Legislative Activity

This resolution formally honors the pilots, maintainers, analysts, sailors, and families involved in the success of Operation Midnight Hammer. It recognizes this complex military operation as the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history against Iranian nuclear facilities. The resolution commends the service members for their exceptional skill and dedication during the long-range, synchronized mission. It also acknowledges the sacrifices made by the military families supporting the operation.

The Gateway Partnership Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in designated Park buildings. These agreements establish strict rules regarding scheduling, liability insurance, and event compatibility to protect the Park's resources and public access. The Foundation must pay fees to cover all associated costs, including wear and tear and administrative expenses incurred by the National Park Service.

The Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act establishes a temporary program managed by the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate federal and local efforts to beautify and clean up public spaces in D.C. It also creates the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Commission to recommend actions on public safety, immigration enforcement, and police support. Both the beautification program and the Commission are set to automatically terminate on January 2, 2029.

This resolution solemnly marks the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump. It condemns the multiple attempts against his life and other political officials, while honoring the victims and first responders involved in the July 2024 shooting. The measure further calls for an end to the incitement of political violence that threatens the democratic process.

The Graham Hoffman Act establishes a new federal crime for knowingly assaulting a first responder while they are performing their duties, especially if serious bodily injury results. Federal prosecution is limited to cases involving interstate activity and requires written approval from the Attorney General under specific circumstances. This law broadly defines first responders to include firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel.

The PRICE Act, or Protect and Respect ICE Act, significantly increases penalties for anyone who assaults, resists, or impedes an officer or employee of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This legislation effectively doubles the maximum prison time and corresponding fines for such offenses against ICE personnel.

This bill proposes to amend the Internal Revenue Code to increase the lifetime tax-free withdrawal limit for using 529 account funds to pay down student loans. Specifically, it doubles the current $\$10,000$ limit to $\$20,000$. This increased benefit for student loan repayment would take effect beginning with the 2026 tax year.

The Rescissions Act of 2025 immediately cancels previously allocated budget authority across various government accounts, primarily targeting State Department and foreign aid programs. This legislation rescinds billions of dollars designated for international organizations, global health initiatives, development assistance, and peacekeeping operations. Additionally, it cancels future funding set aside for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The REMIT Act establishes a new 15% excise tax on electronic remittance transfers sent out of the United States. This tax is waived for verified U.S. citizens if their transfer provider agrees to IRS verification standards. To ensure U.S. citizens are not penalized, the bill creates a fully refundable income tax credit equal to the amount of the excise tax paid. The Act also imposes new, strict reporting requirements on money transfer providers starting in 2026.

The Helping Communities with Better Support Act aims to increase access to home and community-based services (HCBS) by allowing states to expand eligibility under certain conditions, provided wait times for existing recipients are not impacted. The bill also significantly increases federal transparency requirements, mandating detailed annual reporting from states on their HCBS waiver waiting lists, service delivery times, and actual hours of care provided. Finally, it directs the Secretary to issue guidance on providing up to 60 days of interim coverage while formal care plans are finalized.

The Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2025 establishes a program to create regional technology hubs across the U.S. to accelerate the development and deployment of critical defense technologies. These hubs will foster collaboration between the DoD, academia, and private industry to strengthen the defense industrial base and maintain technological superiority. The Secretary of Defense is tasked with designating at least ten geographically diverse hubs within three years to focus on emerging technologies like AI and hypersonics.

This resolution formally congratulates His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the first American Pope. The Senate recognizes the Pope as a global symbol of peace and justice, acknowledging his commitment to human dignity and interfaith dialogue. The measure also expresses hope for strengthening relations between the United States and the Holy See.

The Expedited Removal Expansion Act of 2025 significantly expands the Secretary of Homeland Security's discretionary authority to apply expedited removal procedures to more inadmissible aliens. This bill updates inspection rules and raises the standard of evidence required for certain determinations from "a significant possibility" to "clear and convincing evidence." The legislation centralizes decision-making power with the Secretary and streamlines references within the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The INSPECT Act establishes independent Offices of the Inspector General (IGs) for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This move creates new independent watchdogs to oversee the operations and spending of these critical public health agencies. The President is tasked with appointing these new IGs within one year of the Act's enactment. The legislation ensures that these new oversight functions are funded using existing Department of Health and Human Services resources, requiring no new appropriations.

The Easter Monday Act of 2025 establishes Easter Monday as a new official federal public holiday. This act amends federal law to designate the first Monday following the first Sunday after the spring equinox full moon as a paid day off for federal employees.

The Public Safety Free Speech Act establishes protections for covered public safety employees against employer retaliation for expressing personal views on various work-related and personal topics. This bill allows these employees to sue their employers for negative job actions, such as firing or demotion, resulting from their protected speech. However, these protections do not apply to speech made while on duty, speech advocating illegal activity, or the intentional sharing of private personal information.

The WATCH Act establishes new federal oversight for foreign laboratories receiving U.S. funding for animal research, primarily from the NIH. These labs must now undergo mandatory quarterly inspections to ensure compliance with established animal welfare standards. Failure to pass these inspections and correct deficiencies can result in the suspension or revocation of federal funding.

The Public Health Improvement Act establishes term limits for the Directors of the CDC and NIH, restricts the scope of the CDC's strategic plan, and restructures the appointment process for the CDC's advisory committee. It also clarifies the Secretary of HHS's authority to regulate communicable disease vectors and requires Congressional approval for extending public health emergencies. Finally, the Act mandates the transfer of several key public health offices from the CDC to the NIH within two years.

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.