Legislative Activity

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.

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 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.

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.

The Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen federal disaster aid for agricultural producers. This bill expands eligibility for conservation payments, streamlines approval processes for emergency repairs, and modifies payment timelines for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Additionally, it establishes an interagency working group to improve the accuracy and data used by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The Accelerating Broadband Permits Act aims to speed up the deployment of broadband infrastructure by improving how federal agencies track and manage communications use applications. It mandates better data collection and requires agencies to analyze and report on any delays that cause applications to miss established processing deadlines. Furthermore, the bill updates the definition of a "major project" for broadband infrastructure to include projects over $5 million that require National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

The "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025" eliminates both estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, while also modifying gift tax laws. It adjusts gift tax calculations, addresses transfers in trust, sets an initial $10,000,000 amount for calculating tentative tax, and adjusts for inflation. These changes apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers occurring, and gifts made on or after the enactment date of this Act.

The "Promoting Precision Agriculture Act of 2025" aims to increase the use of precision agriculture technologies in the United States by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to develop voluntary interconnectivity standards for precision agriculture equipment. It also requires the Comptroller General to assess these standards to ensure they are effective and promote the adoption of precision agriculture practices. The goal is to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain environmental quality in crop and livestock production.

The "Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025" aims to streamline environmental reviews for forest projects that reduce hazardous fuels and address insect and disease risks, prioritizing these treatments in designated areas. It mandates the use of categorical exclusions in certain timber production areas and emphasizes wildfire and infestation risk reduction in project planning. The act also modifies Good Neighbor Agreements, allowing states to retain and use revenue from timber sales for further restoration efforts within the state.

The American Beef Labeling Act of 2025 amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to mandate country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef and ground beef. It requires the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to find a way to reinstate MCOOL for beef in compliance with World Trade Organization rules. The changes to beef labeling will take effect within one year of enactment.

This resolution formally appoints the Republican party members to serve on key Senate committees for the 119th Congress, including committees on Environment and Public Works, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Judiciary, and others. It designates the chairs and members, ensuring these committees can begin their work. These appointments will stand until successors are chosen.

This resolution formally designates the Republican party members for specific committees in the Senate for the 119th Congress, including Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Energy and Natural Resources; Aging; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. It names the chairs and members of each committee, establishing the Republican representation and leadership within these key Senate bodies. The appointments will stand until successors are chosen.

This resolution designates the Republican Party's membership on various Senate committees for the 119th Congress. It specifies the chairs and members for key committees, including Appropriations, Armed Services, Finance, and Judiciary. The resolution ensures the Republican Party's representation and leadership roles within these important legislative bodies. This structure will remain in place until successors are appointed.

This concurrent resolution outlines the procedures for the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2025, to count the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States. It specifies the time, location, presiding officer, and roles of tellers from both the House and Senate. The resolution also describes the process of reading, tallying, and officially declaring the electoral votes, ensuring the results are recorded in the journals of both houses.