Legislative Activity

The Background Check Expansion Act mandates that nearly all private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals must go through a licensed dealer to complete a federal background check. This legislation establishes a universal background check requirement for these transactions, with specific exceptions for family gifts and law enforcement transfers. The bill aims to close loopholes in existing firearm transfer laws while explicitly prohibiting the creation of a national firearms registry.

This resolution officially recognizes November as National Native American Heritage Month. It celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and significant contributions of Native Americans to the United States across various fields. The resolution also reaffirms the government's commitment to tribal self-governance and the government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify an interim guidance rule issued by the Internal Revenue Service concerning the application of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT) to partnerships. If enacted, this resolution would prevent the IRS guidance from taking effect.

The Anti-Cash Grab Act repeals a specific provision (Section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). This repeal effectively restores a previous law, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005. The legislation is designed to take effect retroactively as if the repealed section had never been enacted.

This resolution observes the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, honoring the 29 lives lost in the tragic 1975 storm on Lake Superior. It recognizes the ship's legacy, commends the initial rescue efforts, and reaffirms a commitment to maintaining safety standards for Great Lakes shipping.

The Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025 ensures the uninterrupted continuation of all Head Start projects and activities throughout fiscal year 2026, even if full appropriations are delayed. This legislation provides necessary continuing funding based on the terms of existing 2025 continuing resolutions. Funding authority under this Act will terminate upon the enactment of regular 2026 appropriations or by September 30, 2026.

This resolution officially designates October 2025 as School Bus Safety Month. The designation aims to utilize media platforms to share public service announcements promoting child safety around buses, recognizing the efforts of school bus operators, and encouraging safe driving practices near school buses.

The Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the FCC to assess how the availability of network equipment impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability. This assessment must use currently available data and does not impose new reporting burdens on telecommunications providers. The bill also includes technical corrections to update cross-references within the relevant section of the Act.

This resolution honors the strategic importance of the C5+1 diplomatic platform, recognizing the deepening partnership between the United States and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It acknowledges past cooperation, particularly regarding Afghanistan operations, and highlights the platform's role in fostering regional stability, security, and economic opportunities. The Senate affirms the platform's value in promoting shared interests in energy, critical minerals, and counterterrorism efforts.

This bill grants the President the authority to extend nondiscriminatory trade treatment (normal trade relations) to products from specific countries. This action would terminate the application of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 for those designated countries. The authority applies to all countries except Belarus, Cuba, and North Korea.

This Senate resolution urges the Department of Agriculture to immediately use its contingency funds and interchange authority to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is fully financed. The Senate asserts the administration has a legal obligation to use these existing resources to support millions of vulnerable Americans through November. This measure expresses a position and does not enact new law.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that essential nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC, continue to provide benefits without interruption if full appropriations for the Department of Agriculture are not enacted for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation immediately makes funds available to cover benefits and state operating costs during any funding lapse, retroactive to September 30, 2025. These special appropriations terminate once the standard FY 2026 funding bill is passed or by September 30, 2026.

This resolution officially designates the week of October 19 through 25, 2025, as "National Chemistry Week." The measure recognizes the vital role of chemistry in daily life and supports efforts to promote science education. It specifically aims to encourage young people, including underrepresented groups, to pursue STEM careers.

This resolution designates September 2025 as "National Cholesterol Education Month" and September 30, 2025, as "LDL-C Awareness Day." It highlights the urgent need to address cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., by focusing on managing high LDL cholesterol levels. The bill encourages public awareness and screening for LDL-C to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, contractors, and service members affected by a government funding lapse starting October 1, 2025, receive retroactive back pay for the period they worked without funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits agencies from initiating permanent staffing reductions or furloughs during such a lapse. These provisions are designed to provide financial security and stability to essential government personnel during periods of lapsed appropriations.

The AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 streamlines defense cooperation under the AUKUS agreement by modifying U.S. arms transfer requirements. This legislation exempts certain defense article reexports and temporary imports between the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. from specific presidential consent requirements. Furthermore, it eliminates the mandatory certification process for commercial technical assistance or manufacturing license agreements involving Australia and the United Kingdom.

The Pipeline Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in the Nation's Energy to assure Safety Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill that reauthorizes and increases funding for federal pipeline safety programs through 2030. It modernizes safety regulations by incorporating new technologies, increasing civil penalties for violations, and strengthening whistleblower protections. Furthermore, the legislation mandates new studies on emerging gases like hydrogen, improves emergency response planning, and streamlines oversight processes to enhance accountability across the industry.

The Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025 aims to boost U.S. economic competitiveness and national security by strategically attracting foreign direct investment from responsible entities in trusted nations. This legislation mandates a comprehensive review of current federal policies to streamline the process for this specific investment, particularly in high-tech sectors. The review must balance economic growth with safeguarding U.S. interests against threats posed by state-directed foreign entities, especially those linked to China. Ultimately, the bill seeks recommendations to enhance the U.S. investment climate while protecting American jobs and technology.

The Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 ensures that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue without interruption, even if Congress fails to pass the Department of Agriculture's budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation authorizes automatic funding from the Treasury to maintain payments and cover any retroactive benefits missed due to the delay. This temporary funding mechanism remains active until the regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations are officially enacted.

The Voter Purge Protection Act aims to safeguard voter registration by preventing states from removing individuals from voter rolls solely because they moved within the state. This legislation establishes strict standards for voter list maintenance, requiring objective proof before removal and allowing registered voters to update their address up to Election Day. Furthermore, it ensures that voters who move within a state can easily cast their ballot by updating their address at the polls.