Legislative Activity

This Senate resolution expresses the view that the Trump Administration's drastic staff reductions, funding freezes, and agency dismantlements have harmed communities and increased costs for American families. It argues these actions disrupt essential services like healthcare, benefits, and research without targeting actual waste. The resolution calls for a shift in focus toward protecting families, lowering costs, and supporting veterans, research, and small businesses.

The STEM RESTART Act establishes a new grant program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to help unemployed or underemployed mid-career workers re-enter high-demand, above-entry-level Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) jobs. These competitive "RESTART grants" will fund businesses to create "returnship" programs that offer on-the-job training, mentorship, and a clear path to full-time employment. The bill prioritizes programs that serve rural workers and ensures these opportunities lead to well-paying roles that supplement, rather than replace, existing staff.

The Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act of 2025 mandates the military departments to establish an official status identifier for RPA crews. This new designation will grant drone operators conducting combat operations recognition equivalent to that currently given to pilots flying manned aircraft in combat zones. The goal is to formally acknowledge the dangerous nature of remotely piloted combat missions.

The FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2025 mandates comprehensive tracking of all service members' toxic exposures in an expanded Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER). It establishes a presumption of toxic exposure for military personnel and DoD civilians working at specified Department of Energy facilities. Furthermore, the bill officially classifies the Nevada Test and Training Range as a contamination site, requiring the VA to presume toxic exposure and service connection for related conditions for veterans who served there since 1951.

This resolution formally condemns Hamas for its premeditated and brutal terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. It demands that Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages and allow them access to necessary medical care. The document further affirms that taking hostages is a clear violation of international law.

The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act establishes a new five-year pilot program for community-based palliative care managed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. This model aims to improve quality of life and coordinate care for seriously ill Medicare beneficiaries outside of traditional hospital settings. The program will offer comprehensive support, including pain and symptom management, while coordinating with existing providers. Success will be measured by comparing participant outcomes, such as emergency room use and hospital admissions, against non-participants.

The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2025 directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMI) to test a new payment model for blood transfusions for hospice patients. This model would allow blood transfusions to be paid for separately from the standard Medicare hospice per diem payment. The CMI must evaluate whether this change impacts patient utilization of hospital services and the overall quality of care.

This resolution officially recognizes May as Jewish American Heritage Month to celebrate the significant contributions of Jewish Americans throughout U.S. history. It calls on leaders to use this month to educate the public about Jewish heritage and actively counter the current rise in antisemitism. The measure emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety and dignity of the Jewish American community.

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act of 2025 aims to bolster cybersecurity across the nation's healthcare sector by enhancing coordination between CISA and HHS. This legislation mandates the creation of a sector-specific risk management plan, the identification of high-risk assets, and the provision of specialized training for healthcare owners and operators. Ultimately, the bill seeks to reduce the growing threat of cyberattacks targeting critical patient data and health services.

The One Stop Shop for Small Business Licensing Act of 2025 ensures the continued public availability of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) website dedicated to business licensing and permitting requirements. This legislation mandates that the SBA Administrator must keep the designated online resource accessible to everyone without charge. The Act secures this vital resource for small businesses looking to navigate federal licensing processes.

The Tax Relief for New Businesses Act simplifies tax treatment for new businesses by combining start-up and organizational expenditures under a single set of rules. This legislation significantly increases the immediate deduction limit for these initial costs from $\$5,000$ to $\$50,000$, with the phase-out threshold raised to $\$150,000$. It also introduces special rules for how these new deductions affect Net Operating Loss (NOL) calculations for partnerships and S corporations. These changes are effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

The Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025 aims to ease the financial burden on individuals caring for family members. This bill expands eligibility for contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by allowing parents to contribute on behalf of an individual or their spouse. Furthermore, it permits the use of Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to cover medical expenses for parents and in-laws. Finally, the Act updates Archer MSA rules to include parents in the definition of covered individuals.

The Specialty Physicians Advancing Rural Care (SPARC) Act establishes a new federal loan repayment program to incentivize specialty physicians and certain non-physician specialty providers to serve in rural health shortage areas. Participants must commit to six years of full-time service in exchange for having a portion of their educational debt repaid annually. This initiative aims to significantly bolster the availability of specialized medical care across underserved rural communities.

The Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act addresses three main areas: resolving complex federal/private land checkerboard patterns in Pershing County to potentially increase local tax revenue, designating over 130,000 acres of BLM land as protected wilderness areas, and transferring 10 acres of federal land into trust status for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe while prohibiting gaming on that parcel. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline land management, expand conservation, and support tribal interests in the region.

This resolution officially designates March 24, 2025, as "National Women of Color in Tech Day" to recognize the vital contributions of women of color in technology. It highlights their historical achievements while addressing the systemic barriers they face in STEM education and employment. The bill commits the Senate to boosting diversity, supporting inclusive STEM education pathways, and improving data transparency to strengthen the nation's tech workforce.

The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act updates the process for redistributing Medicare residency slots when a teaching hospital closes. This bill simplifies the criteria for assigning these slots to remaining teaching hospitals. Crucially, it establishes strict deadlines, requiring receiving hospitals to begin using the slots within two years and fill them completely within five years.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act allows medical and dental interns and residents to defer payments on their student loans during their training programs. This deferment specifically prevents principal payments and stops interest from accruing on the loan balance while the borrower is in residency or an internship. This ensures that medical professionals can focus on their training without accruing additional debt.

The "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act" bans the use of the DeepSeek application and related services from High Flyer on government devices. It directs the Office of Management and Budget to establish standards for removing DeepSeek from executive agencies' IT systems within 60 days, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security, and security research purposes, each requiring documented risk mitigation.

The "Born in the USA Act" prohibits the use of government funds to implement Executive Order 14160, which sought to deny citizenship to certain children born in the United States. The bill affirms that birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and cannot be rescinded by executive order.

The "Train More Nurses Act" mandates a review of existing federal programs supporting the nursing workforce. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor must identify ways to improve these programs, with a focus on increasing nurse faculty, creating career pathways for nurses, and expanding the nursing pipeline. A report of recommended changes will be submitted to Congress.