Legislative Activity

This resolution designates January 2025 as "National Mentoring Month" to recognize the positive impact of mentoring on youth development. It highlights mentoring's role in improving academic achievement, fostering leadership skills, and supporting at-risk youth. The resolution encourages expanding mentoring opportunities to address the significant need for mentors among young people nationwide. It also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of mentoring program staff and volunteers.

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act, or NO BAN Act, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion and national origin in nonimmigrant visas and immigration benefits. It limits the President's authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens, requiring specific justification, narrow tailoring, and congressional consultation. The Act also mandates reports on visa applicants and the impact of any suspensions or restrictions. Finally, it allows affected parties to sue the government if these regulations are not followed.

This resolution congratulates the University of Vermont men's soccer team, the Catamounts, on their first NCAA Division I national championship win in 2024. It celebrates their victory over Marshall University, key players, and the pride they brought to Vermont. The resolution also directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies to the university's interim president, athletic director, and head coach.

This resolution recognizes the critical role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in advancing U.S. national security interests. It emphasizes USAID's importance in reducing global threats, promoting stability, addressing migration and extremism, and maintaining U.S. leadership against China. The resolution also references the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which requires USAID to consult with Congress on significant organizational changes.

The "Keep Our PACT Act" aims to increase funding for Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) over the next decade. It mandates specific funding increases for these programs each year from 2026 to 2035, with the goal of fully funding IDEA at 40% of the national average per-pupil expenditure for students with disabilities by 2035. This bill designates these funding increases as emergency spending.

This resolution designates the week beginning February 3, 2025, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week," recognizing the vital role of TCUs in providing culturally relevant education to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other students. TCUs serve over 230 federally recognized Indian Tribes by offering high-quality postsecondary education and workforce preparation. The resolution encourages the public to participate in activities and programs that support these institutions.

This resolution designates February 3-7, 2025, as "National School Counseling Week" to recognize the vital role school counselors play in students' academic, social, and emotional development. It aims to raise awareness of the challenges students face and the importance of adequately supporting school counseling programs. The resolution encourages Americans to participate in events that highlight the importance of school counselors in helping students succeed.

The "Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2025" aims to protect communities from the health impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat by establishing grant programs for local initiatives focused on detection, preparation, communication, and mitigation. It authorizes grants to air pollution control agencies, the establishment of research centers, and a competitive grant program for community planning and implementation. The bill also mandates research on the health effects of these environmental hazards and the development of strategies to reduce exposure and health risks.

The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act seeks to ensure that foreign non-governmental organizations are eligible for assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, regardless of the health or medical services they provide, as long as those services adhere to specific guidelines. It ensures that these organizations are not subject to more restrictive requirements for using non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying compared to U.S. non-governmental organizations.

This resolution expresses disapproval of any pardons granted to individuals convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. It serves as a formal condemnation of such pardons.

This resolution expresses the Senate's view that the U.S. should remain committed to the Paris Agreement, support policies at all levels of government to reduce global warming pollution, and encourage actions by businesses, investors, and individuals to combat climate change. It recognizes the economic benefits of clean energy investments and the need for collective efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The WEATHER Act of 2025 directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop a single index insurance policy that protects farmers against income losses resulting from extreme weather events. This policy must be available nationwide and offer flexible coverage options, with priority given to small-scale and underserved producers. The goal is to provide timely financial assistance to farmers affected by severe weather, supporting the resilience of the agricultural sector. A report to Congress is required within one year detailing the research, development, and recommendations for the policy.

The "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025" aims to establish that a first-use nuclear strike by the U.S. is a major act of war that requires a declaration of war by Congress. It prohibits the use of federal funds for any first-use nuclear strike unless explicitly authorized by a congressional declaration of war. A "first-use nuclear strike" is defined as a nuclear attack initiated without confirmation of a prior nuclear strike against the U.S., its territories, or its allies. This bill seeks to reinforce Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and provide checks and balances on the President's power to authorize nuclear weapon use.

The "Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act" (CURD Act) defines "natural cheese" to differentiate it from processed cheese, setting specific criteria for its production and composition. It restricts the use of "natural cheese" on labels to products meeting these standards, while allowing "natural" or "all-natural" claims as per existing regulations. The Act amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include this new definition in labeling regulations.

The Neighbors Not Enemies Act repeals the Alien Enemies Act, which granted the president broad authority to detain or remove citizens of hostile nations during times of war or declared invasion. This repeal eliminates the possibility of using this outdated law to target individuals based on their national origin during conflict.

The "Fueling Alternative Transportation with a Carbon Aviation Tax Act of 2025" increases excise taxes on fuel used by private jets and eliminates certain air transportation excise tax exemptions. It establishes the "Funding to Support Clean Communities Trust Fund," which will be funded by the increased taxes and used for grants and activities that deploy air quality monitoring systems, improve public transit and passenger rail infrastructure near airports, and improve public transportation in disadvantaged communities. At least 50% of the funds must be used for projects in disadvantaged communities, prioritizing those most affected by air pollution.

The "Saving the Civil Service Act" limits the ability of federal agencies to move positions out of the competitive service, ensuring that civil service positions are filled based on merit and qualifications. It restricts the transfer of positions between different types of service, requires employee consent for certain transfers, and mandates reporting to Congress on any changes made. The goal is to prevent political influence over career civil servants and maintain a nonpartisan, professional civil service.

The VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 requires that the Uniform Residential Loan Application include a disclaimer informing applicants that they may qualify for a VA Home Loan if they have served in the military. It also requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on whether lenders are including the disclaimer.

The FAIR Act mandates a 3.3% increase in basic pay rates for federal employees under statutory pay systems and prevailing rate employees in 2026. Additionally, it increases locality pay adjustments for federal employees by 1% in 2026.

The "Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act" establishes a commission to examine the legacy of slavery and discrimination against African Americans from 1565 to the present. The commission will identify the harms caused by these injustices and recommend appropriate remedies, including how the nation can best educate itself on the commission's findings. It will also explore methods of reparations, such as a formal apology, eliminating discriminatory laws, and providing compensation to descendants of enslaved individuals. The commission will then submit its findings and recommendations to Congress.