Legislative Activity

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and prohibit several proposed foreign military sales of defense articles and services to Taiwan. The bill specifically targets eight separate transmittals covering a wide range of military equipment, including artillery systems, missile launchers, helicopters, and various munitions. Ultimately, this legislation aims to halt these specific arms transfers authorized under the Arms Export Control Act.

The Temporary Family Visitation Act establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category specifically for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to visit the U.S. for social or occasional family purposes. This visa allows for a maximum stay of 90 days per year, provided the visitor secures financial support, obtains required medical insurance, and intends to depart. Crucially, holders of this new visa are prohibited from changing their status to another nonimmigrant category while in the U.S.

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act prohibits federal law enforcement officers from executing "no-knock" warrants, which allow entry without announcing authority or purpose. Furthermore, it conditions Department of Justice funding for state and local agencies on their compliance with the same prohibition against executing such warrants.

The Health Marketplace and Savings Accounts for All Act significantly expands Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by removing enrollment restrictions and increasing contribution limits, making them accessible to everyone. It also establishes new "health marketplace pools" that allow non-traditional organizations to offer group health insurance options. These changes aim to provide broader access to both flexible medical savings and comprehensive group coverage.

The Health Savings Accounts For All Act of 2025 significantly expands access and utility for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). It dramatically increases annual contribution limits and removes the requirement that individuals must be enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to contribute. Furthermore, the bill expands qualified medical expenses to include wellness items like gym memberships and vitamins, and allows for tax-free rollovers to parents or children.

This concurrent resolution establishes the proposed federal budget framework for fiscal year 2026 and sets spending levels through 2035, projecting an initial reduction in the federal deficit. It outlines specific spending targets across government functions and mandates strict procedural rules within the Senate to enforce these budgetary limits. The resolution also grants the Senate Budget Committee Chairman authority to adjust figures related to savings or Health Savings Account legislation.

The Safeguarding Personal Information Act of 2025 primarily repeals Title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005, eliminating previous federal identification document requirements. The bill also makes conforming amendments to align other laws, including adjustments regarding benefits for certain Afghan nationals and state grant requirements under the Social Security Act. This legislation removes specific mandates tied to the REAL ID Act from various federal contexts.

The Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025 establishes a new process for federal agencies to identify and return unused "surplus salaries and expenses funds" to the Treasury for deficit reduction. Agencies may retain up to 10% of these returned savings to provide cash awards to the employees who identified the waste. This temporary system includes strict reporting requirements for agencies and is set to expire six years after enactment.

The Duplication Scoring Act of 2025 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review bills reported by Congressional committees for potential duplication with existing government programs. If a risk of overlap is found, the GAO must notify the CBO and the reporting committee, and publish the findings online. The CBO Director may then supplement the bill's cost estimate with the GAO's duplication assessment.

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 Royalty Transparency Act expands financial disclosure requirements for certain federal advisory board members and mandates that executive branch employees and covered advisors report the source and value of royalties received, including those from government-developed inventions. The bill also updates federal acquisition rules to prevent organizational conflicts of interest by requiring agencies to review contractor royalty payments during conflict checks. Finally, it establishes new procedures for public access to these financial reports and mandates annual reporting on royalty-related conflicts to Congress.

The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) within one year of enactment. The resulting report, detailing findings and recommendations, must be delivered to Congress within 90 days of the audit's completion. This legislation streamlines reporting requirements and clarifies the scope of GAO audit authority over the Federal Reserve's operations, including emergency lending facilities.

This bill, the Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act, accelerates the effective date for restricting Medicaid eligibility for certain non-citizens to July 4, 2025. It also adjusts federal funding formulas (FMAP) to provide increased federal support to states that cover healthcare costs for specific groups of non-qualified aliens. The legislation clarifies definitions and timing related to these Medicaid provisions.

The Collegiate Sports Integrity Act grants an antitrust exemption to intercollegiate athletic conferences and associations. This legislation shields these organizations from federal antitrust lawsuits concerning their rules and regulations for organizing and governing college sports. Essentially, it provides legal protection for how these groups manage competition, eligibility, and scheduling.

The HEMP Act of 2025 redefines legal hemp by increasing the maximum allowable delta-9 THC concentration from 0.3% to 1%. This legislation also updates transportation requirements, mandating specific licensing or lab documentation for all hemp shipments. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to swiftly update federal regulations to reflect these changes within 90 days.

The End the Fed’s Big Bank Bailout Act prohibits the Federal Reserve from paying any interest or earnings on the reserve balances that commercial banks hold on deposit. This measure aims to eliminate a potential subsidy for large banks by ensuring that money parked at the Fed earns nothing.

The Restore Prescription Drugs Discount Act officially repeals outdated legislation from 1936. This action clears the way for new policies regarding prescription drug pricing.

The Health Marketplace for All Act of 2025 amends federal law to recognize certain "health marketplace pools" as employers for the purpose of offering group health plans. This allows these pools to provide comprehensive or standalone prescription drug coverage to their members. The Act establishes specific rules for how these pools must be structured to ensure fair, non-discriminatory access to coverage for all members. These changes aim to expand access to group health insurance options through organized risk pools.

The Tanning Tax Repeal Act of 2025 officially eliminates the federal excise tax on indoor tanning services. This legislation strikes the relevant chapter from the Internal Revenue Code, immediately ceasing the tax requirement for services rendered after the bill's enactment. In short, it removes the tax on tanning salons moving forward.

The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2025 aims to promote alternative fuels by legalizing and regulating aftermarket vehicle conversions, provided they meet emissions standards. It updates fuel economy calculations by introducing new definitions for alternative fuels and offering significant compliance bonuses to manufacturers focusing on these "fuel choice enabling" vehicles. Furthermore, the Act adjusts the EPA's authority regarding waivers for required ethanol blending in gasoline.