Legislative Activity

This joint resolution expresses Congress's formal disapproval of a recent rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this resolution immediately cancels the CMS rule regarding "Market Integrity and Affordability." Essentially, Congress is overturning this specific executive branch regulation before it can take effect.

This Senate resolution strongly reaffirms the unwavering commitment to the First Amendment, emphasizing that freedom of speech and the press are essential foundations of American democracy. It explicitly warns against government officials using regulatory power to coerce or censor protected speech, citing key Supreme Court precedents. Furthermore, the resolution directs federal agencies, including the FCC, to uphold these constitutional rights and condemns any threats or violence against those exercising free expression.

This resolution expresses support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It recognizes the critical economic, ecological, and protective value of estuaries to the nation. The bill applauds ongoing efforts by federal, state, and local partners to study, protect, and restore these vital coastal environments.

The Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the Interior to take approximately 563 acres of specific Forest Service land into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. This transferred land will be managed as part of the Tribe's Reservation, subject to existing rights. Importantly, the law explicitly prohibits the use of this land for any gaming activities.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a recent rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning adherence to the text of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this resolution immediately nullifies the proposed HHS policy. Consequently, the new rule regarding APA adherence will have no legal effect.

This bill facilitates an administrative land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service in Tuolumne County, California, near Ackerson Meadow. It transfers approximately 160 acres of Stanislaus National Forest land to be managed as part of Yosemite National Park. In return, about 170 acres of National Park land will be managed as part of the Stanislaus National Forest. The transfer maintains existing liability for hazardous waste cleanup and preserves any pre-existing legal rights on the exchanged parcels.

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

The Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 fundamentally overhauls how congressional districts are drawn by mandating the use of independent, citizen-led commissions across the nation to prevent partisan gerrymandering. This bill establishes strict criteria for map drawing, bans mid-decade redistricting, and creates a federal court backstop to ensure maps are finalized on time. Ultimately, it aims to shift power from politicians to impartial bodies to create fairer electoral maps, beginning with the process following the 2030 Census.

This resolution officially designates September 20, 2025, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day to honor their service and contributions. It formally acknowledges the long history of discrimination and harm caused by past military policies against LGBTQ+ individuals. Furthermore, the resolution urges the VA and DoD to take corrective action, including restoring benefits and ensuring full access to earned healthcare, such as gender-affirming care.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 aims to safeguard federal elections by criminalizing the knowing spread of materially false information intended to suppress voting within 60 days of an election. This bill specifically prohibits the use of deceptive Artificial Intelligence in election interference and grants citizens the right to sue violators. Furthermore, it empowers the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false information and creates new criminal penalties for intimidating election workers involved in vote tabulation and certification.

The Reconciliation in Place Names Act establishes a formal, public process for reviewing and replacing offensive place names across the United States. It creates an Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names, composed of diverse experts and tribal representatives, to gather and propose new names for geographic features and federal land units. The Board on Geographic Names must then review these proposals, approving them unless a compelling reason exists not to, thereby promoting names that reflect fairness and respect for all Americans.

The Billionaires Income Tax Act fundamentally changes how the wealthiest Americans are taxed by requiring them to pay taxes annually on the unrealized gains of their investment assets, eliminating indefinite tax deferral. It also removes several existing tax deferral mechanisms and imposes stricter tax consequences on these "applicable taxpayers" regarding investment income, expatriation, and deferred compensation. In essence, the bill aims to ensure that the ultra-wealthy pay taxes yearly on their growing wealth rather than waiting until assets are sold.

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, or military status. This expansion broadens protections to cover lawful income sources, including housing vouchers and various benefits, alongside military service. The Act ensures these new protected classes are covered across all aspects of the housing transaction, from advertising to rental agreements.

The HIV Medication Access Act officially recognizes the provision of HIV prevention tools, including PrEP medication, as core life-saving humanitarian assistance. This legislation updates how the U.S. approaches HIV/AIDS prevention aid under existing foreign assistance laws. Furthermore, it mandates that the identification of at-risk populations for aid must align with scientific guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The Register America to Vote Act of 2025 aims to modernize and secure voter registration nationwide by establishing automatic registration systems. This includes automatically registering citizens when they turn 18 and implementing opt-out registration through state motor vehicle agencies. The Act provides federal funding to states to upgrade technology and mandates new national security and privacy standards for handling voter data.

The FAMILY Act establishes the Family and Medical Insurance Leave program, creating a new office within the Social Security Administration to manage paid benefits for qualified caregiving and serious health conditions. This law outlines eligibility requirements, a tiered formula for calculating monthly benefit payments, and protections against employer retaliation for taking leave. The Act also provides funding mechanisms for states that already have similar paid leave programs in place.

The RESPECT Act of 2025 updates the authority for reconsidering decisions regarding interment or memorialization in national cemeteries, allowing reviews for decisions made on or after June 18, 1973. It also standardizes and clarifies the legal language used when referencing the definition of a tier III sex offender in relation to these decisions. Finally, the Act removes an outdated provision from a previous law concerning national cemeteries.

The Same Day Registration Act mandates that all states allow eligible citizens to register to vote or update their registration at the polling place on Election Day for any federal election. This ensures that individuals can register and cast their ballot simultaneously, provided the state does not already have a no-registration requirement. States must ensure registration forms are available at all polling locations, with full compliance generally required starting with the November 2026 general election.

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 immediately bans the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This comprehensive ban includes specific definitions for commercial asbestos and outlines limited exceptions for existing installed materials and disposal. The bill provides a temporary exemption for chlor-alkali plants until 2030 and allows for narrowly defined, time-limited national security exemptions granted by the President.