Legislative Activity

The Nitazene Sanctions Act aims to combat the production and flow of dangerous 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids, which are potent synthetic substances. The bill mandates a report detailing China's role in precursor production and outlines strategies for international cooperation to curb this flow. Furthermore, it amends the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to specifically target Chinese entities and officials involved in opioid trafficking and expands the authority to impose sanctions on foreign governments materially contributing to this crisis.

This resolution supports designating October 2025 as "Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month" to raise national awareness about the scope of substance use in the United States. It highlights current statistics on substance use disorders and illicit drug use among Americans aged 12 and older. The measure expresses the Senate's support for effective prevention programs aimed at addressing the ongoing addiction and overdose epidemic.

The AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 streamlines defense cooperation under the AUKUS agreement by modifying U.S. arms transfer requirements. This legislation exempts certain defense article reexports and temporary imports between the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. from specific presidential consent requirements. Furthermore, it eliminates the mandatory certification process for commercial technical assistance or manufacturing license agreements involving Australia and the United Kingdom.

This resolution commemorates the 74th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, affirming the strong bilateral security alliance between the two nations. It strongly condemns the escalating aggression and unlawful territorial claims by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea. The bill urges the President to continue actions that support Philippine defense modernization and enhance deterrence against coercion. It reaffirms that an armed attack against Philippine public vessels in the region would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty.

The THINK TWICE Act of 2025 mandates the annual reporting of China's global arms sales, detailing the types, capabilities, and strategic impact of their defense exports. Furthermore, it requires the development of a comprehensive U.S. strategy to actively discourage nations from purchasing new Chinese weapons systems. This strategy must include an information campaign highlighting the risks of Chinese equipment and outlining ways to make U.S. alternatives more competitive.

The Strengthen Wood Products Supply Chain Act of 2025 establishes strict timelines and procedures for the detention and inspection of imported wood products suspected of violating the Lacey Act. This bill mandates that the Secretary of the Interior must make a final decision on detained plants within 30 days of initial inspection. It also grants importers specific rights regarding notification, testing transparency, and the ability to move detained goods under bond.

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act of 2025 aims to strengthen support for small businesses in rural areas by increasing the maximum microloan amount to $\$75,000$ and allowing loan funds to cover building and construction costs. This legislation also extends the program's authorization through 2030. A key change requires microloan organizations to now match 100 percent of federal funds received.

This resolution celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), recognizing its foundational role in strengthening American energy security and supporting rural economies. It affirms that the RFS has successfully driven innovation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and provided significant economic benefits nationwide. The bill concludes by supporting the continued diversification of the nation's transportation fuel supply through the RFS.

The VARIANCE Act adjusts federal weight limits specifically for commercial trucks transporting unpackaged, homogeneous dry bulk goods. This allows vehicles carrying these materials to temporarily exceed standard single or tandem axle weight limits by up to 110 percent, while still adhering to the overall maximum vehicle weight.

The No Capital Gains Allowance for American Adversaries Act mandates that profits from investments tied to designated "countries of concern"—including China, Russia, Iran, Belarus, and North Korea—be taxed as ordinary income rather than lower-rate capital gains. This legislation also eliminates the stepped-up basis for heirs inheriting such assets and requires the SEC to establish clear definitions and public disclosure rules for affected securities. These new tax treatments will take effect starting January 1, 2026.

The PRC Military and Human Rights Capital Markets Sanctions Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. persons from purchasing, selling, or holding securities related to entities connected to the Chinese military or human rights abuses. This measure requires the President to publish a list of these "covered entities" drawn from various U.S. government watchlists. Individuals found in violation face significant civil and criminal penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment. Existing prohibited holdings must be divested within specified timeframes after the bill's enactment.

The Protecting Endowments from Our Adversaries Act imposes severe federal excise taxes on large private colleges and universities with over \$1 billion in assets. These taxes target investments in entities listed on U.S. government watchlists, such as those related to national security concerns. Specifically, the bill imposes a 50% tax upon acquiring such restricted investments and a 100% tax on any income or gains generated from them. This legislation aims to penalize institutions for financial ties with specified adversarial persons or companies.

The No China in Index Funds Act prohibits index funds from investing in companies defined as Chinese entities. Existing investments in these companies are granted a 180-day grace period before they must be divested. Violations of this prohibition will result in significant civil penalties determined by the SEC.

The AFIDA Improvements Act of 2025 updates the rules for reporting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. This bill lowers the minimum reporting threshold to 1% ownership for certain foreign investors and clarifies enforcement procedures for the Secretary of Agriculture. Furthermore, it mandates information sharing between the Department of Agriculture and national security officials (CFIUS) regarding these foreign investment disclosures. The Act also requires updates to official handbooks and an analysis of implementing a fully electronic reporting system.

The HEALTH Panel Act establishes a new Panel of Health Advisors within the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) composed of 15 independent experts. This Panel will provide technical guidance and recommendations to improve the CBO's analysis, modeling, and cost estimates related to federal health care policy. The CBO Director must publicly report on how these expert recommendations are incorporated into official CBO projections.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating May 2025 as "National Beef Month." It recognizes the significant economic contributions of the U.S. cattle industry and highlights the nutritional value of beef. The bill serves as a formal acknowledgment of the importance of beef to American agriculture and consumers without enacting new laws.

The Business Owners Protection Act of 2025 terminates specific, unused regulatory authorities granted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Dodd-Frank Act. If the SEC failed to initiate rulemaking for these discretionary powers by January 1, 2025, those authorities automatically expire upon the enactment of this Act. The SEC is required to publicly report to Congress on all terminated authorities within 180 days.

The SNAP Next Step Act of 2025 aims to connect SNAP recipients with job training opportunities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It defines specific criteria for SNAP participants to qualify as "covered individuals" eligible for these training programs. Additionally, the bill allows states to develop a public employment calculator to help SNAP recipients easily determine the financial impact of accepting new employment on their total benefits.

This joint resolution disapproves a final rule issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP) that defined "Larger Participants" in the market for general-use digital consumer payment applications. By passing this resolution, Congress nullifies the BCFP's specific definition and any associated regulatory requirements for these digital payment providers. Essentially, this action prevents the BCFP from implementing its proposed oversight framework for large digital payment companies.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month." It recognizes the vital role renewable fuels play in reducing carbon emissions and lowering consumer fuel prices. Furthermore, the bill highlights how these fuels support rural economies and decrease U.S. reliance on foreign energy sources.