Legislative Activity

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The Brake for Kids Act of 2025 mandates the creation of a national public safety messaging campaign to warn drivers about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus. The Secretary of Transportation must launch this broad-reaching campaign within one year, utilizing national media like TV and radio. Funding for this initiative will be drawn from existing allocations for the Secretary's other public safety campaigns.

The Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act invalidates pre-dispute agreements that force individuals into private arbitration for employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights claims. This legislation protects the right of individuals and groups to pursue legal action in court rather than being compelled into private arbitration before a dispute arises. It ensures that courts, not arbitrators, decide if this new law applies to a specific agreement. The Act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

This Act officially establishes the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025 to honor the life and groundbreaking civil rights achievements of the late legal pioneer. The bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to her family in recognition of her service, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education*. Furthermore, it permits the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

The Small Business RELIEF Act exempts qualifying small businesses from import duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 due to a national emergency declaration. This legislation also mandates refunds for any such duties already paid by these small businesses. The goal is to provide immediate financial relief to small businesses impacted by these specific emergency tariffs.

The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025 significantly updates federal efforts to combat harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia across all U.S. waters, including freshwater systems. The bill expands the scope of the interagency Task Force, mandates the creation of a five-year national Action Strategy for HABs, and enhances monitoring and forecasting capabilities. It also clarifies agency roles, assigning EPA new duties for freshwater blooms while tasking NOAA with marine and Great Lakes response, and establishes a new incubator program for control technologies.

This bill amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act to enhance liquidity for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). It authorizes the Fund to provide capitalization assistance, such as purchasing loans or offering guarantees, to organizations that support CDFIs. The legislation significantly raises the funding cap for this assistance and mandates annual reporting to Congress on its impact.

The Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nation's drug supply chain by improving how manufacturers report potential disruptions for critical medicines. This legislation mandates earlier and more detailed notifications to the government regarding production halts, demand spikes, or supply interruptions for life-supporting drugs. Furthermore, it requires drug makers to report their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) suppliers twice annually, increasing transparency into the entire supply chain.

The NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act aims to significantly upgrade the reliability and reach of the NOAA Weather Radio network through infrastructure modernization, expanded coverage in underserved areas, and improved alert specificity. It also establishes national standards for flash flood warning systems in high-risk zones, ensuring alerts function even without reliable internet or cell service. Furthermore, the bill protects critical NOAA warning-related positions from hiring freezes and mandates a 10-year staffing plan for the National Weather Service.

The Risky Research Review Act establishes the Life Sciences Research Security Board, an independent body tasked with reviewing and issuing binding decisions on federal funding for proposed high-risk life sciences research. This research includes Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) involving high-consequence pathogens or any gain-of-function research. Agencies are prohibited from funding such research without the Board's explicit approval, which is granted only after weighing public safety risks against potential benefits. The Board is composed of non-partisan scientific and security experts appointed by the President.

The "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025" aims to increase transparency in federal spending by mandating the reporting of "other transaction agreements" on USAspending.gov. It requires the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure this data is accessible within three years and to publish annual reports on federal spending data. The Act also directs Inspectors General to submit reports to Congress, mandates specific federal agencies to post information, and instructs the Comptroller General to provide recommendations for updating the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

The Veterans Mental Health and Addiction Therapy Quality of Care Act mandates an independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction care provided by the VA and non-VA providers. This study will evaluate health outcomes, use of evidence-based practices, care coordination, and patient satisfaction. The goal is to identify areas for improvement in veteran mental health and addiction treatment within and outside the VA system. A report of the study's findings must be submitted to Congress and published online.

The Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act bans Members of Congress and their spouses from trading covered financial instruments, such as stocks and derivatives, during their term in office. Members must divest prohibited assets within 180 days of taking office or the law's enactment. Violations result in disgorgement of profits and potential civil fines enforced by ethics committees, with compliance subject to annual certification and a GAO audit.

This bill, the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act, amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to strengthen transparency in lobbying. It requires lobbyists to disclose the identity and address of any foreign government or political party that directs, plans, supervises, or controls their lobbying activities, regardless of whether that foreign entity is the direct client. This change ensures greater visibility into foreign influence in U.S. lobbying efforts.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Voting Rights Act by establishing new standards to challenge discriminatory voting practices and updating federal oversight criteria for states. It mandates greater transparency for all changes to voting rules and implements "practice-based preclearance" for certain jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill creates new federal criminal penalties for using force or threats to intimidate voters or election workers.

The FBI Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens protections for FBI employees who report wrongdoing, explicitly prohibiting retaliation for protected disclosures. It mandates the Attorney General to actively prevent prohibited personnel actions and ensure staff are fully informed of their rights. Furthermore, the Act establishes clearer standards and conflict-of-interest safeguards for handling whistleblower retaliation claims.

The National Net Interest is National Security Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and State, to report on how the growing national debt and interest payments threaten U.S. national security. This comprehensive report must analyze impacts on defense spending, global standing, and the capacity to manage crises. The bill also mandates that the Government Accountability Office add these debt-related security threats to its High Risk List.

This Senate resolution expresses the view that the Trump Administration's drastic staff reductions, funding freezes, and agency dismantlements have harmed communities and increased costs for American families. It argues these actions disrupt essential services like healthcare, benefits, and research without targeting actual waste. The resolution calls for a shift in focus toward protecting families, lowering costs, and supporting veterans, research, and small businesses.

This bill establishes new restrictions and transparency requirements for donations made to Presidential Libraries and Centers. It bans certain prohibited entities, such as lobbyists and foreign nationals, from donating while a President is in office or for two years after leaving. The legislation also imposes a $10,000 aggregate donation limit per person and mandates public quarterly reporting of all significant contributions.