Legislative Activity

The Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program administered by the Department of Justice. This program aims to help state, local, territorial, and tribal governments hire, retain, and train prosecutors and support staff. Grants will be awarded competitively, with preference given to proposals focusing on new hiring or serving tribal, remote, or rural areas. The federal government will cover up to 75% of project costs, requiring a non-federal match.

This act establishes the Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act, providing eligible law enforcement officers and firefighters with a free annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. The bill defines eligible individuals as those employed by federal, state, local, or tribal governments whose duties involve fire suppression or criminal law enforcement/supervision. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with making these passes available upon proof of eligibility.

The Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025 significantly updates existing law to enhance tribal authority over forest and rangeland protection. This legislation expands the definition of eligible tribal lands, including certain lands in Alaska, and broadens the scope of authorized restoration projects. Furthermore, it increases funding authorization to $15 million annually through fiscal year 2031.

This resolution recognizes the 80th anniversary of the continuous operations of the *Stars and Stripes* newspaper in the Pacific. It commends the publication for its invaluable, long-standing service as the "hometown newspaper" for members of the Armed Forces, civilian employees, and their families worldwide. The resolution honors the dedication of the men and women who have produced this vital news source through every major conflict since World War II.

The SAFE Chips Act of 2025 establishes strict new export controls on advanced integrated circuits to foreign adversary countries. This law mandates a license for the export or transfer of these specified high-performance chips, with a policy to deny all such applications. The bill specifically defines "advanced integrated circuit" based on technical performance thresholds or existing export control classifications, excluding those not designed for data center use.

The Back the Blue Act of 2025 establishes new federal crimes and harsher penalties for killing or assaulting law enforcement officers and other public safety officials. The bill also creates specific aggravating factors for the federal death penalty in such cases and places new restrictions on federal habeas corpus relief for related state convictions. Finally, it expands federal protections allowing active and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms in various federal locations.

The Enhancing Arctic Readiness Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Army to report on potential locations for expanding Arctic and cold weather training exercises. This report, due by January 15, 2026, must identify sites for key cold weather courses and analyze the logistical challenges of operating in extreme cold. The goal is to enhance the Army's readiness for operations in the Arctic environment.

This Act enhances safety and wellness in the commercial fishing industry by expanding federal grant programs for safety training and research. It specifically directs funding toward addressing behavioral and physical health risks, such as worker fatigue and substance use disorder, for vessel operators and crew. The legislation also updates the grant award process and increases authorized funding through fiscal year 2029.

This resolution officially recognizes November as National Native American Heritage Month. It celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and significant contributions of Native Americans to the United States across various fields. The resolution also reaffirms the government's commitment to tribal self-governance and the government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes.

This bill mandates the Secretaries of HUD and Agriculture to withdraw their recent final determination on energy efficiency standards for federally financed housing. It prohibits the implementation of these withdrawn standards or any substantially similar ones across HUD, USDA, and VA programs. Furthermore, the legislation restricts the Federal Housing Finance Agency from finalizing new energy efficiency rules and requires consideration of existing state-level energy codes.

This resolution officially recognizes the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps on November 10, 2025. It honors the Corps' history, its values of honor, courage, and commitment, and its distinguished record as a premier fighting force. The resolution invites the American public to join in celebrating this significant milestone and honoring the service and sacrifice of all Marines.

The Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, active-duty military, and supporting contractors who worked or were employed during a lapse in appropriations receive their full compensation retroactively and going forward. It appropriates necessary funds to agencies to cover "standard employee compensation" for all "covered employees" and "covered contract employees" for the entire duration of any funding lapse. This aims to guarantee that affected personnel are paid promptly, regardless of furlough status or scheduled pay dates during the shutdown period.

The Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that essential government employees, military personnel, and supporting contractors who must work during a lapse in appropriations receive their guaranteed pay. This bill automatically sets aside necessary funds from the Treasury to cover the salaries and benefits of these "excepted employees" for the duration of the shutdown. These special appropriations remain available until a full-year budget is enacted, at which point the payments are reconciled against the new funding law.

This resolution condemns the Chinese Communist Party's severe persecution of religious minority groups, including Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. It specifically denounces the detention of Pastor "Ezra" Jin Mingri and Zion Church leaders amid a broader campaign to "sinicize" religion. The measure reaffirms the United States' global commitment to promoting religious freedom and calls for the immediate release of all wrongfully detained religious practitioners in China.

This resolution commemorates the 80th anniversary of the continuous operations of the *Stars and Stripes* newspaper in the Pacific. It recognizes the invaluable service of the publication as the "hometown newspaper" for members of the Armed Forces and their families worldwide. The Senate honors the dedication of all current and former personnel who have supported this vital institution throughout its history.

The SAFE KIDS Act addresses concerns that foreign entities of concern are exploiting U.S. surrogacy laws, potentially risking national security and human trafficking. This bill voids surrogacy agreements involving citizens from these designated foreign entities and establishes criminal penalties for brokers who facilitate such arrangements. Custody of any resulting child will be determined by state law based on the child's best interests, disregarding the voided contract.

This resolution officially designates the week of November 3 through November 7, 2025, as National Veterans Small Business Week. It recognizes the significant contributions of the over 1.65 million veteran-owned small businesses to the U.S. economy. The bill supports creating a business-friendly environment and expresses appreciation for veterans' continued service through entrepreneurship.

The Pay Our Capitol Police Act ensures that the United States Capitol Police will continue to receive funding for salaries and essential expenses for Fiscal Year 2026, even if standard appropriations are delayed. This bill provides continuing appropriations to cover excepted employees, emergency workers, and necessary support staff. Funds spent under this Act will be charged against future official appropriations once enacted. The authority granted by this Act terminates on September 30, 2026, or earlier if standard appropriations are passed.

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 proposes to reauthorize the existing Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. This bill specifically extends the program's expiration date from 2024 to 2029.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove the Bureau of Land Management's rule regarding the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision. If enacted, this action would nullify the BLM's rule, preventing it from taking effect.