Legislative Activity

The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 establishes a new program to expedite mortgage processing for tribal members seeking to buy, build, or improve homes on trust land. It mandates strict, short deadlines for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to approve or deny mortgage applications, with automatic approval if deadlines are missed. The Act also creates a Realty Ombudsman position within the BIA to ensure compliance and resolve disputes related to these land transactions.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent current and former employees of Senators Budd, Cramer, and Cornyn in the case of *United States v. Crouse*. It specifically permits named employees from each office to testify, while directing the Counsel to assert all necessary constitutional and statutory privileges.

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed rural water supply project in Western South Dakota. The study, conducted in partnership with the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., will determine the project's viability and recommend federal authorization for construction. The resulting report must also outline the non-Federal cost share, which must be at least 25% of construction costs.

This Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for expanding the Lewis Clark Regional Water System across Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The study will evaluate the project's engineering, economic, and environmental aspects, culminating in a report to Congress with a construction recommendation. The federal government will cover up to 50% of the study's cost, which is authorized up to $10 million.

This executive resolution permits the Senate to consider 97 presidential nominations as a single group during an Executive Session. The nominations cover a wide range of high-level federal positions across numerous departments and agencies. This action streamlines the confirmation process for these various appointments.

This executive resolution allows the Senate to consider a large group of 89 presidential nominations together in a single vote. It streamlines the confirmation process for these executive and judicial appointments. The resolution specifically authorizes the en bloc consideration of these nominations on the Executive Calendar.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to provide testimony and documents on behalf of a former employee of Senator Casey's office in the case of *United States v. Kaminski*. It affirms the Senate's authority to control the production of evidence related to its employees' official duties. The action is taken to promote the administration of justice while respecting Senate privileges.

This executive resolution seeks Senate approval to consider a large batch of 108 presidential nominations simultaneously, rather than voting on each individually. The nominations cover numerous key roles across the government, including ambassadors, agency heads, and U.S. Attorneys. This procedural measure allows for the swift confirmation of these appointments across various departments.

This resolution authorizes Senators to use funds from their Official Personnel and Office Expense Account to cover the costs of necessary security enhancements and services. The Committee on Rules and Administration will establish the specific regulations governing this new spending authority. These provisions apply to all relevant security expenses incurred on or after the date the resolution is adopted.

This executive resolution authorizes the Senate to consider and vote on a batch of 48 presidential nominations simultaneously, rather than individually. This procedural move is designed to expedite the confirmation process for these high-level appointments across various federal agencies and ambassadorships.

The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025 updates the Conservation Reserve Program to enhance flexibility for farmers, particularly regarding land management. Key changes include allowing continuous enrollment for certain wildlife enhancement lands and establishing specific, limited conditions under which emergency haying may occur during the final weeks of nesting season. Furthermore, the bill introduces cost-sharing for necessary grazing infrastructure and significantly raises the maximum annual CRP rental payment cap to \$125,000.

The Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting in 2026. This legislation covers pharmacist services that align with state law and are provided in collaboration with a physician or approved practitioner. The bill specifies payment rates for these covered services, particularly enhancing reimbursement for services related to public health emergencies like COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Furthermore, it prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent a Senate staff member in the *In re Architect of the Capitol Employment Dispute*. It grants permission for the required testimony and document production related to this ongoing legal matter. The action is taken under existing Senate rules and federal law governing employee representation in official capacity disputes.

This resolution authorizes the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to release specific committee records to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The records are needed for the ongoing court case, *United States v. Peter Biar Ajak*. This action is taken to facilitate the legal process while upholding the Senate's privileges regarding its records.

The Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025 aims to bolster small and very small meat and poultry processors by providing new HACCP guidance, increasing federal cost-sharing for state inspections, and encouraging participation in interstate shipment programs. The bill also establishes a $20 million Processing Resilience Grant Program to help small facilities upgrade infrastructure and capacity. Finally, it authorizes $10 million annually for grants supporting structured career training and apprenticeships within the processing industry.

The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025 establishes clear rules limiting which states can tax and withhold income from employees working in multiple jurisdictions. Generally, income can only be taxed by the employee's state of residence or any state where they perform work duties for more than 30 days in a year. This legislation aims to reduce complexity for mobile workers and their employers regarding state income tax obligations.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Senator Ronald Wyden in the case of *Desmond Bellard v. Ronald Wyden, U.S. Senator*. This action is taken because the lawsuit relates to the Senator's official duties. The resolution grants the Senate's legal team the authority to manage the defense in this specific civil case.

The SAFETY Act of 2025 aims to protect American producers by legally defining and safeguarding the use of common food, wine, and beer names in international trade. This legislation mandates that the government actively defend these established names during trade negotiations to prevent foreign restrictions on U.S. exports. The bill specifically excludes protected geographical indications from qualifying as common names while ensuring domestic labeling standards are respected abroad.

The American Prairie Conservation Act establishes new certification requirements for producers who convert native sod (untouched grassland) into cropland to receive federal crop insurance or disaster assistance. Farmers must now formally certify any newly tilled native sod acreage to the Secretary of Agriculture using specific forms and maps. Furthermore, the Secretary is required to report annually on the total amount of certified tilled native sod acreage by county and state through 2030.

The Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2025 (PHIT Act) aims to promote public health by incentivizing healthier lifestyles. This bill allows taxpayers to treat certain qualified expenses for physical activity, fitness instruction, and exercise equipment as deductible medical expenses, up to annual limits of \$1,000 or \$2,000 depending on filing status. These provisions are designed to make fitness more financially accessible for individuals and families.