Legislative Activity

This resolution recognizes the increasing global threats to press and speech freedoms, emphasizing the critical role of a free press in upholding democracy and informing the public. It reaffirms the U.S. government's commitment to prioritizing press freedom as a key component of its foreign policy and human rights efforts. The resolution condemns violence and oppression against journalists worldwide, calling for accountability and the release of wrongfully detained reporters, and urges the President and Secretary of State to actively defend and promote press freedom internationally.

The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act aims to improve weather forecasting and wildfire risk analysis by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). It directs the Under Secretary to develop weather forecasting training datasets, create AI-driven weather models, and enhance information dissemination, while also supporting traditional weather observation methods. The Act promotes public-private partnerships, requires making AI weather models publicly available, and addresses potential risks to U.S. security from foreign access to weather data. It allocates specific appropriations for these activities through 2030.

The Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2025 requires the Federal Reserve to develop climate change risk scenarios and assess the ability of large financial institutions to withstand these risks. It establishes a technical group of climate scientists and economists to advise on these scenarios and mandates that financial institutions create climate risk resolution plans. The bill also directs the Federal Reserve to conduct surveys of smaller financial institutions to evaluate their climate change preparedness and adaptation strategies. Ultimately, this act aims to ensure the stability of the financial system in the face of climate-related financial risks.

This resolution supports the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, advocating for equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and freedom from discrimination for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools. It addresses the alarming rise of discriminatory legislation targeting LGBTQI+ students and the negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The resolution encourages states and localities to enact inclusive policies that prevent victimization and promote positive school climates for all students.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners and originating sites, and making waivers for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native American health facilities permanent. It also enhances program integrity by clarifying fraud and abuse laws, authorizing additional funding for oversight, and addressing unusual billing patterns. Additionally, the act supports beneficiaries and providers by requiring the development of resources and training, reviewing quality measures, and mandating the publication of data on telehealth services. These changes aim to make telehealth a more accessible, high-quality, and permanent option for patients, particularly those in underserved areas.

This resolution designates April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" to highlight the importance of local news in American democracy. It recognizes the decline of local news outlets and the negative impact this has on informed citizens and communities. The resolution acknowledges local journalism as a public good and affirms its valuable contributions.

This resolution expresses Congressional support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, recognizing the achievements and contributions of the transgender community while raising awareness of the discrimination and violence they face. It acknowledges the disproportionate oppression faced by transgender individuals in various areas, celebrates their progress in political representation and media, and urges Americans to observe the day with events that honor transgender individuals and their advocacy for equality.

The "Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025" amends Department of Energy (DOE) Tribal energy programs, allowing the Secretary of Energy to use appropriated funds for financial and technical assessments, and related activities, for Tribal loan and loan guarantee applications. The Act removes double benefit restrictions related to loan guarantees and modifies requirements for states and introduces new requirements for Indian Tribes applying for grants to prevent outages and enhance electric grid resilience. Additionally, the Act exempts Indian Tribes and Tribal-owned entities from matching requirements for grants related to grid resilience and includes additional exemptions to cost-sharing.

The Cultural Trade Promotion Act aims to boost exports from microenterprises and creative industries by including them in export promotion efforts, improving access to international shipping, and focusing the Trade and Development Agency's work on creative sectors. It also ensures representation for creative industries on the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. This act amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 and Section 661(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include and support microenterprises and creative industries. The bill also directs collaboration to improve international shipping services and includes Native Hawaiian arts, crafts, and businesses in export promotion programs.

The "Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025" aims to enhance weather forecasting by maintaining and improving the National Mesonet Program. This program will integrate environmental data from various sources, increase data density for better forecasts, and support local weather monitoring. The Act authorizes specific appropriations through 2029 and prioritizes assistance to underrepresented areas, ensuring data quality and promoting collaboration to improve weather predictions and warnings.

The "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act" transitions TSA personnel to standard federal employment rules under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, ensuring they receive similar rights and protections as other federal employees, while maintaining current pay and benefits. It enhances collective bargaining rights for screening agents, requires reports on recruitment, implementation, and workplace safety, and addresses specific concerns within the Federal Air Marshal Service. The Act aims to improve job security, morale, and overall working conditions for TSA employees.

This bill amends the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Director of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, and heads of other federal agencies to provide grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. It authorizes $35,000,000 to be appropriated to carry out this section for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

The Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to fund projects that protect and restore native Hawaiian species and their habitats. This program will provide financial assistance to eligible entities, including state and local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, and nonprofits, for initiatives such as invasive species control, climate change adaptation, habitat restoration, and scientific capacity building. The Act authorizes $30 million annually for 10 years, with a focus on supporting Native Hawaiian organizations and youth workforce development. The Secretary of the Interior will oversee the program and report annually to Congress on its progress.

This resolution designates February 2025 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Month," recognizing the importance of preserving, protecting, and promoting the Hawaiian language. It acknowledges the historical suppression of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and celebrates ongoing revitalization efforts. The resolution encourages participation in activities and programs that honor and celebrate the language throughout the month.

The "Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025" aims to enhance weather forecasting through the National Mesonet Program. This program will integrate diverse data sources, expand weather observation networks, and offer financial and technical assistance to state, tribal, private, and academic entities. The goal is to improve forecasts and warnings for severe weather, benefiting various sectors, with regular briefings to Congress on program progress and allocated funding. The bill authorizes increasing appropriations to the National Weather Service for the program from 2025 through 2029.

The "Kids Off Social Media Act" aims to protect children and teenagers from the potential harms of social media by preventing children under 13 from creating social media accounts and restricting personalized recommendations for children and teens. The Act also updates the Children's Internet Protection Act to include social media platforms and mandates schools to monitor online activities. Finally, the Act includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be valid and effective.

This resolution emphasizes the importance of the Department of Health and Human Services' role in providing timely and accurate health information to the public. It recognizes the value of resources like the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and the Health Alert Network in protecting public health. The resolution expresses the Senate's belief that Americans should have continuous access to this vital information.

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.