Legislative Activity

This resolution designates April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" to highlight the importance of local news in American democracy. It recognizes the decline of local news outlets and the negative impact this has on informed citizens and communities. The resolution acknowledges local journalism as a public good and affirms its valuable contributions.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act introduces a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan (SOAR) with lower monthly payments and faster loan forgiveness. SOAR caps payments at 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans and 10% for other loans, and forgives remaining balances after 10 or 15 years, depending on the loan type. The bill phases out the existing PAYE and ICR plans, restricting eligibility to borrowers already enrolled or those meeting specific hardship requirements. It also ensures that unpaid interest does not capitalize and mandates automatic loan cancellation for eligible borrowers.

The "Paying a Fair Share Act of 2025" introduces a new tax on high-income taxpayers with an adjusted gross income exceeding $1,000,000, referred to as the "fair share tax". This tax aims to ensure wealthy individuals pay a minimum level of tax and contribute to deficit reduction. The tax is calculated based on a percentage of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income above a certain threshold, taking into account charitable contributions and other tax liabilities. The Act expresses the Senate's intention for broader tax system reforms, including eliminating loopholes and simplifying the tax code.

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot, ready-to-eat foods. It sets a limit on restaurants accepting SNAP benefits, where no more than 50% of their sales can come from hot foods. This act broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP to include hot food products.

This resolution expresses Congressional support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, recognizing the achievements and contributions of the transgender community while raising awareness of the discrimination and violence they face. It acknowledges the disproportionate oppression faced by transgender individuals in various areas, celebrates their progress in political representation and media, and urges Americans to observe the day with events that honor transgender individuals and their advocacy for equality.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to make energy more affordable for low-income households by increasing funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program, expanding eligibility, and ensuring access to both heating and cooling assistance. It prioritizes energy efficiency upgrades, protects households from utility shutoffs and late fees, and promotes renewable energy solutions. The act also includes provisions for data collection on energy arrears and the development of state and local plans for transitioning away from fossil fuels while lowering energy costs for vulnerable households. Finally, the bill renames the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the Home Energy Assistance Program.

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.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Congress and states to regulate campaign finance, setting reasonable limits on contributions and expenditures to promote democracy, political equality, and the integrity of government and elections. It aims to clarify the power to differentiate between natural persons and corporations in campaign finance regulations, potentially restricting corporate spending in elections. The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of the press from any restrictions.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 ensures the Department of Agriculture honors existing agreements with farmers and related entities by releasing committed funding and settling outstanding debts. It prevents the cancellation of contracts unless there is a violation and requires a 60-day notice to Congress before closing any Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development Service Center office.

The "Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025" establishes a grant program to help urban areas combat extreme heat, particularly in underserved communities. Grants will fund projects like tree planting, cool pavements, and cooling centers. At least 75% of grant funds must be used for projects in covered census tracts. The program is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2033.

This resolution recognizes and celebrates the heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas to the United States across various sectors, including the economy, arts, sciences, and military. It also acknowledges the economic disparities Latinas face, such as the wage gap, and emphasizes the importance of investing in their future to address these challenges and ensure their continued growth and impact.

The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate restrictions that prevent striking workers from being eligible for SNAP benefits. This change removes the clause that previously made striking workers ineligible for SNAP. By removing these restrictions, the bill aims to provide food security for workers and their families during labor disputes.

This resolution celebrates the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. It recognizes their significant achievements across various sectors, including military service, business, medicine, and the arts. The resolution also emphasizes the need to invest in the future of these women by addressing barriers they face in justice, healthcare, education, and economic advancement.

The "Health ACCESS Act" amends the Social Security Act to create an exception to anti-kickback rules, allowing healthcare providers to pay online platforms for listing services without violating the law. This exception applies if the platform meets specific conditions, including not steering patients based on payment, not offering medical services, and disclosing financial relationships with providers. The goal is to facilitate consumer access to healthcare information and self-scheduling.

This resolution supports designating March 2025 as "Music in Our Schools Month," highlighting the importance of music education. It recognizes music's cultural and historical significance, its role in community building and inclusivity, and its positive impact on student development. The resolution also acknowledges disparities in access to music education and emphasizes the need for greater support in public schools.

This resolution designates the first week of April 2025 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week" to raise awareness about asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure. It urges the Surgeon General to educate the public about the health risks associated with asbestos and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the Office of the Surgeon General.

This resolution affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review, recognizing the Supreme Court's duty to interpret the law. It requires the executive branch to comply with federal court rulings, while allowing for appeals when authorized by law. The resolution reinforces the established judicial power of the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance the enforcement of equal pay requirements by modifying the "bona fide factor" defense, protecting employees who discuss their wages, and enhancing penalties for equal pay violations. It requires training and directs research, education, and outreach to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. The Act also prohibits employers from relying on wage history when considering prospective employees and mandates the collection of compensation data by the EEOC. Finally, the Act establishes the National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace and provides small business assistance.

This resolution designates March 24, 2025, as National Women of Color in Tech Day to recognize the vital contributions of women of color in technology. It aims to address underrepresentation and opportunity gaps in STEM fields by promoting diversity, inclusion, and support for STEM education, particularly for women of color. The resolution calls for increased investment in educational institutions and improved data collection to foster a more diverse and competitive tech workforce. It also encourages the President and Congress to collaborate on strategies to enhance diversity and inclusion in STEM education and the workforce.

The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act, or WIPPES Act, mandates that certain disposable wipe products carry a "Do Not Flush" label and symbol to prevent damage to wastewater infrastructure. It establishes specific requirements for the placement, size, and visibility of the label on various packaging types. The Act prohibits marketing these products as flushable and grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to enforce these regulations, preempting differing state laws. These regulations will take effect one year after the law is enacted.