Legislative Activity

The "Preventing Power Outages Act" amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve electric grid reliability. It prioritizes grant applicants with the least reliable grids, as measured by industry standards (SAIDI, SAIFI, and CAIDI), and extends funding for grid improvement projects through 2031. The Act ensures that grants are focused on areas needing the most improvement and prevents the prioritization of applications based on the number of grid improvements proposed.

The "Combating CCP Labor Abuses Act of 2025" aims to combat human rights abuses by the Chinese government. It mandates the Department of Commerce to train its employees on human rights abuses, particularly forced labor against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Act also requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide guidance to U.S. businesses on identifying and avoiding involvement with entities engaged in these abuses, focusing on risks and preventative measures. This guidance is purely advisory.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2025 retroactively reauthorizes trade adjustment assistance programs for workers, firms, and farmers that expired on June 30, 2021, through December 31, 2031. It directs the Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Commerce to reconsider and certify certain groups of workers and firms who were previously denied certification between July 1, 2021 and the enactment date, if they meet the eligibility requirements as of the enactment date. The bill also outlines eligibility for benefits and extends funding for training and reemployment programs.

The Vehicle Safety Research Act of 2025 codifies the Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety (PARTS) program within the Department of Transportation, facilitating collaborative research on traffic safety data. It ensures data privacy and control for program participants while promoting the development of safety technologies and countermeasures. The Act authorizes specific appropriations for the PARTS program from fiscal year 2026 through 2030.

The "Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2025" aims to increase access to higher education by providing grants to institutions that partner with local education agencies to create or expand dual enrollment and early college high school programs. These programs allow high school students to earn college credits, with priority given to students from low-income families, rural schools, or those who are first-generation college students. Grant funds can be used for various support activities, including professional development, course design, and covering the costs of tuition, fees, and materials. The act also mandates program evaluations and reports to Congress to ensure effectiveness and accountability.

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Extension Act amends the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 to extend the Act's sunset date from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2035.

The "Strong Communities Act of 2025" establishes the "COPS Strong Communities Program," which provides grants to local law enforcement agencies and higher education institutions for law enforcement training programs. To be eligible, officers and recruits must commit to serving as full-time law enforcement officers in their communities for at least four years after completing their training. The bill also mandates that the Attorney General submit annual reports to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, detailing information about grant recipients, the number of officers and recruits trained, and their subsequent employment status.

The "Artificial Intelligence and Critical Technology Workforce Framework Act of 2025" directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and maintain workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support STEM education, training, and workforce development. These frameworks will define necessary competencies and workforce categories, be updated regularly, and consider diverse backgrounds and skills. The Act also requires reports to Congress on updates to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity and its application. Finally, it directs NIST to disseminate cybersecurity career resources for all age groups.

The Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act amends Title 46 of the United States Code to improve the geographic distribution of port infrastructure projects. This will be achieved when selecting projects for the Port and Intermodal Improvement Program. It will also improve the distribution of assistance for small inland river and coastal ports and terminals.

The resolution affirms the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an essential and independent federal entity. It recognizes the USPS's critical role in the economy, its service to millions of Americans, and its importance to veterans and communities. The resolution expresses the Senate's opposition to privatizing the USPS, citing concerns about increased costs, reduced services, and negative impacts on e-commerce and infrastructure.

This resolution celebrates the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, recognizing its historical importance, economic impact, and strategic value to U.S. national security. It acknowledges the base's contributions to national defense and aerospace, including its role as one of the oldest military airfields and its selection for the KC46A Pegasus tanker aircraft beddown. The resolution also commends the personnel at Selfridge and encourages continued support and cooperation to ensure the base's ongoing success.

The "Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act" aims to bolster the U.S. semiconductor supply chain by directing the Executive Director of SelectUSA to gather feedback from state-level economic development organizations on how to increase foreign direct investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing. It requires a report to Congress on strategies to further increase this investment and strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, emphasizing collaboration with federal agencies and state organizations. The Act stipulates that its implementation will be carried out using existing funds, without authorizing additional appropriations.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025 seeks to compensate the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for the uncompensated taking of reservation land by the U.S. government. The Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer $33.9 million to the Community, which can be used for various purposes, excluding land acquisition for gaming. Upon payment, the Act extinguishes all Community claims to the specified lands, ensuring clear title for current landowners. It also prevents the Community from using funds from the settlement to acquire land for gaming purposes.

The "Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2025" broadens protections for contractor employees who report waste, fraud, abuse, or dangers to public health and safety related to federal contracts and grants. It shields these individuals from retaliation, including when they refuse to obey orders that violate laws or regulations, and it applies to both defense and non-defense contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees. The act also prevents executive branch officials from requesting reprisals against whistleblowers and ensures that employees cannot waive their rights and remedies through predispute arbitration agreements.

The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, requiring lobbyists to disclose if they are exempt from registering as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938. This aims to increase transparency regarding potential foreign influence in lobbying activities.

The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act aims to streamline the process for disaster survivors to apply for and receive federal aid by creating a unified intake system. This system will consolidate applications, expedite assistance, prevent fraud, and ensure data security while allowing disaster assistance agencies to share information more efficiently. The Act mandates the FEMA Administrator to develop this system, certify participating agencies, and report to Congress on its implementation and impact. Ultimately, this bill seeks to speed up community recovery and protect survivors' information.

The "Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act" establishes a task force to assess and address the United States' reliance on foreign nations, especially China, for critical minerals and to mitigate associated national security risks. The task force will develop recommendations to secure domestic supply chains, promote cooperation among government levels, and enhance domestic mining, processing, and recycling capacities. Additionally, the act mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the regulatory environment affecting critical mineral supply chains.

The "US Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act" corrects inequities in retirement benefits for certain CBP officers hired after July 6, 2008, but offered positions beforehand. It ensures these officers receive proper annuity amounts, exempts them from certain mandatory retirement rules, and mandates a review of CBP's hiring practices related to retirement benefits. The Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Personnel Management are directed to make necessary corrections and provide guidance.

The "More Behavioral Health Providers Act of 2025" expands the Medicare health professional shortage area bonus program to include mental health and substance use disorder service providers. This act increases Medicare payments to physicians in health professional shortage areas by 10% and to physicians and other practitioners in mental health professional shortage areas by 15% for related services. The changes aim to increase access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

The "DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act" mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) procure ballistic resistant body armor specifically designed to protect the body shapes of all agents and officers, ensuring proper fit, coverage, and enhanced protection against bullet redirection. The body armor must be certified by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and meet specific ballistic resistance standards, including rigorous testing methods. The Act requires annual reports on the issuance and compliance of body armor, particularly for female agents and officers. All DHS agents and officers requiring body armor for their duties must be issued compliant gear within three years of the Act's enactment.