Legislative Activity

The Honest Operations for National Cemetery Reporting Act of 2025 (HONOR Act of 2025) mandates increased public transparency regarding burial scheduling at National Cemeteries. This bill requires the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) to post current interment availability data online and update it every 30 days. Furthermore, the Act ensures the NCA continues to conduct and publicly report on customer satisfaction surveys, requiring advance notice to Congress for any significant changes.

This bill overhauls Department of Defense (DOD) hiring to improve recruitment and retention for its cyber workforce. It grants the Secretary of Defense special authority to create unique cyber positions and bypass standard federal hiring and pay rules to attract top talent. The legislation establishes new pay scales, specialized executive roles, and requires detailed reporting to Congress on the implementation and effectiveness of these changes over five years.

This bill amends U.S. Code to expand the Department of Defense's (DoD) authority for cyber operations. Specifically, it now explicitly includes the defense of the DoD's own critical infrastructure against cyber threats. The legislation also updates legal definitions to clarify what constitutes this essential infrastructure.

This bill modifies the selection process for the State Partnership Program (SPP) to ensure the Department of Defense considers a state's existing international assignments. Specifically, it requires the National Guard Bureau to prioritize states that currently have only one active country partnership when making new selections. This aims to balance the distribution of international partnerships across participating states.

This bill mandates the establishment of the Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) Steering Committee within the Department of Defense (DoD) by April 2026. Led by the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the committee will analyze AGI technology trends and adversary progress. Its primary goal is to develop a comprehensive DoD strategy for adopting AGI, including ethical guidelines and threat countermeasures, before the committee sunsets at the end of 2027.

The Chairman James Mountain Inhofe Recognition Act of 2025 officially renames the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. This act ensures that the center will now be known as the James M. Inhofe Africa Center for Strategic Studies across all federal documents and records.

The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act establishes a framework for financial entities to test new Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects under regulatory supervision. This allows firms to apply for temporary waivers from specific rules by proposing an alternative compliance strategy that demonstrates public benefit and manages risk. Regulatory agencies must create "AI Innovation Labs" to review these applications, generally requiring approval within 120 days unless an immediate threat is identified. The goal is to foster responsible innovation in financial services while maintaining systemic stability and consumer protection.

The Intelligence Community Property Security Act of 2025 establishes new federal penalties for unauthorized entry onto clearly marked, restricted property belonging to U.S. intelligence agencies. This act amends the National Security Act of 1947 to criminalize trespassing on secure facilities. Penalties escalate based on the number of prior offenses, potentially leading to up to 10 years in prison for repeat violations.

This Act, the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, aims to accelerate housing development by modernizing and simplifying the environmental review process for certain HUD housing-related activities under NEPA. It reclassifies numerous common housing and supportive service activities into categories requiring less extensive environmental review, such as exemptions or categorical exclusions. The Secretary of HUD is required to report annually to Congress for five years on the resulting reductions in review times and administrative costs, particularly within the affordable housing sector.

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 Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act aims to improve federal efforts to combat homelessness by reforming key programs like the Emergency Solutions Grants and Continuum of Care. This bill increases administrative funding caps, introduces greater flexibility in program administration and inspections, and mandates new studies and technology upgrades. Furthermore, it establishes an Advisory Committee on Homelessness and focuses on better coordination between housing, healthcare, and justice systems to improve outcomes.

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 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 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 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 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.