Legislative Activity

This bill modifies the railroad track maintenance credit by significantly increasing the maximum credit amount per mile from $\$3,500$ to $\$6,100$. It also updates the eligibility period for qualifying expenditures and mandates that the new credit limit will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2026. These changes are designed to provide greater financial support for ongoing railroad infrastructure upkeep.

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 Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 expands the legal definition of "critical minerals" to explicitly include materials previously designated as "critical materials" by the Secretary of Energy. This legislation mandates the Secretary to promptly update the official list of critical minerals upon such a designation. The goal is to ensure consistency in how these vital resources are legally defined and tracked.

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 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.

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 Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act aims to increase housing assistance eligibility for disabled veterans by excluding specific VA disability benefits from income calculations for certain housing programs. This ensures that compensation received for service-connected disabilities does not prevent veterans from qualifying for supportive housing assistance. However, these excluded benefits will still be considered when calculating the final adjusted rent amount.

The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees across the nation. It tasks the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) with reviewing state laws to ensure they substantially provide these minimum rights, taking over administration where state laws fall short. The Act explicitly protects existing labor agreements while prohibiting strikes or lockouts that would endanger public safety services. Finally, it ensures that existing state or local laws providing equal or greater protections are not preempted by this federal minimum standard.

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify state authority in identifying drinking water contaminants and expands eligibility for federal assistance programs. It allows states to request grants on behalf of disadvantaged communities or those facing financial hardship due to contamination. Furthermore, the legislation enables direct grant assistance for owners of private drinking water wells.

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 Increasing Transparency in Generic Drug Applications Act requires the FDA to confirm whether a generic drug's inactive ingredients match the brand-name version upon request. If differences exist, the FDA must specify which ingredients and amounts deviate from the original drug. This measure aims to streamline the generic drug approval process by providing clarity on formulation equivalence.

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.

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 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.

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 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 Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act of 2025 expands access to credit from Farm Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations. This legislation specifically allows these institutions to provide loans and financial services to businesses that furnish essential operating services to aquatic product producers and harvesters. The goal is to strengthen the financial support network for the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries.

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.