Legislative Activity

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding inspection powers. It grants the Attorney General direct authority to sue violators, seek injunctions, and impose substantial daily civil penalties. Furthermore, the bill allows for the seizure of animals involved in violations and mandates that collected penalty funds be used to reimburse temporary animal care costs.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. It grandfathers existing possessions but requires background checks for all future private transfers of these previously owned weapons. The bill also permits the use of federal Byrne grant funds for state-run buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Equality Act comprehensively amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity across key areas of American life. This legislation expands existing protections in public accommodations, employment, housing, credit access, and jury service. Its purpose is to ensure consistent and clear nationwide enforcement of non-discrimination principles for LGBTQ individuals and women.

This bill reauthorizes the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board and extends its operational tenure from seven to eleven years. It clarifies the Board's authority to secure the release of historical civil rights cold case records from all levels of government. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a presumption of immediate public release for these records and allows for the reimbursement of state and local costs associated with digitizing and transmitting files. It also limits the use of personal privacy exemptions for records created before 1990.

The Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act mandates that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) immediately implement all recommendations from a 2023 Inspector General report concerning inmate-on-staff sexual misconduct. This legislation requires the BOP to improve data collection on these incidents and establishes a timeline for the Inspector General to review the effectiveness of these new measures. Ultimately, the Attorney General must use this review to create national standards for preventing and punishing sexual harassment and assault against prison staff.

The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2025 ensures that if group or individual health insurance plans cover diagnostic or supplemental breast examinations, they cannot impose any cost-sharing requirements like deductibles or copayments for those services. This means patients will receive these specific, necessary breast health tests at no out-of-pocket cost. The provisions apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The Jobs in the Woods Act establishes a new competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture to fund forestry workforce development. These grants aim to support training programs for forestry jobs specifically within eligible, low-income rural communities that meet certain broadband standards. Eligible entities can apply for grants between $\$500,000$ and $\$2$ million over four years, with priority given to programs addressing workforce shortages and ensuring job placement.

This resolution formally honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former U.S. Senator for Louisiana. It details his career, highlighting his significant tenure on key Senate committees, particularly his leadership on energy policy. The resolution recognizes his legislative achievements benefiting Louisiana, including flood control and conservation efforts. Finally, the Senate adjourns immediately in his memory as a final tribute to his service.

The Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange Act (the DELETE Act) mandates that data brokers register annually with the FTC and provide details about their data collection practices. The bill establishes a centralized, secure system allowing individuals to submit a single, free request to compel all registered data brokers to delete their personal information. Enforcement will be handled by the FTC, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices under existing law.

The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 aims to improve efficiency and fairness in immigration courts by significantly increasing access to legal representation for unaccompanied children. This bill mandates the government to provide counsel for these children at no cost through all stages of removal proceedings. Furthermore, it ensures noncitizens receive their case files promptly and establishes new standards for lawyer access to detention facilities and required annual reporting on legal representation outcomes.

This resolution officially designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the vital and substantial contributions of the over 1.2 million female agricultural producers to the U.S. economy and global food supply. The measure encourages citizens to acknowledge the leadership, mentorship, and economic impact women have across the entire agricultural sector.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 mandates sweeping economic penalties against the Russian Federation and its affiliates for actions against Ukraine. This legislation requires the President and Treasury Secretary to impose escalating sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities. Furthermore, the Act prohibits U.S. persons from investing in Russian debt, bans the trading of Russian securities on U.S. exchanges, and imposes a massive 500% import duty on Russian goods. Sanctions can only be terminated if Russia agrees to a verifiable peace deal with Ukraine.

The Feral Swine Eradication Act officially upgrades the existing federal feral swine initiative from a "pilot program" to a permanent "program," establishing clear definitions for eligible eradication areas. This legislation allocates \$75 million through fiscal year 2030 to support these efforts and mandates post-eradication monitoring to prevent reinfestation. Furthermore, the Act requires federal agencies to submit detailed progress reports to Congress regarding eradication success and financial expenditures.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act makes student loan repayment or forgiveness amounts received by veterinarians participating in state-based programs tax-free. This exclusion applies to funds received through programs designed to increase veterinary services in underserved areas. This tax benefit will take effect for amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution formally honors the life and distinguished public service career of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former U.S. Senator for Wyoming. It celebrates his extensive tenure in both state and federal government, highlighting his focus on fiscal responsibility and support for veterans. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow at his passing and directs that the day's adjournment serve as a final tribute to his memory.

This bill establishes a national registry, managed by the Secretary of State, to track Korean American families separated by the Korean War who wish to reunite with relatives in North Korea. It mandates that U.S. diplomatic efforts with North Korea prioritize making progress on these family reunions. Furthermore, the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues must report annually on the registry's status and North Korea's cooperation.

The Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2025 (PHIT Act) aims to promote public health by incentivizing healthier lifestyles. This bill allows taxpayers to treat certain qualified expenses for physical activity, fitness instruction, and exercise equipment as deductible medical expenses, up to annual limits of \$1,000 or \$2,000 depending on filing status. These provisions are designed to make fitness more financially accessible for individuals and families.

The Disaster Reforestation Act establishes new rules for calculating tax deductions related to the loss of uncut timber due to natural disasters like fires or storms. This special casualty loss deduction is available only if the taxpayer agrees to replant the affected area within five years. The Act sets specific appraisal standards and allows taxpayers to use an estimate initially, provided an official appraisal is completed within one year.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

This Senate resolution affirms the foundational principle that the power to interpret federal law rests solely with the federal judiciary, as established by Article III of the Constitution. It reaffirms the doctrine of judicial review, stating that the courts definitively determine what the law means. Consequently, the resolution mandates that the Executive Branch must abide by all federal court rulings or pursue appropriate legal appeals.