Legislative Activity

This bill establishes the "21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act" to address disparities in STEM education. It creates a competitive grant program for eligible local educational agencies to fund comprehensive, K-12 STEM activities specifically targeting girls and underrepresented minorities. These four-year grants aim to improve student interest, skills, and career preparation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections for unaccompanied children navigating the immigration system. This bill exempts these children from various immigration-related fees, including those for asylum and employment authorization. Furthermore, it places limitations on body examinations and restricts the sharing of sponsor information with immigration enforcement agencies. The Act also mandates the refund of previously paid fees that are now waived.

The Investing in All of America Act of 2025 amends the Small Business Investment Act to redefine "private capital" for Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) by excluding direct government funding when calculating leverage. The bill also adjusts the maximum leverage amounts available to single and commonly controlled SBICs. Finally, it expands the ability for SBICs to exclude certain investments in targeted areas, such as low-income or rural businesses, from their leverage calculations.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from any hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been explicitly authorized by Congress. It affirms Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and mandates expedited procedures for considering this measure. The resolution ensures that any ongoing military action against Venezuela ceases unless Congress provides a specific authorization for the use of force.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a previous law (Public Law 11921). This repeal effectively reinstates the original statutes that were previously altered by those sections.

This resolution officially designates November 22, 2025, as National Adoption Day and November 2025 as National Adoption Month. The measure aims to raise national awareness about the children awaiting adoption and celebrate those involved in adoption. It encourages all Americans to promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children across the nation.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of available, stable foster and adoptive homes, particularly for LGBTQ youth and youth of color who are overrepresented in the system. The bill mandates federal guidance, cultural competency training, and the establishment of a resource center to improve safety and permanency outcomes for all children in care. Entities found in violation may face the withholding of federal payments.

The VISIT USA Act transfers \$160 million from the Travel Promotion Fund to Brand USA to support international tourism promotion. This funding is specifically allocated from existing unobligated balances collected through certain travel-related fees. The transfer is made within 30 days of the law's enactment.

The Background Check Expansion Act mandates that nearly all private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals must go through a licensed dealer to complete a federal background check. This legislation establishes a universal background check requirement for these transactions, with specific exceptions for family gifts and law enforcement transfers. The bill aims to close loopholes in existing firearm transfer laws while explicitly prohibiting the creation of a national firearms registry.

The NOPAIN for Veterans Act mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must include specific, FDA-approved non-opioid pain management drugs in its national formulary. This ensures veterans have access to alternatives that do not act on opioid receptors for pain relief. The bill sets clear deadlines for the inclusion of these non-opioid products.

The Bring Our Heroes Home Act mandates the collection and prompt public disclosure of all U.S. government records concerning Armed Forces and civilian personnel missing since December 7, 1941. It establishes an independent Review Board to oversee the transfer of these records to the National Archives and to rule on any proposed postponements of disclosure. The Act aims to provide the fullest possible accounting to the American public and the families of the missing, with only narrow, clearly defined exceptions to release.

The "No Torts for Trump Act" amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to prohibit lawsuits against the federal government brought by the sitting President or any individual who subsequently becomes President. This new exception bars such claims from being heard in federal court, regardless of when the underlying incident occurred.

This resolution officially recognizes November as National Native American Heritage Month. It celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and significant contributions of Native Americans to the United States across various fields. The resolution also reaffirms the government's commitment to tribal self-governance and the government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes.

The Anti-Cash Grab Act repeals a specific provision (Section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). This repeal effectively restores a previous law, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005. The legislation is designed to take effect retroactively as if the repealed section had never been enacted.

This bill, the Restoring Access for Detainees Act, mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provide detained individuals with free, limited telephone and electronic communication services. It aims to ensure detainees can consult with legal counsel and maintain essential family ties at no cost. The legislation specifies minimum free calling minutes, required access for legal consultation, and prohibits monitoring of confidential communications with attorneys.

This Senate resolution expresses support for the European Union's efforts to rapidly diversify away from Russian energy sources following the invasion of Ukraine. It commends recent EU and U.S. sanctions targeting Russian energy revenues. The resolution also specifically calls on Hungary to adhere to the established timelines for ending its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

The Immigrant Veterans Eligibility Tracking System (IVETS) Act mandates that the Department of Homeland Security identify and record the military service of any alien applying for an immigration benefit or facing enforcement proceedings. This ensures that records clearly reflect military service, though this information cannot be used by the government for removal purposes. The goal is to better track the immigration outcomes for veterans and service members.

The Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2025 establishes a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship for noncitizen veterans and service members removed or facing removal from the U.S. It protects eligible veterans and service members from deportation unless convicted of a crime of violence. Furthermore, the Act ensures that eligible veterans who adjust their status gain full access to military and veterans benefits.

The Veterans TBI Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act of 2025 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program to fund supplemental neurorehabilitation approaches for veterans suffering from chronic mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). This program will award grants to eligible entities to develop and test patient-centered, non-medication therapies aimed at improving mental health outcomes and reducing suicidality. The goal is to advance innovative, integrated treatments for mTBI and associated conditions outside of traditional VA pathways.

This resolution officially designates October 2025 as National Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month to highlight the historical importance of toxic exposures in military service. It aims to raise public awareness about these issues and commend the efforts of veterans and advocates supporting affected service members. The resolution also calls on the Department of Defense to prevent future toxic exposure incidents.