Legislative Activity

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove a recent rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs concerning "Reproductive Health Services." If enacted, this resolution would nullify the VA's September 9, 2024, regulation, rendering it without legal effect.

This resolution honors the life, achievements, and legacy of former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. It recognizes his distinguished service in the Air Force, his Olympic athletic career, and his historic tenure in the U.S. Congress. The resolution specifically highlights his landmark legislative accomplishments, including establishing the National Museum of the American Indian. The Senate expresses its sorrow and will recess as a mark of respect for his memory.

The SECURE Minerals Act of 2026 establishes the Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation to secure U.S. supply chains for critical minerals through domestic investment and the creation of a national stockpile. This new government entity will set specific production goals to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries while managing a reserve of vital materials. The Act mandates strict oversight, public transparency, and regular audits to ensure responsible management of this strategic national asset.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 updates school nutrition standards to allow schools to offer organic or non-organic whole milk as a beverage option. This legislation also revises the criteria for milk substitutions based on medical or dietary needs and excludes milk fat from saturated fat calculations for meal compliance. Furthermore, the bill mandates that training for school food service personnel must now include comprehensive information on food allergies.

The Middle Mile for Rural America Act extends and reauthorizes critical funding for the middle mile broadband infrastructure program. This legislation ensures continued investment in the essential network backbone necessary to deliver high-speed internet access to underserved rural communities. The program's authorization is extended through fiscal year 2031.

The ACE Agriculture Act of 2026 makes the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) a permanent program within the USDA. This legislation significantly expands AGARDA's research focus to address critical areas like water conservation, greenhouse gas mitigation, and climate resilience in agriculture. The bill also clarifies the Director's role and increases annual funding for the program through fiscal year 2031.

The Affordable CHOICE Act establishes a new, federally-run public health insurance option available through the Health Insurance Marketplace starting in 2027. This plan aims to provide affordable coverage by having the Secretary of Health and Human Services negotiate provider payment rates, using Medicare rates as a fallback. The public option will offer bronze, silver, and gold coverage levels and must adhere to the same rules as existing Marketplace plans.

The AI for Mainstreet Act aims to support small businesses by integrating artificial intelligence assistance into the Small Business Development Center program. This initiative will provide guidance, training, and resources to help small businesses evaluate and effectively use AI in their operations. The bill defines AI for the purposes of the Small Business Act but does not authorize any new federal funding for these expanded services.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding programs for counties containing federal lands through fiscal year 2026. This legislation ensures the continuation of secure payments and resource advisory committee authorities established under the original 2000 Act. It also streamlines payment elections for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 by carrying over the previous year's choice. Finally, the bill includes technical corrections to improve the administration of these rural support programs.

The Remote Access Security Act amends existing law to give the President authority to restrict foreign persons of concern from remotely accessing sensitive U.S. technology via cloud services when it poses a national security risk. This new control treats the provision of remote access the same as traditional exports, applying existing licensing, penalty, and enforcement rules. The bill also mandates consultations with Congress and requires the Commerce Secretary to report on implementation, including minimizing compliance costs for U.S. businesses.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 establishes a resident's right to designate at least one "essential caregiver" who must be granted in-person access to the resident in healthcare facilities, even during periods of restricted visitation. This right is designed to prevent the isolation and decline seen during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring family support remains available. Facilities can only deny access under strict, time-limited conditions if the caregiver violates agreed-upon safety protocols.

This Act settles historical land claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community regarding uncompensated transfers of reservation lands to the State of Michigan. It provides the Community with a $33.9 million payment as just compensation for the lost "Reservation Swamp Lands" and "Reservation Canal Lands." In exchange, the bill extinguishes all future claims by the Community to those specific lands, thereby confirming clear title for current non-Indian landowners. The settlement also prohibits the use of these funds for gaming purposes.

The NOTICE Act establishes new notification requirements for Congress before the President calls the National Guard into federal service for domestic emergencies. This legislation mandates at least 24 hours' notice detailing the justification, scope, and training of the deployed Guard units. Furthermore, the bill requires ongoing written updates every 72 hours for deployments lasting longer than 48 hours.

The SAFE Crypto Act establishes the **Task Force on Cryptocurrency Scams** to combat digital asset fraud. This cross-sector group, chaired by the Treasury Secretary, will examine scam trends, develop prevention methods, and issue recommendations. The Task Force is charged with creating a public education strategy and coordinating efforts between federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and law enforcement to disrupt illicit fund movements. It will terminate three years after submitting its initial report detailing its findings and legislative suggestions.

The International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 establishes a permanent program within the Department of State, led by a dedicated Special Envoy, to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. This bill mandates the creation of a comprehensive U.S. Global Strategy to address international discrimination and violence against this community. Furthermore, it authorizes foreign assistance to support local organizations and requires detailed reporting on LGBTQI human rights abuses in annual State Department reports.

This bill, the AGRITOURISM Act, establishes an Agritourism Advisor within the USDA to promote and encourage agritourism activities nationwide. It recognizes the significant financial, educational, and cultural benefits that agritourism provides to rural communities and their agricultural enterprises. The Advisor will coordinate efforts within the USDA and with external partners to share best practices and improve access to federal resources for these businesses.

The SAFE Act directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and update federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving child sexual abuse material. This update must account for the actual harm to victims, modern technology, and the spectrum of offender culpability. The Commission is required to develop new guidelines that specifically address factors like the use of multiple online channels, involvement in prohibited sexual conduct against a child, and the impact on the victim. Importantly, the Act prohibits lowering the existing base offense level for these crimes.

The Stop Sextortion Act criminalizes threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material, even if the material does not exist, to intimidate or coerce victims. This legislation establishes severe penalties for making such threats, mirroring those for actual distribution. Furthermore, the Act increases maximum prison sentences by ten years for crimes involving the use of child sexual abuse material to threaten or harm an individual.

The ECCHO Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally coercing a minor under 18 to commit harmful acts, including self-harm, violence against others or animals, arson, or specific online offenses like swatting. This legislation defines coercion broadly to include manipulation, threats, and intimidation used to force a child into these prohibited actions. Penalties vary based on the severity of the coerced act, with life imprisonment possible for coercing suicide or homicide. The Act also updates existing federal laws to incorporate this new offense and ensure comprehensive enforcement.

This resolution strongly condemns white supremacy, hate, and antisemitism, specifically targeting the promotion of these dangerous ideologies by Nick Fuentes. It further condemns Tucker Carlson and Kevin Roberts for platforming and defending Fuentes's documented antisemitic and Holocaust-denying statements. The resolution affirms the nation's commitment to fighting antisemitism and urges all leaders to reject these hateful views.