Legislative Activity

The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 aims to address physician shortages by adding 2,000 new Medicare-funded residency positions annually from 2027 through 2033. These new slots are distributed through an application process, prioritizing hospitals serving rural areas, Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), and those supporting new medical schools. Additionally, the bill mandates a study and report on effective strategies for increasing diversity within the healthcare workforce.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Reform Act of 2025 aims to streamline and improve the VA's management of construction, facilities, and procurement. This bill centralizes construction, leasing, acquisition, and logistics functions under single leadership within the VA. It also mandates reforms to prioritize hiring entry-level acquisition staff through expanded internship programs.

This bill proposes amending federal law to explicitly include the crime of arson and bombing threats within the definition of "racketeering activity" under the RICO Act. By adding this offense to Title 18, U.S. Code, the legislation makes it easier to prosecute individuals involved in such acts under federal racketeering statutes.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 establishes penalties against foreign governments that nationalize or expropriate U.S.-owned port infrastructure in trade partner nations. It mandates the identification of such "prohibited property" seized by foreign governments after January 1, 2024. Once identified, vessels that use these prohibited ports will face strict bans on docking, unloading, or receiving services in the United States. Furthermore, the Act expands the definition of unfair trade practices to include the arbitrary seizure or discriminatory treatment of U.S. assets abroad.

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 Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act mandates the creation of a standardized chemical testing method to accurately determine the country of origin for seafood, specifically targeting red snapper and tuna. This new methodology must be practical for field use and applicable to prepared dishes to combat illegal fishing operations. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide maritime technical assistance to foreign naval forces to enhance their enforcement capabilities against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

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."

Lulu's Law mandates that wireless emergency alert systems be updated to include shark attacks as a triggerable event. The FCC is required to issue an order within 180 days to officially incorporate shark attack warnings into the alert system. This ensures the public can be rapidly notified of dangerous shark activity.

The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act ensures that offering portable or standard employee benefits will not, by itself, cause a worker to be classified as an employee under federal law. This change allows companies to offer valuable benefits to independent workers without automatically triggering employee status for tax or labor purposes. The legislation aims to encourage the provision of portable benefits to the independent workforce.

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.

This Senate resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the Parliamentarian should serve a maximum term of six years. The proposal aims to limit the tenure of the official who advises on Senate rules and procedures to ensure accountability and fresh perspectives. This action acknowledges the current appointment structure while advocating for a fixed term limit.

This resolution supports designating the week of June 23–29, 2025, as "National Women's Sports Week." The observance aims to celebrate the anniversary of Title IX and the significant growth of women's sports participation since its enactment. Furthermore, the resolution emphasizes the importance of protecting fair and safe athletic opportunities exclusively for female athletes. This week will honor the achievements of women in sports and promote equal access for all sexes.

The Safe and Open Streets Act establishes a new federal crime for intentionally blocking public roads or highways in a manner that interferes with commerce. This legislation amends existing federal law to include this specific offense, punishable by fines or up to five years in prison. The Act also updates the title of the relevant statute to broadly cover "Interference with commerce."

The **SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025** is a comprehensive bill designed to strengthen national efforts against substance use disorders and improve public health infrastructure. It significantly increases and extends funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs through 2030, while also updating regulations for provider training and controlled substance distribution. Key provisions focus on enhancing maternal health support, improving overdose monitoring, bolstering the mental health workforce, and ensuring accountability in state-level mental health spending.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act restricts how consumer reporting agencies can share your credit report when you are seeking a residential mortgage loan. Specifically, it limits the sharing of these reports unless they are connected to a firm offer of credit or are being sent to parties directly involved in your current mortgage, such as the originator or servicer. This ensures that your sensitive financial information is only accessed by relevant parties during the home loan process.

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 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 Act mandates that any final convention or agreement on pandemic preparedness resulting from the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Negotiating Body must be treated as a formal treaty. Consequently, the United States cannot adopt or implement such an agreement without receiving the "advice and consent" of the Senate. This ensures that the Senate has a final, two-thirds majority vote on any binding international health instrument negotiated by the WHO.

The AFIDA Improvements Act of 2025 updates the rules for reporting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. This bill lowers the minimum reporting threshold to 1% ownership for certain foreign investors and clarifies enforcement procedures for the Secretary of Agriculture. Furthermore, it mandates information sharing between the Department of Agriculture and national security officials (CFIUS) regarding these foreign investment disclosures. The Act also requires updates to official handbooks and an analysis of implementing a fully electronic reporting system.

The Energy Choice Act aims to prevent state and local governments from enacting regulations that restrict consumer access to various energy sources, including natural gas, hydrogen, and electricity, if those sources are transported across state lines. This legislation ensures that local codes cannot ban or limit the connection or expansion of services based on the energy type or source. In essence, it protects the ability of residents and businesses to choose from energy options available through interstate commerce.