Legislative Activity

This bill amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act to enhance liquidity for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). It authorizes the Fund to provide capitalization assistance, such as purchasing loans or offering guarantees, to organizations that support CDFIs. The legislation significantly raises the funding cap for this assistance and mandates annual reporting to Congress on its impact.

The Telehealth Modernization Act primarily extends key Medicare telehealth flexibilities, such as geographic and audio-only options, until September 30, 2027. The bill also extends the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver through 2030 and mandates a comprehensive study comparing home-based and traditional hospital care. Additionally, it introduces new program integrity measures for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and requires guidance to ensure language access for Limited English Proficiency patients utilizing telehealth.

The Nationwide Right To Unionize Act seeks to strengthen union organizing rights across the country. It achieves this by repealing the section of federal law that currently allows state "right-to-work" laws to override federal labor protections. This change effectively removes the federal permission for states to enforce laws prohibiting mandatory union membership or fee payment as a condition of employment.

This Senate resolution expresses a profound lack of confidence in Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing numerous actions that allegedly undermine public health, scientific integrity, and the legal duties of his office. The resolution details accusations of illegal funding cuts, mass firings of career staff, and the dismantling of key advisory committees. Therefore, the Senate declares that the Secretary should be removed from his position.

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act of 2025 aims to strengthen support for small businesses in rural areas by increasing the maximum microloan amount to $\$75,000$ and allowing loan funds to cover building and construction costs. This legislation also extends the program's authorization through 2030. A key change requires microloan organizations to now match 100 percent of federal funds received.

The Lowering Electric Bills Act extends crucial tax credits for residential clean energy installations until 2034. It also modifies the phase-out schedule for the Clean Electricity Production and Investment Credits, tying their continuation to achieving specific emissions reduction targets or the year 2032. These changes aim to provide long-term stability for clean energy investments.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 mandates the President to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or groups whose actions threaten the peace and stability of the West Bank. These penalties specifically target those involved in violence against civilians, property destruction, or terrorism. The law requires regular reporting to Congress detailing those sanctioned and the steps being taken to mitigate violence in the region.

The Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2025 aims to strengthen the nation's drug supply chain by improving how manufacturers report potential disruptions for critical medicines. This legislation mandates earlier and more detailed notifications to the government regarding production halts, demand spikes, or supply interruptions for life-supporting drugs. Furthermore, it requires drug makers to report their active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) suppliers twice annually, increasing transparency into the entire supply chain.

This concurrent resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, a landmark 1975 agreement establishing principles for security, economic cooperation, and human rights among signatory nations. Congress reaffirms the United States' enduring commitment to these foundational principles, especially in light of current violations by some states. The resolution urges all signatories to uphold their commitments and calls for public observance of this diplomatic milestone.

This resolution celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), recognizing its foundational role in strengthening American energy security and supporting rural economies. It affirms that the RFS has successfully driven innovation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and provided significant economic benefits nationwide. The bill concludes by supporting the continued diversification of the nation's transportation fuel supply through the RFS.

The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025 updates the Conservation Reserve Program to enhance flexibility for farmers, particularly regarding land management. Key changes include allowing continuous enrollment for certain wildlife enhancement lands and establishing specific, limited conditions under which emergency haying may occur during the final weeks of nesting season. Furthermore, the bill introduces cost-sharing for necessary grazing infrastructure and significantly raises the maximum annual CRP rental payment cap to \$125,000.

The Energy Efficiency for Affordable Housing Act increases the tax credit available for rehabilitating existing affordable housing to make it significantly more energy-efficient. This legislation allows eligible projects that achieve "enhanced energy performance" to count 130% of their rehabilitation spending toward the credit, or 160% in high-cost areas. Enhanced performance is defined by meeting new Department of Energy standards or following a qualified retrofit plan designed to cut energy use by 50% or more. These increased credit incentives generally apply to projects allocated after December 31, 2025.

The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to update Social Security by changing how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated using a new index specific to the elderly (CPI-E). It also modifies contribution and benefit fairness by adjusting how earnings above the current wage limit are treated starting in 2026. Furthermore, the bill incorporates a portion of these higher earnings into the formula used to determine an individual's final benefit amount. These changes are designed to better reflect senior spending and adjust benefits for higher earners.

The McCarran-Walter Technical Corrections Act updates the criteria for determining membership in federally recognized Indian Tribes or Canadian First Nations for specific immigration purposes. This legislation removes the previous requirement for proving a minimum blood quantum. Instead, eligibility is now based on current membership or eligibility for membership in a recognized U.S. Tribe, or registration/membership in a Canadian First Nation under the *Indian Act* or a self-governing First Nation.

The Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act aims to streamline gaming regulations for the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. This legislation ensures that these two Tribes are governed exclusively by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), just like all other federally recognized Tribes. By removing conflicting provisions from their restoration acts, the bill resolves overlapping regulatory authority. This provides regulatory consistency for Tribal gaming operations in Texas.

The Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a new federal program to provide annual funding to states specifically for improving election administration, security, and accessibility. This funding is sourced from a dedicated Trust Fund and administered by a new federal office. States must submit detailed plans outlining how they will use the money for upgrades like cybersecurity and expanded voting options, while being prohibited from using funds for voter intimidation or other prohibited activities.

The Warehouse Worker Protection Act establishes new federal standards to safeguard warehouse employees from excessive performance quotas and unsafe working conditions. It creates a dedicated office within the Department of Labor to enforce transparency requirements regarding quotas and mandates new OSHA standards to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. Furthermore, the bill strengthens labor protections by clarifying when performance targets unlawfully interfere with workers' rights to organize.

The Expanding the VOTE Act clarifies existing requirements for providing voting materials in minority languages under the Voting Rights Act. It establishes a new grant program to incentivize jurisdictions to offer language assistance beyond current mandates. Furthermore, the bill addresses specific provisions for American Indian and Alaska Native languages and directs a study on lowering language assistance thresholds.

This bill aims to strengthen efforts to prevent maternal deaths by reauthorizing support for State-based Maternal Mortality Review Committees. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regularly disseminate proven best practices for maternal mortality prevention to hospitals and professional societies. Furthermore, the legislation increases federal funding dedicated to these crucial prevention initiatives.

This resolution officially designates the week of August 3 through August 9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week." It aims to celebrate the vital role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and supporting farmers across the nation. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes how these markets improve community health by increasing access to fresh food and promoting sustainable agriculture.