Legislative Activity

The "Easter Monday Act of 2025" establishes Easter Monday as a legal public holiday in the United States. The bill amends existing law to include the holiday, defining it as the Monday immediately following Easter Sunday.

The Public Safety Free Speech Act protects the free speech rights of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service providers. It allows these employees to sue their employers if they face retaliation for expressing personal opinions on matters of public concern, with certain exceptions for comments made while on duty or those that incite violence or discrimination. This act ensures that public safety employees can voice their opinions without fear of reprisal, while also respecting the need for professional conduct and confidentiality. The bill does not override existing federal or state laws that protect against the deprivation of rights under the law.

The WATCH Act mandates quarterly inspections of foreign laboratories receiving federal funding for animal research to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards. It requires the creation of an inspection process and grants the authority to issue compliance certifications, which will be publicly accessible. Non-compliant labs will have the opportunity to correct issues, but failure to comply may result in the suspension or revocation of grants. This act aims to harmonize global animal testing standards and promote ethical research practices.

The "Public Health Improvement Act" aims to reform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and limit the scope of public health authorities by setting term limits for the CDC and NIH directors, narrowing the CDC's strategic plan, and modifying the advisory committee to the CDC Director. Additionally, it requires congressional approval for extending public health emergencies beyond 90 days and transfers several offices from the CDC to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Finally, the Act limits the scope of regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services to control communicable diseases and overrides any conflicting laws.

The "Empowering Families in Special Education Act" ensures that parents are informed of their right to include knowledgeable individuals, like service providers, in their child's IEP meetings. This notification must be provided before the first IEP meeting of each school year, empowering families to advocate effectively for their children's special education needs.

The ENABLE Act permanently extends provisions that allow for increased contributions to ABLE accounts and rollovers from 529 education savings accounts, providing ongoing financial benefits for individuals with disabilities. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove the expiration date for increased contributions and ensures the continuation of rollovers from 529 programs to ABLE programs indefinitely. The act also modifies retirement savings contribution definitions and repeals a paragraph from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 to align with these changes. These amendments are effective for taxable years ending after the enactment date of this act and for distributions made after this enactment.

The "National Plan for Epilepsy Act" aims to improve the lives of individuals affected by epilepsy by establishing a comprehensive national plan. This plan will focus on preventing, diagnosing, treating, and curing epilepsy through coordinated federal efforts and increased collaboration. An Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services will be created to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress on epilepsy-related issues and to provide recommendations for improving federal programs and supporting people with epilepsy. The Act requires regular assessments and reports to track progress and ensure accountability in addressing epilepsy.

The TICKET Act aims to increase transparency and protect consumers in the event ticketing market by requiring all-in pricing, banning speculative ticketing, mandating clear disclosures, and ensuring refunds for canceled or postponed events. This law requires ticket sellers to display the total price of tickets, including all fees, from the outset and prohibits the sale of tickets that the seller does not possess. Additionally, the act mandates clear disclosure of resale status and refund policies, providing consumers with more information and guarantees when purchasing event tickets. The FTC will be responsible for enforcing the act, ensuring compliance and protecting consumers from unfair practices in the ticketing industry.

**Title I:** This bill seeks to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government by revoking prior directives, terminating DEI offices, and restricting DEI-related training and activities. **Title II:** This bill restricts federal training programs from including topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and protects employees from mandatory training on these subjects. **Title III:** This bill modifies federal contracting practices by prohibiting the use of federal funds for DEI-related activities and ensuring non-discrimination in federal programs. **Title IV:** This bill restricts the use of federal grant and cooperative agreement funds for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, while exempting certain offices and institutions. **Title V:** This bill aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within federal advisory committees by outlining specific prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, and responsibilities for agency administrators and heads to ensure compliance. **Title VI:** This bill addresses accreditation standards for higher education institutions and restricts the use of federal funds by the Secretary of Education related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. **Title VII:** This bill eliminates certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and related requirements across various federal agencies and acts. **Title VIII:** This bill focuses on the enforcement and legal standing of the Act, ensuring individuals have the right to seek justice if they believe the law has been violated, and clarifies that the law remains effective even if parts of it are deemed unconstitutional.

This resolution supports and recognizes the contributions of Catholic schools in the United States, highlighting their academic excellence, values-based education, and service to diverse communities. It acknowledges the role of Catholic schools in instilling values and serving a diverse student population while maintaining affordability. The resolution designates January 26, 2025, to February 1, 2025, as National Catholic Schools Week and supports the commitment of Catholic schools to academic excellence and community.

This resolution congratulates the Washington University in St. Louis Bears women's soccer team on their outstanding 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship victory. It recognizes the team's exceptional record, coaching, and individual player achievements. The resolution also acknowledges the contributions of the university's staff, faculty, and alumni and requests that the Secretary of the Senate send copies to key figures at the university.

This resolution expresses concern over China's growing influence in Panama, particularly regarding the management of key ports, and its potential threat to the Panama Canal's neutrality and U.S. interests. It urges Panama to expel Chinese officials and terminate agreements that allow Chinese entities to manage critical infrastructure. The resolution also calls on the U.S. to utilize the Neutrality Treaty to address these threats, provide support to Panama, and explore a partnership to restore operational control of the Panama Canal, ensuring its security and freedom of navigation.

This bill reauthorizes the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness (SOAR) Training Program through fiscal year 2029. It allocates funding for the program while rescinding $20 million from the Department of Health and Human Services' Nonrecurring Expenses Fund.

The "Energy for America's Economic Future Act" directs 25% of revenue from federal oil and gas leases, including activities under Executive Order 14141, into a newly established Debt Reduction Fund. This fund will be used quarterly to reduce the federal debt by redeeming Treasury securities or other debt instruments. The Secretary of the Treasury is required to report to Congress on the fund's deposits, securities redeemed, and the resulting debt reduction.

The "Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2025" restricts certain visas for members of the Chinese Communist Party and their families, with exceptions only for UN obligations or national security waivers. This includes individuals who have served on the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. The President can waive the restriction for national security reasons.

The "Censorship Accountability Act" allows citizens to sue federal employees (excluding the President and Vice President) who violate their First Amendment rights. This act does not allow federal employees to sue their own agency or the government. Courts have the option to award attorney's fees to the winning party, excluding the U.S. government.

The COLLUDE Act amends Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, modifying protections for interactive computer service providers. To maintain immunity from liability, providers must prove they are not information content providers. The bill removes liability protection for providers who restrict political speech based on government or government-influenced communications, with exceptions for legitimate law enforcement and national security purposes.

The "Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications Act" amends the Inspector General Act of 1978, requiring inspectors general to report on communications between their establishment and internet service providers regarding content moderation, user content, data inputs, algorithms, and related tools. This aims to increase transparency in government interactions with online platforms.

The Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025, or SOPRA, enhances judicial review of agency actions. It empowers courts to independently interpret laws and regulations, ensuring a check on agency interpretations. This applies broadly to judicial reviews unless explicitly exempted by law.

The ERASER Act requires agencies to repeal at least three existing regulations for every new regulation issued, especially major ones. For major rules, the cost of the new rule must be equal to or less than the cost of those being repealed, as certified by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must regularly study and report on the total number and economic impact of federal regulations. This aims to reduce regulatory burden and control the economic impact of federal rules.