Legislative Activity

This resolution designates August 16, 2025, as "National Airborne Day" to honor the history and bravery of U.S. airborne forces. It specifically recognizes the service of combat parachutists, air assault forces, and special operations warriors across all conflicts. The day serves as an expression of national gratitude for the thousands who have served in these elite units.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act extends crucial federal programs aimed at combating vector-borne diseases like those carried by ticks. This legislation reauthorizes funding and support for national strategies, regional centers, and local health departments through 2030. It also updates the composition of the advisory group overseeing the national strategy.

The Royalty Transparency Act expands financial disclosure requirements for certain federal advisory board members and mandates that executive branch employees and covered advisors report the source and value of royalties received, including those from government-developed inventions. The bill also updates federal acquisition rules to prevent organizational conflicts of interest by requiring agencies to review contractor royalty payments during conflict checks. Finally, it establishes new procedures for public access to these financial reports and mandates annual reporting on royalty-related conflicts to Congress.

The Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 establishes national standards for food date labeling, requiring manufacturers to use specific phrases like "BEST If Used By" for quality dates and "USE By" for discard dates. This legislation clarifies the meaning of these dates for consumers and prevents states from creating conflicting terminology. The new labeling requirements will take effect two years after the bill is enacted.

The GUARD Act aims to combat financial fraud, particularly scams targeting the elderly and sophisticated "pig butchering" schemes, by allowing law enforcement to use federal grant funds for specialized training, technology, and staffing to investigate these crimes. The bill also mandates comprehensive reports from the Treasury Department and FinCEN to Congress detailing the scope of fraud, enforcement actions, and consumer losses. Furthermore, it authorizes federal agencies to assist local law enforcement with tracing tools related to blockchain technology in fraud investigations.

This bill aims to improve veterans' healthcare by updating community care program eligibility and notification processes, enhancing mental health treatment program standards and access, and modernizing the VA's healthcare system through online tools and streamlined processes. It focuses on ensuring timely access to care, accommodating veterans' preferences, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of VA services. The bill also mandates increased transparency and accountability through regular reports to Congress.

The Veterans Homecare Choice Act of 2025 amends the Veterans Community Care Program to include nurse registries as recognized entities. This inclusion allows veterans to receive home healthcare services from registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, home health aides, companions, or homemakers working through these registries. Nurse registries are defined as entities that secure contracts for healthcare professionals, provided they meet state licensing requirements.

The Preventing the Forced Return of Uyghurs Act of 2025 denies U.S. entry and immigration benefits to foreign officials responsible for forcing Uyghurs or other targeted individuals back to the People's Republic of China. The Secretary of State must refer these officials to the Treasury Department for potential sanctions. The Act requires regular, public reporting to Congress regarding denials and any granted waivers.

This resolution condemns the Nicolás Maduro regime for its ongoing human rights abuses, political repression, and dismantling of democracy in Venezuela. It formally recognizes the resilience of the democratic opposition, particularly under the leadership of María Corina Machado and Edmundo González. Furthermore, the resolution urges the release of all political prisoners and calls on the U.S. administration to support a peaceful transition to democracy.

The Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from issuing any new direct loans under its primary Section 7(a) loan program. While the SBA can no longer originate these loans directly, it must continue to manage and service any existing direct 7(a) loans. This change shifts the focus of the program away from direct government lending.

The Neonatal Care Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that hospitals and obstetric providers publicly disclose their specific policies regarding life-saving care for extremely premature infants, including any minimum gestational age limits. This information must also be provided to expectant parents by their doctors at their first prenatal appointment. Hospitals and providers failing to comply with these new transparency requirements risk losing federal Medicaid and CHIP funding 180 days after the Act is enacted.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's final rule regarding the Barred Owl Management Strategy in Washington, Oregon, and California. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action nullifies the submitted management rule, preventing it from taking legal effect. Essentially, Congress is overturning the executive branch's specific plan for managing the Barred Owl population in these states.

The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act allows taxpayers whose original IRS refund check was lost or stolen to elect to receive their replacement refund via direct deposit. This change provides an alternative to receiving a second paper check for the lost funds. The Treasury Department must establish the necessary procedures for this election.

The 287(g) Program Protection Act mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must approve nearly all requests from state and local law enforcement agencies seeking agreements to assist with federal immigration enforcement. This legislation significantly restricts DHS's ability to deny or terminate these agreements, requiring extensive justification and advance notice for any denial or cancellation. Furthermore, the bill transfers authority over the Breached Bond Detention Fund to DHS and requires annual reporting on program performance and recruitment efforts.

This resolution officially commends and congratulates the Florida Panthers for winning the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. It recognizes the team's successful season, historic individual player achievements, and overall contribution to the South Florida community. The Senate is formally sending official congratulations to the team's ownership and leadership.

The Safe Baby Formula Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study on the health effects of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in infant formula. Following the study, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish clear limits for these toxic heavy metals within 90 days. This legislation aims to ensure the safety of the nation's baby formula supply.

The Ending Lending to China Act of 2025 establishes a new U.S. policy opposing further financial assistance to the People's Republic of China from multilateral development banks. Citing China's status as a high-income economy with massive foreign reserves, the bill directs the Treasury Secretary to use U.S. influence to block new loans to China. Furthermore, the Secretary must advocate for ending assistance to all countries that have surpassed the established income threshold for graduation. The Treasury Department is also required to submit annual reports detailing compliance and U.S. actions taken.

The Microplastics Safety Act mandates the FDA to conduct a comprehensive study on the human health impacts of microplastic exposure through food and water. This research must specifically investigate effects on children's health, the endocrine system, cancer risk, and reproductive health. Following the study, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report findings and recommend necessary legislative or regulatory actions to Congress within one year.

The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) within one year of enactment. The resulting report, detailing findings and recommendations, must be delivered to Congress within 90 days of the audit's completion. This legislation streamlines reporting requirements and clarifies the scope of GAO audit authority over the Federal Reserve's operations, including emergency lending facilities.

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act aims to drastically increase healthcare price transparency across the board. It mandates that hospitals, diagnostic labs, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly disclose detailed negotiated rates, cash prices, and gross charges in standardized formats. Furthermore, the bill strengthens requirements for health plans to provide consumers with real-time cost estimates and mandates itemized billing for patients after receiving care. These measures are backed by new compliance checks and significant daily penalties for non-compliance.