Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates May 2025 as "Older Americans Month" to recognize the vital contributions of senior citizens to the nation. It highlights the growing senior population and their continued involvement in the workforce and volunteering. The bill encourages communities nationwide to celebrate older Americans and create opportunities for them to share their wisdom and remain active participants in society.

The No Safe Harbor for the Enemy Act establishes the Secretary of Defense as the final and unreviewable authority for determining which Chinese military companies operating in the U.S. are added to the designated list. This change ensures that the Secretary's decision on company listings under existing defense authorization law is conclusive. No other official or court can challenge or review this determination.

The Taiwan PLUS Act officially designates Taiwan as a key defense partner for the United States for an initial five-year period. This designation streamlines defense cooperation and the transfer of defense articles by treating Taiwan similarly to NATO Plus allies. The bill emphasizes Congress's view that this enhanced support is vital for U.S. national security interests. The Secretary of State may extend this special treatment in subsequent five-year increments, subject to national security review and notification to Congress.

The CARGO Act of 2025 prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from awarding funding or support for any research activity that uses live animals if that research is conducted outside of the United States. This measure is intended to address concerns regarding the lack of oversight and potential mistreatment of animals in foreign research labs funded by U.S. taxpayers. The bill effectively bans NIH grants for overseas animal testing, requiring all such research to occur within U.S. borders.

The Confronting CCP Human Rights Abusers Act mandates the addition of the Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science of China to the U.S. trade entity list within 60 days of enactment. This action restricts the institute's ability to conduct business with U.S. entities. The President may waive this requirement only if they certify to Congress that the institute is not involved in the repression or surveillance of minorities in Xinjiang.

The Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act mandates that government agencies provide a public, online status tracker for all permit applications. This tracker must detail every step of the review process, the time taken for each stage, current status, and contact information for all involved personnel. The goal is to increase accountability and provide applicants with clear timelines for final decisions.

The FLIGHT Act mandates that major air carriers must notify passengers via text or email if a domestic or international flight is delayed on the ground for 15 minutes or more. Airlines are required to provide updates at least every 15 minutes until the delay ends, including new estimated departure and arrival times when available. Passengers will also have the option to opt-out of receiving further delay notifications for that specific flight.

This Act restricts federal funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or designated "Chinese entities of concern." Specifically, institutions with such ties become ineligible for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. Eligibility can be restored only if the institution terminates its relationship with the restricted entity.

The No Funds for Forced Labor Act expresses Congress's strong opposition to international financial institutions funding projects that use or risk using forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The bill directs the U.S. Treasury Secretary to instruct U.S. representatives at these institutions to vote against such loans. Furthermore, it mandates annual public reporting on actions taken to oppose financing linked to forced labor practices.

The Regular Order for Investments of the Federal Reserve Act mandates new annual reports from the Federal Reserve detailing the impact of its policies on the middle class and small business lending. This bill also imposes new restrictions on what Federal Reserve banks can purchase, specifically limiting the maturity of Treasury bills and prohibiting the purchase of mortgage-backed securities or common stock. Furthermore, it requires the Federal Reserve to adopt consistent GAAP accounting standards and use mark-to-market valuations for financial reporting.

The Right-size the Federal Reserve Act aims to limit the Federal Reserve's overall size by capping its total assets at 10% of U.S. GDP after a ten-year transition period. This legislation also adjusts reserve requirements, preventing them from falling below levels set on March 25, 2020. Furthermore, the bill mandates the elimination of the Overnight Reserve Repurchase Facility and requires annual reporting to Congress on compliance and foreign bank interest payments.

The Rein in the Federal Reserve Act mandates increased transparency and accountability for the Federal Reserve's major monetary policy operations, such as quantitative easing and emergency lending. This bill requires the Fed to submit detailed, public reports to Congress explaining the necessity, financial impact, and exit strategy for any new large-scale program. Furthermore, these major programs are automatically subject to Congressional review and are limited to one year unless explicitly extended by Congress.

The Countering Corrupt Political (CCP) Influence Act requires foreign missions from designated adversarial nations to report advance notice of meetings with U.S. state and local officials, as well as visits to educational or research institutions. This measure aims to increase transparency regarding diplomatic activities within the United States. The Secretary of State must compile and report this information monthly to Congress. The requirements are set to expire five years after the Act's enactment.

This bill mandates that the President must nominate and the Senate must confirm the Inspectors General for both the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB). This change brings the appointment process for these key oversight roles in line with other major federal agencies. The legislation also clarifies the authority of these Inspectors General over their respective organizations.

This resolution expresses the Senate's strong support for designating April 2025 as Parkinson's Awareness Month. It recognizes the growing impact of Parkinson's disease, which affects over a million Americans and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease globally. The resolution emphasizes the critical need for increased research, better public education, and robust community support for those living with the condition. Finally, it commends the dedication of patients, researchers, and advocates working toward better treatments and a cure.

This bill mandates the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to establish a single, unique ZIP Code for fourteen specific communities across several states. The USPS is required to complete this assignment within 270 days of the bill's enactment. This action will standardize mail delivery for the designated towns and villages.

The Reduction of Excess Business Holding Accrual Act modifies the tax rules for private foundations regarding their ownership limits in businesses. Specifically, it allows certain stock repurchased by a business from an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to be disregarded when calculating a foundation's "excess business holdings." This provision aims to provide flexibility for foundations without exceeding a 49% ownership threshold in the company.

The TSP Fiduciary Security Act of 2025 amends the fiduciary duties of the Thrift Savings Fund (TSF) managers to explicitly include protecting U.S. national security in investment decisions. The bill directs the Secretary of Labor to establish rules for reviewing TSF investments and shareholder voting against specific national security risks, particularly concerning entities linked to "covered countries" like China. Furthermore, it prohibits mutual funds available through the TSP mutual fund window from investing in any company based in the People's Republic of China.

The Secure Americas Financial Exchanges Act (SAFE Act) mandates that stock exchanges require listed companies to disclose any financial support received from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Companies must also reveal details about internal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) structures and any leadership ties to the PRC government. These new transparency rules aim to inform investors about potential foreign influence on publicly traded entities.

The STOP CCP Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. persons from investing in publicly traded securities of specific Chinese entities involved in defense or surveillance technology. This legislation mandates the expansion of the Treasury Department's list of Chinese military-industrial complex companies and closes loopholes by automatically applying all relevant sanctions when a Chinese entity is targeted under any existing authority. The goal is to prevent U.S. capital from financing pernicious Chinese companies and policies.