Legislative Activity

The Convenient Contraception Act ensures that individuals covered by group health plans or insurance can obtain a full 365-day supply of their covered contraceptives at once. This upfront supply must be provided without any copays, deductibles, or coinsurance. The requirement takes effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and mandates federal outreach to inform providers and consumers of this new option.

The SAFETY Act of 2025 aims to protect American producers by legally defining and safeguarding the use of common food, wine, and beer names in international trade. This legislation mandates that the government actively defend these established names during trade negotiations to prevent foreign restrictions on U.S. exports. The bill specifically excludes protected geographical indications from qualifying as common names while ensuring domestic labeling standards are respected abroad.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act establishes a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan designed to lower monthly payments based on family size and income relative to the poverty line. This plan offers loan forgiveness after 10 years for undergraduate-only debt or 15 years for debt including graduate loans. Furthermore, the bill eliminates interest accrual that exceeds the borrower's calculated monthly payment.

The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act expands eligibility for services provided through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP). This change allows the spouses of deceased service members and certain other eligible persons to access these career support resources. The bill amends existing law to ensure these spouses receive the same level of assistance previously reserved for eligible veterans.

This concurrent resolution formally supports the goals and ideals of the International Transgender Day of Visibility. It recognizes the achievements of the transgender community while acknowledging the ongoing discrimination and violence they face. The resolution encourages public observance of the day and celebrates the progress and leadership within the transgender community.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act makes student loan repayment or forgiveness amounts received by veterinarians participating in state-based programs tax-free. This exclusion applies to funds received through programs designed to increase veterinary services in underserved areas. This tax benefit will take effect for amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment granting Congress and the states the explicit authority to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. If ratified, it would allow for setting reasonable limits on spending intended to influence elections to protect democratic fairness. The amendment also specifically empowers regulators to treat corporations and other entities differently than individuals regarding election spending, while explicitly protecting the freedom of the press.

The America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act seeks to permanently protect hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands across Utah by designating them as official wilderness areas. This designation ensures the preservation of unique ecological, geological, and cultural resources under the highest level of federal protection. The bill also establishes administrative rules, including securing water rights and managing state inholdings, while explicitly safeguarding existing livestock grazing and Tribal rights.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Agriculture to immediately honor and pay all existing, unfrozen contracts with farmers and related entities. This legislation prevents the cancellation of signed agreements unless the terms have been violated by the recipient. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 60 days' notice to Congress before closing any local Farm Service Agency, NRCS, or Rural Development offices.

This resolution formally honors the life and distinguished public service career of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former U.S. Senator for Wyoming. It celebrates his extensive tenure in both state and federal government, highlighting his focus on fiscal responsibility and support for veterans. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow at his passing and directs that the day's adjournment serve as a final tribute to his memory.

The Lower Drug Costs for Families Act updates how prescription drug inflation rebates are calculated to ensure they apply more broadly to drugs on the commercial market. This bill modifies the rules for both Medicare Part B and Part D to adjust the unit counting methods used in rebate calculations. Key changes include excluding certain units, such as those covered by Medicaid, and shifting the base reference years for these calculations.

This resolution formally recognizes the rich heritage, culture, and significant contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women across the United States. It celebrates their historic achievements in areas such as military service, science, the arts, and civil rights leadership. The bill also emphasizes the importance of continued investment to overcome barriers these women face in accessing justice, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 removes the automatic ban preventing workers participating in a strike from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This legislation updates eligibility rules to ensure that striking workers are no longer automatically disqualified from receiving food assistance solely because they are on strike. The bill simplifies the language to focus ineligibility on the *result* of striking, rather than the act of striking itself.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

This resolution recognizes and honors teachers who have achieved or maintained National Board Certification, highlighting their significant contributions to student learning and leadership. It acknowledges the rigorous standards required for certification and the positive impact these teachers have, especially in addressing learning loss. The resolution encourages increased support for teachers pursuing National Board Certification to further enhance educational quality. As of March 2025, there are 141,464 National Board Certified teachers.

The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act of 2025 aims to stop the flow of illegal machinegun conversion devices into the United States. It mandates the creation of a comprehensive federal strategy to detect, trace, and interdict these devices, including those made domestically. Furthermore, the bill enhances the government's ability to forfeit profits derived from illegal machinegun trafficking and requires specific reporting on the use and origin of these conversion devices.

The Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2025 establishes a grant program to expand access to mental health and substance use services for rural and underserved populations via telehealth. Eligible entities will receive funding to deliver remote care directly to patients' homes, improving access where traditional services are scarce. Grantees must also focus on developing quality metrics for this remote care and supporting necessary technological infrastructure, such as broadband access.

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025 establishes a new program to encourage households receiving SNAP benefits to purchase more naturally nutrient-rich dairy products through point-of-sale incentives. The Secretary of Agriculture will award grants to eligible entities to run these projects, prioritizing those that maximize direct incentives for participants. The law mandates rigorous, independent evaluation of all projects to scientifically measure the impact on dairy purchases, with required reporting to Congress.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The Deliver for Democracy Act ties the Postal Service's ability to raise periodical rates to meeting specific on-time delivery performance targets for magazines and newspapers. It mandates annual public reporting by the Postmaster General on newspaper delivery performance, requiring input from relevant industry groups. Finally, the bill directs the GAO to study and report on alternative pricing strategies for periodicals that currently cost the USPS more to handle than they generate in postage.