Legislative Activity

This resolution formally honors the memory of the 49 victims of the tragic 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. It recognizes the attack as an assault on the entire nation and expresses deep sympathy for the victims' families and survivors. The Senate reaffirms its commitment to fighting terrorism and hate while thanking the first responders.

The STOP CSAM Act of 2025 significantly overhauls federal protections for child victims and witnesses in court proceedings by expanding definitions of abuse and strengthening rules around protecting personal information. It mandates stricter reporting requirements for online service providers regarding child sexual exploitation material and imposes substantial penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the Act expands civil remedies, allowing victims to sue online platforms directly for damages related to hosting or promoting such content. Finally, it facilitates the payment of restitution to vulnerable victims by allowing for the appointment of trustees to manage those funds.

This bill, the "No Community Development Block Grants for Sanctuary Cities Act," would prohibit federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from being awarded to jurisdictions defined as "sanctuary cities." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as any area that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement regarding sharing citizenship status or honoring detainer requests. Applicants for CDBG funds would be required to certify that they are not, and will not become, a sanctuary jurisdiction while receiving the grant money.

This resolution designates June 6, 2025, as National Naloxone Awareness Day to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. It emphasizes the critical role of naloxone in reversing overdose deaths and calls for increased public education on its use. The bill encourages federal, state, and local entities to improve access to this life-saving medication.

The LAUNCH Act aims to significantly streamline and accelerate commercial space activities by overhauling federal regulations for launch, reentry, and remote sensing licensing. It mandates the creation of a digital application tracking system and establishes a dedicated Commercial Space Transportation Administration within the Department of Transportation. Furthermore, the bill requires reviews to cut regulatory red tape and ensures industry voices are heard to foster innovation and maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global space economy.

The Rapid Expulsion of Migrant Offenders who Violate and Evade (REMOVE) Act mandates the swift removal of immigrants who have been ordered to leave the country, particularly those convicted of deportable offenses. This legislation requires the Attorney General to complete all necessary immigration court proceedings for these individuals within a strict 15-day timeframe after they begin. The goal is to significantly speed up the deportation process for migrant offenders.

This resolution officially designates May 2025 as "Older Americans Month" to recognize the vital contributions of senior citizens to the nation. It highlights the growing senior population and their continued involvement in the workforce and volunteering. The bill encourages communities nationwide to celebrate older Americans and create opportunities for them to share their wisdom and remain active participants in society.

This resolution serves as a formal tribute honoring the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. It recognizes his decades of public service, including his terms as Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator, where he championed infrastructure, agriculture, and conservative values. The Senate expresses deep sadness over his passing and directs that official copies of this tribute be sent to his family.

This resolution officially recognizes May as Jewish American Heritage Month to celebrate the significant contributions of Jewish Americans throughout U.S. history. It calls on leaders to use this month to educate the public about Jewish heritage and actively counter the current rise in antisemitism. The measure emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety and dignity of the Jewish American community.

This bill, the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, establishes a new, high federal tax on the profits earned by third-party investors in lawsuits, known as litigation financing. The tax is applied at the highest individual income tax rate plus an additional 3.8 percentage points on "qualified litigation proceeds." To ensure compliance, the law mandates that parties or their attorneys withhold 50% of this tax from payments made to the funder. Importantly, while taxing the funder, the bill explicitly excludes the actual settlement proceeds received by the winning party from their gross income.

The Strong Communities Act of 2025 establishes the COPS Strong Communities Program to provide competitive grants for local law enforcement training. These funds support officers and recruits attending specialized programs, contingent upon a commitment to serve in their local community for at least four years afterward. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress detailing grant recipients, training plans, and officer retention rates to ensure transparency.

The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025 updates federal law to specifically address the dangers first responders face from substances like fentanyl. This legislation ensures federal funding is available to states and agencies for purchasing necessary protective equipment and providing specialized training on handling dangerous drugs safely. The goal is to equip first responders with the tools needed to prevent accidental secondary exposure while on duty.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 establishes a presumption that certain cancers leading to death or disability in public safety officers were caused by on-duty exposure to recognized carcinogens. This law defines specific exposure-related cancers and sets conditions, such as five years of service, for the presumption to apply. It also updates review processes for adding new cancers to the list and grants retroactive application and filing extensions for eligible past and present claims.

The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates and extends key federal efforts to combat child exploitation. This bill revises the National Strategy to focus on emerging technology trends and mandates detailed resource planning for law enforcement. It also modifies the operations of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces, clarifying their duties, expanding partnerships, and providing liability protections for lead prioritization decisions. Finally, the Act adjusts grant funding allocations and authorizes specific funding levels through fiscal year 2028.

The Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act aims to provide financial relief by modifying tax rules for personal losses. This bill removes previous limitations on deducting personal casualty losses for disasters occurring after 2017. Additionally, it extends the deadline for taxpayers to file for refunds related to these previously suspended casualty loss deductions.

The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act of 2025 permanently establishes a 7-year recovery period for the depreciation of motorsports entertainment complexes. This legislation allows owners and operators of these facilities to continue writing off building costs significantly faster than standard commercial property. By removing the previous expiration date, the bill ensures long-term tax predictability for the motorsports industry.

The Kids Online Safety Act establishes a comprehensive "duty of care" requiring online platforms to design features that mitigate specific harms to minors, such as those related to mental health and exploitation. It mandates that platforms provide minors with default, restrictive safety settings and robust parental controls over data sharing and recommendations. Furthermore, the legislation demands significant transparency regarding algorithmic ranking systems and grants the FTC enforcement authority.

This resolution officially designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Police Week." It serves to honor the valor and integrity of law enforcement officers across the nation. The resolution specifically remembers the officers killed in the line of duty during 2024 and encourages the public to observe this week to show appreciation for law enforcement personnel.

The Countering Corrupt Political (CCP) Influence Act requires foreign missions from designated adversarial nations to report advance notice of meetings with U.S. state and local officials, as well as visits to educational or research institutions. This measure aims to increase transparency regarding diplomatic activities within the United States. The Secretary of State must compile and report this information monthly to Congress. The requirements are set to expire five years after the Act's enactment.

The No Official Palestine Entry Act of 2025 restricts the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from holding any status beyond observer in United Nations agencies. This legislation also modifies the U.S. standing in the UN, prohibiting full membership and capping participation at a level above observer status. Importantly, the Act explicitly states that none of its provisions apply to Taiwan.