Legislative Activity

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.

The TICKET Act mandates upfront, all-inclusive pricing for event tickets, banning speculative ticket sales where sellers do not possess the tickets. It also requires clear disclosures regarding secondary market status and establishes refund policies for canceled or postponed events. Enforcement of this Act is delegated to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

**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 bill reauthorizes the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program through fiscal year 2029, ensuring continued support for health professionals to identify and respond to human trafficking. Additionally, the legislation provides for the rescission of $20 million in unobligated funds from the Department of Health and Human Services.

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 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.

The Energy for America’s Economic Future Act establishes a dedicated fund to accelerate the reduction of the federal debt. Under this legislation, 25 percent of all revenue generated from federal oil and gas leases and related activities will be deposited into this fund. These proceeds are required to be used exclusively to redeem outstanding Treasury securities, with regular reporting to Congress on the resulting impact on the national debt.

The Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2025 prohibits members of the Chinese Communist Party and their family members from obtaining F or J academic and exchange visas. This legislation aims to enhance national security by restricting access to U.S. educational institutions for party affiliates, while providing limited exceptions for international obligations and national security interests.

The COLLUDE Act amends Section 230 of the Communications Act to hold interactive computer services accountable for censoring political speech at the behest of government entities. It shifts the burden of proof to service providers in liability lawsuits and removes legal protections for platforms that suppress political viewpoints in response to non-law enforcement government requests.

The Censorship Accountability Act establishes a legal right for individuals to sue federal employees who violate their First Amendment rights. This legislation allows injured parties to seek damages or other legal relief against executive branch employees acting under the color of law. It further provides for the recovery of attorney’s fees for prevailing plaintiffs while clarifying that employees cannot sue their own federal agencies for these actions.

The Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications Act requires federal Inspectors General to disclose all agency communications with internet and social media companies regarding content moderation, user data, and algorithmic processes. By mandating these details in semiannual reports, the bill aims to increase oversight and accountability for government interactions with major technology platforms.

The ERASER Act aims to reduce the federal regulatory burden by requiring agencies to repeal three existing regulations for every new rule they issue. For major rules with significant economic impact, agencies must also ensure that the cost of the new regulation does not exceed the combined cost of the rules being removed. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Government Accountability Office periodically report on the total number and economic impact of federal regulations.

The Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025 (SOPRA) mandates that courts conduct an independent, *de novo* review of all legal questions when evaluating agency actions. By requiring judges to interpret the law without deferring to an agency’s own legal views, the bill aims to strengthen judicial oversight of federal regulatory interpretations.