Legislative Activity

The "Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act of 2025" aims to combat antisemitism in higher education by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include religion as a protected category and defining antisemitism. It mandates that colleges and universities address severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive antisemitic harassment, and it introduces financial penalties for institutions that violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act regarding antisemitic discrimination. The Act also requires federal agencies and courts to consider a person's actions to prevent and correct discrimination when assessing compliance or determining violations, and clarifies that the Act does not infringe upon First Amendment rights.

The "Frank Connor and Trooper Werner Foerster Justice Act" seeks the extradition or return of U.S. fugitives, including Joanne Chesimard and William Guillermo Morales, who are believed to be living in Cuba to avoid prosecution. It mandates an annual report from the Secretary of State on efforts to extradite these fugitives and determine Cuba's compliance with U.S.-Cuba extradition treaties. Additionally, the Act prohibits the use of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funds for programs in Cuba until Cuba meets specific conditions related to extradition and resuming economic activity with the U.S..

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans with physical copies of the form needed to claim reimbursement for certain travel expenses. Veterans can request the form by mail or obtain it at VA medical facilities. Completed forms can be submitted in person or by mail to any VA medical facility for processing.

The "Regulation Decimation Act" mandates that for every new regulation issued, federal agencies must repeal at least 10 existing regulations, prioritizing those related to the new rule. For major regulations, the cost of the new rule must be equal to or less than the cost of the repealed rules, as certified by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The Act also requires agencies to review and identify costly, ineffective, or outdated rules and submit reports to Congress on rule reduction progress.

This resolution supports the designation of February 23, 2025, to March 1, 2025, as "National Fentanyl Awareness Week" to highlight the dangers and negative impacts of fentanyl in the United States. It acknowledges the alarming number of overdose deaths caused by fentanyl and seeks to raise awareness about the drug's presence in other substances. The resolution commends law enforcement and treatment organizations for their efforts and encourages safe medication practices and seeking help for substance use disorder.

The "Broadband Buildout Accountability Act" shields the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), with a specific exception for 5 U.S. Code § 552, to balance transparency and program efficiency.

The Overdose Response Action Data for Actionable Reforms (RADAR) Act aims to improve data collection and surveillance of opioid-related overdoses through grants and collaboration among federal agencies. It reforms the Office of National Drug Control Policy, enhances state opioid response grants, and establishes a wastewater pilot program to detect illicit substances in communities. The act also expands access to opioid overdose reversal medication and provides grants for schools to administer emergency overdose treatment, while also including fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia to avoid prosecution.

The "Protect America's Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act of 2025" establishes a CCP Initiative within the Department of Justice to counter threats from countries like China, prevent intellectual property theft, and protect U.S. infrastructure. It requires the Attorney General to develop strategies, coordinate with agencies like the FBI, and report annually to Congress on the initiative's progress, resource allocation, and impact on Chinese espionage efforts. The initiative will expire six years after enactment.

The LIVE Beneficiaries Act requires states to verify the eligibility of individuals receiving medical assistance starting January 1, 2027. This involves quarterly reviews of the Death Master File to identify deceased enrollees, disenrolling those identified as deceased, and immediately reinstating coverage if an individual was incorrectly identified. States may also use other electronic data sources to identify potentially deceased beneficiaries, provided they comply with the requirements of this act.

The SOCIAL MEDIA Act aims to improve communication between social media platforms and law enforcement by requiring platforms to establish law enforcement portals and create consistent reporting measurements for monitoring and removing illegal content. It establishes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Platform Safety Advisory Committee to provide recommendations to the FTC for measuring and reporting illegal content and law enforcement interaction. The FTC is empowered to enforce the Act, ensuring social media platforms comply with the new requirements and reporting standards.

The OPIOIDS Act allows the Attorney General to award grants to improve data collection and surveillance of opioid-related overdoses at the state, territorial, and local levels. It also provides grants to local law enforcement and forensic labs in high-overdose areas for training, system upgrades, and drug tracing. The Act mandates consistent data reporting standards for drug information and requires specific funding for the DEA's Fentanyl Signature Profiling Program.

The "Restore Merit to Government Service Act of 2025" aims to reform federal hiring practices by prioritizing merit, skills, and commitment to the Constitution. It requires the creation of a Federal Hiring Plan that focuses on recruiting individuals dedicated to improving government efficiency and upholding the rule of law, while preventing appointments based on race, sex, religion, or unwillingness to defend the Constitution. The Act also emphasizes the use of technology to streamline the hiring process, improve communication with candidates, and ensure agency head involvement. Finally, it directs the Office of Personnel Management to track the plan's progress and ensure it meets the needs of both job seekers and government agencies.

This resolution honors the 17 victims of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. It expresses the Senate's condolences to the families and friends of the victims and acknowledges the resilience of the Parkland community. The resolution also recognizes the upcoming 7-year anniversary of the tragedy and expresses gratitude to the first responders.

The Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act requires the development of a federal strategy to combat illegal drug trafficking through the Caribbean into the United States. This strategy will outline the roles of various agencies, identify necessary resources, promote legitimate trade and travel, and address drug-related crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The act also aims to disrupt the financial networks of drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.

This bill prohibits the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida from being designated as wilderness or included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. This prevents additional land protections for the preserve under the Wilderness Act.

The "Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act" prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from procuring batteries from specific foreign companies, primarily those with ties to China, starting October 1, 2027. Waivers are permitted under certain conditions, such as lack of security risk and absence of alternatives, and require notification to Congress. The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a report assessing the bill's impact on the Department's operations and costs.

This resolution authorizes the Special Committee on Aging to spend money from the Senate's contingent fund, hire staff, and utilize personnel from other government departments or agencies from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It sets specific expense limits for the committee during different periods and outlines which expenses can be paid without vouchers. The resolution also authorizes payments from the Senate's Inquiries and Investigations expense account for agency contributions related to committee employee compensation during the specified time frames.

The SENIOR Act, or the "Social Engagement and Network Initiatives for Older Relief Act," amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include "loneliness" alongside "social isolation," ensuring programs address both issues for older individuals. Additionally, the Act requires the Secretary to prepare a report on programs authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965, focusing on addressing the negative health effects of loneliness in older individuals and the relationship between strong multigenerational families and loneliness. The report will include recommendations for reducing negative health effects of loneliness and for policies/programs that foster strong family connections across generations.

The DEMOCRACIA Act aims to restrict financial resources to the Cuban government by imposing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved with Cuba's defense, security, and intelligence sectors, as well as those engaged in human rights abuses and corruption. It also mandates the President to provide unrestricted internet service to the Cuban people and establishes conditions for terminating these sanctions, including democratic reforms and human rights improvements in Cuba. The bill outlines specific criteria the Cuban government must meet to end sanctions, such as legalizing political activity, releasing political prisoners, and holding free and fair elections.

The "NO GOTION Act" denies green energy tax benefits to companies associated with foreign adversaries, including those owned, controlled, or influenced by them. This applies to various tax credits and incentives related to clean energy, and includes specific criteria for defining a "disqualified company" based on its ties to foreign adversaries. The bill aims to prevent foreign adversaries from benefiting from U.S. green energy tax incentives.