Legislative Activity

The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act prohibits payment card networks and processors from requiring firearms retailers to use a unique Merchant Category Code (MCC) that singles them out. This ensures that credit and debit card transactions for firearms and ammunition are treated the same as general retail purchases. The Attorney General is tasked with enforcing this prohibition and reporting annually to Congress on compliance efforts.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the recent rule finalized by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) concerning overdraft lending practices at very large financial institutions. By passing this resolution, Congress is effectively vetoing and preventing the enforcement of that specific BCFP regulation.

The Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act modifies requirements for tracking the use of clinical decision support tools when ordering applicable imaging services, effective January 1, 2026. It mandates that qualified decision support mechanisms report detailed data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services upon request. The bill also establishes compliance rules for ordering professionals, outlines specific exemptions to these rules, and updates the process for identifying "low compliant" ordering professionals.

The DRIVE Act prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from issuing any new rules that would mandate speed limiting devices on commercial motor vehicles. This legislation prevents the federal government from setting a maximum speed cap for eighteen-wheelers through future regulations.

The Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025 streamlines firefighting operations by exempting the use of approved fire retardants during wildfire suppression from standard federal water pollution discharge permits. This change ensures that necessary aerial application of Forest Service-qualified products does not require an NPDES permit. The bill focuses on removing regulatory hurdles for essential wildfire control activities.

The Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act introduces a new aggravating factor for federal death penalty consideration. This factor applies when an individual who is illegally present in the U.S. is convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a United States citizen. This measure aims to provide justice for victims of crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants.

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends the successful restoration program through 2034 and significantly expands its scope and capacity. This bill increases the number of projects funded annually, allows projects to address forest pathogens, and encourages innovative funding and implementation methods. Furthermore, it strengthens support for local collaboratives and prioritizes projects focused on wildfire risk reduction and watershed health across all land types.

The Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025 aims to stabilize and lower consumer broadband costs by reforming the Universal Service Fund (USF). This bill mandates the FCC to require major content and service providers ("Edge providers") to contribute financially to the USF alongside traditional broadband companies. Additionally, it establishes a new, targeted funding mechanism to ensure support reaches carriers serving high-cost, rural areas.

The TEST AI Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program, managed by NIST, to develop reliable measurement standards for evaluating federal Artificial Intelligence systems. This effort requires collaboration between the Departments of Commerce and Energy to create necessary testing facilities, known as "testbeds." A newly formed Working Group will advise on developing standards covering AI reliability, security, and bias, with a final report submitted to Congress detailing findings and future needs.

This resolution officially supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, observed from May 6 through May 12, 2025. It recognizes the vital contributions of nurses as frontline healthcare providers and patient advocates. The measure encourages the public to observe the week with appropriate events honoring the nursing profession.

The MOMS Act aims to support mothers and unborn children through three main areas: establishing a federal resource website, Pregnancy.gov, to connect expecting and new mothers with local services. It also creates grant programs to fund organizations that support carrying pregnancies to term and expand access to prenatal/postnatal telehealth care. Finally, the Act mandates that states establish and enforce child support obligations on behalf of unborn children upon the mother's request.

The Save Healthcare Workers Act establishes new federal penalties for knowingly attacking hospital personnel while they are performing their duties. This legislation increases prison time and fines for assaults involving weapons or serious injury, and mandates a GAO study to review the law's impact on workplace violence and federal prosecution rates. The goal is to enhance the safety and security of healthcare providers across the nation.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Small Business Week. It aims to celebrate the vital contributions of the over 34.5 million small businesses that support tens of millions of jobs nationwide. The bill honors the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners in every community.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as Community College Month to celebrate the vital role of over 1,000 community colleges nationwide. These institutions are recognized for providing accessible, affordable higher education and essential workforce training. The bill emphasizes their significant contribution to advancing local economies and overall U.S. prosperity.

The Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 expands the legal definition of "critical minerals" to explicitly include materials previously designated as "critical materials" by the Secretary of Energy. This legislation mandates the Secretary to promptly update the official list of critical minerals upon such a designation. The goal is to ensure consistency in how these vital resources are legally defined and tracked.

This resolution expresses the Senate's strong support for designating April 2025 as Parkinson's Awareness Month. It recognizes the growing impact of Parkinson's disease, which affects over a million Americans and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease globally. The resolution emphasizes the critical need for increased research, better public education, and robust community support for those living with the condition. Finally, it commends the dedication of patients, researchers, and advocates working toward better treatments and a cure.

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Financial Literacy Month" to raise national awareness about the critical need for personal finance education. It highlights current financial struggles, such as high household debt and lack of banking access, while emphasizing that financial education leads to better economic outcomes. The resolution encourages federal, state, and local entities to observe the month with programs promoting essential skills like budgeting, saving, and debt management.

This bill modifies the railroad track maintenance credit by significantly increasing the maximum credit amount per mile from $\$3,500$ to $\$6,100$. It also updates the eligibility period for qualifying expenditures and mandates that the new credit limit will be adjusted for inflation starting in 2026. These changes are designed to provide greater financial support for ongoing railroad infrastructure upkeep.

The BE GONE Act, or Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the list of crimes considered "aggravated felonies." Specifically, this bill adds "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence" to the list of offenses that trigger severe immigration consequences. This change broadens the scope of crimes that can lead to deportation or inadmissibility for non-citizens.

This resolution officially supports the mission of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2025 to combat the deadly counterfeit pill crisis. It highlights the severe danger posed by fake pills containing lethal doses of fentanyl, which are increasingly accessible to young people. The bill aims to increase public awareness regarding this threat and applauds law enforcement efforts to stop the spread of illicit drugs.