Legislative Activity

This bill, the STUDENT Act, seeks to fundamentally restructure the National Education Association (NEA) due to Congress's findings that it has become a partisan political entity rather than an educational organization. It imposes strict new requirements on membership dues collection from government employees, bans the organization from engaging in political activities, and prohibits it from promoting certain ideological beliefs in schools. Furthermore, the Act repeals a specific federal property tax exemption currently enjoyed by the organization in the District of Columbia.

The Advanced Reactor Modernization for Operational Resilience Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program for the Army to deploy advanced nuclear micro-reactors or small modular reactors to power critical infrastructure by 2030. It also grants military departments the authority to enter into long-term, 50-year contracts for energy generated by advanced nuclear reactors. Furthermore, the bill expands the technology focus of the Office of Strategic Capital to explicitly include nuclear energy and technologies.

The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025 mandates that airline passenger security fees be exclusively used to enhance aviation safety and security, ending any diversion of these funds by 2027. The bill increases dedicated funding for the Aviation Security Capital Fund, ensuring a minimum of \$500 million annually starting in Fiscal Year 2026. Additionally, it establishes the new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund to finance the purchase and maintenance of advanced screening equipment at airports. This legislation aims to guarantee consistent and robust financial support for critical TSA security operations and technology upgrades.

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act aims to drastically increase healthcare price transparency across the board. It mandates that hospitals, diagnostic labs, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly disclose detailed negotiated rates, cash prices, and gross charges in standardized formats. Furthermore, the bill strengthens requirements for health plans to provide consumers with real-time cost estimates and mandates itemized billing for patients after receiving care. These measures are backed by new compliance checks and significant daily penalties for non-compliance.

The PATRIOT Parks Act authorizes National Park Service superintendents to implement an additional surcharge on entrance fees specifically for international visitors. This new revenue is dedicated solely to maintenance, staffing, and visitor services at the park where it is collected. Additionally, the Act allows for a separate surcharge on National Parks passes purchased by international visitors, with those funds directed to the Legacy Restoration Fund for major system-wide projects.

The Rural Small Business Resilience Act mandates that the Small Business Administration (SBA) ensure individuals in rural areas have full and accessible opportunities for disaster assistance. This requires the SBA to actively market and outreach to these communities following a disaster declaration. The bill also includes a minor, non-substantive technical renumbering within the Small Business Act.

This resolution expresses support for designating June 2025 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2025, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day." The goal is to raise public awareness, combat the stigma surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and encourage timely treatment for service members and veterans. It recognizes the significant impact of combat stress and supports ongoing efforts by the DoD and VA to educate the public and improve care.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a specific rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning the Miles City Field Office Resource Management Plan Amendment. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action immediately voids the BLM's submitted rule, preventing it from taking effect. In essence, Congress is striking down this particular BLM decision.

The Say No to Indoctrination Act prohibits the teaching or promotion of concepts related to "gender ideology" in elementary and secondary schools. This amendment directly restricts curriculum content under existing federal education law. The goal is to prevent instruction on specific concepts defined elsewhere as "gender ideology."

The SAWMILL Act establishes a new Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program through the Department of Agriculture. This program aims to support the expansion or opening of rural sawmills and wood-processing plants. Loan guarantees are offered to facilities located near high-priority federal lands designated for ecological restoration and vegetation removal. The total value of these loan guarantees is capped at $220 million.

The Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025 mandates that defense contractors provide the Department of Defense (DoD) with fair and reasonable access to necessary repair parts, specialized tools, and technical information. This ensures the DoD can maintain and fix the equipment it purchases without being unduly reliant on the original manufacturer. The Act also requires the DoD to review existing contracts to remove intellectual property constraints hindering their self-repair capabilities. Finally, the Comptroller General must report to Congress on the implementation of these new repair access requirements.

The Equal Representation Act mandates the inclusion of a citizenship question on the decennial census starting in 2030. It requires the public release of state-by-state citizenship data following the count. Crucially, this act stipulates that non-citizens will be excluded from the population totals used to determine congressional apportionment and electoral votes.

The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act restricts the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) tracking data by government entities for investigations or to impose fees on aircraft owners. It also establishes new transparency requirements for public airports seeking to impose landing or takeoff fees on general aviation aircraft. These fees must be specifically dedicated to airside safety projects.

The GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive, next-generation missile defense shield to counter rapidly evolving global threats from ballistic, hypersonic, and unmanned systems. The bill creates a powerful, direct-reporting Program Manager to oversee the rapid development, testing, and deployment of integrated defense capabilities across space, air, land, and sea domains. It authorizes over $23 billion in funding, prioritizing the acceleration of space-based sensors, advanced interceptors, and non-kinetic defense technologies. Furthermore, the Act streamlines acquisition processes and enhances the Department of Defense's authority to protect assets against incursions by unmanned aerial systems.

This concurrent resolution expresses Congress's strong support and deep appreciation for America's law enforcement professionals. It recognizes the increasing dangers, high trauma exposure, and current staffing shortages facing officers nationwide. The resolution calls for enhanced safety measures, better resources, increased penalties for assaulting officers, and improved mental health support for law enforcement personnel. Ultimately, it urges all levels of government to provide the necessary support for officers to effectively protect their communities.

The Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2025 establishes two new grant programs aimed at boosting construction and manufacturing apprenticeships. The first program funds community outreach to recruit students and connect programs with local employers, especially in non-urban areas. The second program provides funds for expanded academic advising and student support services to improve apprenticeship program enrollment and completion rates. The Act authorizes $5 million annually for each program from 2026 through 2030.

The Delivering On Government Efficiency in Spending Act mandates increased transparency by requiring federal agencies to report detailed information on all Treasury payments for public posting. It also enhances government integrity by granting the Treasury access to sensitive data, like new hire and tax records, to verify recipients and prevent improper payments. Furthermore, the bill requires agencies to verify bank account information before disbursing funds to ensure accuracy. These measures aim to improve oversight, reduce fraud, and increase accountability in federal spending.

This bill mandates that males are prohibited from participating in athletic programs or activities at U.S. military service academies that are specifically designated for women or girls. The Secretary of Defense must ensure that no male participation results in any female athlete losing a roster spot, opportunity to compete, scholarship, or other benefit. The legislation defines "sex" based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

The Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2025 aims to significantly speed up the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and appeals process through new reporting requirements and procedural changes. It mandates increased transparency on claim processing times and requires the VA to establish clearer guidelines for expediting cases. Furthermore, the bill grants the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) new authority to group similar appeals and expands the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims' (CAVC) jurisdiction regarding class actions.

This resolution serves as a formal tribute honoring the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. It recognizes his decades of public service, including his terms as Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator, where he championed infrastructure, agriculture, and conservative values. The Senate expresses deep sadness over his passing and directs that official copies of this tribute be sent to his family.