Legislative Activity

This joint resolution formally honors the thirteen U.S. service members who were killed in the August 26, 2021, bombing at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. It recognizes their ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation and expresses deep gratitude to their families. The resolution also designates a National Day of Remembrance to ensure their faithful service is never forgotten.

This resolution formally condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honors his life and legacy as a devoted husband, father, and founder of Turning Point USA. It recognizes his commitment to encouraging civil discourse on college campuses across the nation. The Senate also extends its deepest sympathies to his surviving family.

This resolution expresses support for designating November 16, 2025, as "National Warrior Call Day" to combat isolation and suicide among service members and veterans. It encourages all Americans to reach out and connect with those who have served to strengthen vital support structures. The day aims to foster peer-to-peer connection as a critical step in addressing the mental health challenges faced by our military community.

The STUDENT Act mandates that student loan lenders must now clearly disclose the total amount of interest a borrower will pay over the life of the loan. This calculation must be based on the standard repayment plan for the borrower's total outstanding principal balance. The goal is to provide borrowers with greater transparency regarding the full cost of their student loans.

The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025 establishes an automatic, 14-day continuing funding mechanism to keep federal programs operational if Congress fails to pass a full budget by the start of the fiscal year. This automatic funding continues in two-week increments until a final budget is enacted, while simultaneously imposing strict travel and procedural limitations on Congress and federal employees during these lapses. The Act is designed to prevent government shutdowns by ensuring continuity of essential services while incentivizing timely budget passage.

The Protecting Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025 mandates quarterly budget briefings for Congress by the VA Secretary and places new restrictions on critical skills bonuses for senior executives. Additionally, the bill establishes a new Veterans Experience Office, reporting directly to the Secretary, tasked with improving beneficiary satisfaction and reporting on customer feedback data to Congress. This new office will sunset on September 30, 2028, following a review by the Comptroller General.

The LETITIA Act significantly increases criminal penalties for public officials who commit financial crimes, including bank fraud, lying on loan applications, and tax fraud. This legislation establishes mandatory minimum sentences and higher fines that escalate based on the number of prior offenses committed by the official. Furthermore, it directs the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury to issue guidance ensuring rigorous investigation and enforcement of these enhanced statutes against public servants.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. It condemns the multiple attempts against his life and other political officials, while honoring the victims and first responders involved in the July 2024 shooting. The measure further calls for an end to the incitement of political violence that threatens the democratic process.

The Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the domestic biobased products industry by increasing federal procurement of items made from renewable farm materials. The bill updates definitions, enhances reporting and accountability for federal purchasing programs, and establishes a new USDA Biobased Task Force to coordinate efforts. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to boost rural economies, reduce reliance on oil, and promote American biomanufacturing.

This bill prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in any election within the District of Columbia. It also repeals the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, effectively undoing that prior legislation. The measure ensures that only citizens can participate in D.C. local elections and ballot initiatives.

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2025 officially renames the foundational Endangered Species Act of 1973 to the Endangered Species Recovery Act. This change is purely titular, meaning all existing laws and regulations will now reference the new title. The bill ensures consistency by updating all official government documents to reflect the new name immediately.

Kate's Law increases penalties for illegal entry into the U.S. by individuals who are later convicted of serious crimes. The bill mandates a minimum five-year sentence for illegal entry if the person is subsequently convicted of a crime punishable by over one year in prison. Furthermore, it significantly increases prison sentences, including mandatory minimums, for aliens who illegally reenter the U.S. after being previously removed.

This bill aims to improve veterans' healthcare by updating community care program eligibility and notification processes, enhancing mental health treatment program standards and access, and modernizing the VA's healthcare system through online tools and streamlined processes. It focuses on ensuring timely access to care, accommodating veterans' preferences, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of VA services. The bill also mandates increased transparency and accountability through regular reports to Congress.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to ensure food products labeled as "milk," "cheese," or other standardized dairy terms actually meet established definitions. This legislation prevents companies from selling non-dairy items across state lines using official dairy names unless they meet strict ingredient and sourcing standards. The FDA is required to quickly issue new guidance on enforcing these labeling requirements.

The Primacy Certainty Act of 2025 aims to streamline and accelerate the process for states to gain primary enforcement responsibility for regulating Class VI carbon sequestration wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill imposes strict, short deadlines on the EPA for reviewing state applications, including an automatic approval provision if the agency fails to act within 210 days under certain conditions. It also mandates EPA support for states preparing their applications and requires the agency to report on the resources needed to implement these changes.

This bill, the STUDENT Act, seeks to fundamentally restructure the National Education Association (NEA) due to Congress's findings that it has become a partisan political entity rather than an educational organization. It imposes strict new requirements on membership dues collection from government employees, bans the organization from engaging in political activities, and prohibits it from promoting certain ideological beliefs in schools. Furthermore, the Act repeals a specific federal property tax exemption currently enjoyed by the organization in the District of Columbia.

The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act allows taxpayers whose original IRS refund check was lost or stolen to elect to receive their replacement refund via direct deposit. This change provides an alternative to receiving a second paper check for the lost funds. The Treasury Department must establish the necessary procedures for this election.

The Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025 aims to significantly boost employee ownership in S corporations through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). This bill extends crucial tax deferral benefits for stock sales to ESOPs and establishes new offices within the Treasury and Labor Departments to provide technical assistance and advocacy. Furthermore, it amends the Small Business Act to ensure ESOP-owned businesses do not automatically lose small business status when they transition to majority employee ownership.

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025 directs the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) to create a joint agreement to coordinate environmental reviews for housing projects they jointly fund. This aims to eliminate redundant processes by establishing a lead agency and allowing for the mutual acceptance of environmental documentation. The bill also mandates the creation of an advisory group composed of various housing stakeholders to ensure efficient implementation without compromising resident safety or environmental standards.

The Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 clarifies and limits the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) over entities already regulated by state insurance authorities. This bill specifically restricts the CFPB's ability to enforce federal consumer protection rules against state-regulated insurers operating within the business of insurance. The legislation ensures that state insurance regulators maintain primary oversight for these entities.