Legislative Activity

The USA Beef Act establishes stricter requirements for labeling beef as "Product of USA." This designation will now only apply to beef from cattle that were entirely born, raised, and slaughtered within the United States. This new standard does not apply to beef intended for export outside the U.S.

The Fence Line Fairness Act of 2025 establishes state-level oversight mediation committees composed of local farmers and ranchers to resolve boundary disputes between private landowners and the U.S. Forest Service. If a boundary dispute arises, the Secretary of Agriculture must offer the private landowner the option to use this new mediation process. These committees will hold hearings, issue factual findings, and provide recommendations to both parties and relevant congressional committees to facilitate resolution.

The Livestock Indemnity Program Improvement Act of 2025 revises how the government calculates indemnity payments for livestock owners who suffer losses. This legislation mandates a specific, quarterly process for the Secretary to determine the market value used in these payments. The changes aim to standardize and clarify the valuation methodology for the Livestock Indemnity Program.

The NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act aims to create a fairer system for landowners dealing with the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding wetland determinations. This bill shifts the burden of proof onto the government in violation cases, limits retroactive penalties, and establishes new appeal rights and oversight committees. Furthermore, it prohibits the NRCS from acquiring any new permanent easements.

The New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2025 updates federal law to allow meat and poultry inspected under approved state programs to be sold across state lines. This legislation grants the Secretary authority to permit interstate commerce for these state-inspected products. Furthermore, it prevents individual states or localities from blocking the entry or sale of products already deemed compliant for interstate commerce.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2025 expands eligibility for disaster assistance under the NAP. This legislation removes the previous exception that excluded certain crops and grasses used for grazing from receiving aid. Consequently, grazing crops will now be treated equally with other crops when seeking disaster relief through the program.

The Stop Stealing our Chips Act establishes a new Whistleblower Incentive Program to reward individuals who voluntarily report violations of U.S. export control laws, particularly concerning advanced AI chips sent to adversaries. This program offers financial incentives of 10% to 30% of collected fines and provides strong legal protections against employer retaliation for those who report violations. The bill also creates the Export Compliance Accountability Fund to finance these awards and the program's operations.

The Health Tech Investment Act aims to establish specific, cost-based payment rules for advanced algorithm-based healthcare services under Medicare, starting in 2026. This ensures that services utilizing AI or machine learning receive appropriate payment based on manufacturer-submitted costs while in the New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (NTAP). The bill also clarifies eligibility for these new technologies within the Medicare outpatient payment system.

The Returning Education to Our States Act fundamentally dismantles the Department of Education by transferring most of its core functions, including K-12 and higher education funding, to the Departments of Health and Human Services, the Treasury, and Labor. This bill replaces existing federal education structures with flexible block grants managed by these non-education agencies, giving states greater discretion over funding use. The legislation also mandates new federal oversight, data reporting, and auditing requirements for states receiving these block grants.

The Rural Development Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the Department of Agriculture to provide crucial technical assistance to eligible rural healthcare facilities. This program aims to ensure the financial stability and operational efficiency of these hospitals, ultimately strengthening rural healthcare delivery and preventing facility closures. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to appropriate up to $2 million annually through fiscal year 2029 to fund these targeted services.

This Senate resolution urges the United States government to officially recognize the 1994 mass killings in Rwanda specifically as "the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda." It calls for the Secretary of State to consistently use this precise terminology to align with international consensus. The resolution also ensures that the historical record acknowledges the violence committed against Hutus and the Twa community during that period.

The MedShield Act of 2025 establishes a permanent national medical defense program to proactively guard the U.S. against future biological threats. This new program will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology to rapidly develop and deploy medical countermeasures, aiming to eliminate the need for emergency mobilizations like Operation Warp Speed. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with creating and implementing this integrated system, coordinating across government, industry, and international allies. The Act authorizes significant funding over five years to build this standing biodefense shield.

The INFORM Act of 2025 establishes new, clearer notification requirements for the Postal Service when implementing significant nationwide changes to postal services. This legislation mandates that the Postal Service must submit proposals to the Postal Regulatory Commission and simultaneously post detailed public notices in affected post office lobbies. These notices must remain visible for at least 30 days after the change takes effect, ensuring the public is fully informed about the service alterations, impact, and opportunities for feedback.

The Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act updates the notification requirements for emergency care provided to enrolled Indians by non-IHS facilities. This legislation mandates that the Indian Health Service must be notified about such emergency treatment or admission within 15 days. This change aims to streamline the process for covering emergency healthcare received outside the IHS system.

The Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to expand access to mental health and substance use services for rural and underserved populations via telehealth. Eligible entities will receive funding to deliver remote care directly to patients' homes, improving access where traditional services are scarce. Grantees must also focus on developing quality metrics for this remote care and supporting necessary technological infrastructure, such as broadband access.

The Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights Act ensures that spouses of active-duty service members stationed overseas can legally receive firearms or ammunition under existing federal exceptions. This legislation also standardizes how a military spouse's residency is determined for federal firearms laws, aligning it with that of the service member. The goal is to provide consistent rights and recognition for military families regarding firearm ownership, regardless of their duty station location.

This joint resolution nullifies a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The rule concerned the prohibition of creditors and consumer reporting agencies from using or sharing medical information. By disapproving the rule, this resolution prevents the regulation from taking effect.

The Traveler's Gun Rights Act updates the federal definition of "State of residence" for individuals, including military members, to better reflect where they actually live or are stationed. This change also modifies the identification requirements for firearm background checks to accommodate those without a traditional physical residence. The goal is to clarify residency rules across various federal firearms laws.

The PASS Act enhances national security reviews of foreign investment in U.S. agriculture by formally involving the Secretary of Agriculture in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) process. It establishes specific triggers for reviewing transactions involving agricultural land, particularly near sensitive sites. Furthermore, the bill grants the President authority to prohibit transactions where a "covered foreign person"—often linked to designated foreign adversaries—seeks to acquire critical agricultural assets.

The Avian Flu Vaccination Strategy Act mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and finalize a national strategy for vaccinating poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza. This process requires consultation with the United States Trade Representative to ensure compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. The final vaccination strategy must be established within one year of the Act's enactment.