Congress has not passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026 by the start of that year. This legislation provides automatic continuing appropriations to cover military salaries, support staff, and necessary contractor payments during any funding lapse. The authority granted by this Act is set to terminate on September 30, 2026, or sooner if a comprehensive budget is enacted. Furthermore, the provisions of this Act are made retroactively effective as of September 30, 2025.

The Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 ensures that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue without interruption, even if Congress fails to pass the Department of Agriculture's budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation authorizes automatic funding from the Treasury to maintain payments and cover any retroactive benefits missed due to the delay. This temporary funding mechanism remains active until the regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations are officially enacted.

The Pay Our Military Act of 2025 ensures that members of the Armed Forces, along with essential Department of Defense civilian personnel and contractors, continue to receive pay and allowances in fiscal year 2026 if regular appropriations are not enacted. This measure provides temporary, continuing funding to support active service members. This authority automatically terminates upon the enactment of a new appropriations law or by January 1, 2027.

This resolution formally condemns the brutal Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel of October 7, 2023, and supports Israel's right to self-defense. It further condemns antisemitic and destructive protests within the United States. Ultimately, the resolution calls for an outcome that ensures Israel's survival, eliminates Hamas's ability to operate, and secures the release of all remaining hostages.

This resolution formally honors the pilots, maintainers, analysts, sailors, and families involved in the success of Operation Midnight Hammer. It recognizes this complex military operation as the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history against Iranian nuclear facilities. The resolution commends the service members for their exceptional skill and dedication during the long-range, synchronized mission. It also acknowledges the sacrifices made by the military families supporting the operation.

The Small Business Investor Tax Parity Act of 2025 updates the tax code to allow certain dividends from Business Development Companies (BDCs) to qualify for the existing qualified business income deduction. This change specifically targets dividends derived from a BDC's net interest income, provided the BDC has elected to be treated as a Regulated Investment Company. The provisions are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

The Pray Safe Act of 2025 establishes a Federal Clearinghouse within the Department of Homeland Security to share evidence-based best practices for the safety and security of nonprofit organizations and houses of worship. This Clearinghouse will also serve as a central resource for identifying and accessing relevant federal security grant opportunities. The Act mandates that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to Congress on existing federal security funding for these organizations. This entire Act is set to expire four years after its enactment.

The Small Entity Update Act mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regularly study and update its definition of a "small entity" for regulatory purposes. These studies must assess the current definition against market growth and suggest revisions to ensure a meaningful number of businesses qualify. Following these reviews, the SEC is required to revise its rules and adjust any associated dollar thresholds for inflation every five years.