Legislative Activity

The Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act of 2025 aims to enhance collaboration and streamline processes between federal agencies involved in the patent system. This legislation seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patent coordination across the government.

This Act authorizes the minting and issuance of special commemorative gold and silver coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins will honor the victims, first responders, and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. All surcharges collected from the sale of these coins must be paid directly to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand access to telehealth services under Medicare by permanently removing outdated geographic restrictions and broadening provider eligibility. The bill also enhances program integrity by dedicating new funding to oversight and establishing educational outreach for providers with unusual billing patterns. Finally, it mandates new resources, training, and public data reporting to ensure the quality and accessibility of virtual care for all beneficiaries.

The Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere (EASE) Act requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a new model focused on improving access to specialty health services. This "Specialty Health Care Services Access Model" will utilize provider networks, often based in rural areas, to deliver coordinated specialty care to eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries living in underserved regions. The model aims to leverage digital tools to connect patients with necessary specialists through established, qualified provider networks.

The Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act (ABC Act) mandates a comprehensive review of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs to significantly simplify application processes, forms, and communications. This effort aims to reduce the burden on family caregivers by eliminating redundant information requests across agencies. The responsible officials must report their simplification plans and progress to Congress within two years of enactment.

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 mandates sweeping economic penalties against the Russian Federation and its affiliates for actions against Ukraine. This legislation requires the President and Treasury Secretary to impose escalating sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and energy sector entities. Furthermore, the Act prohibits U.S. persons from investing in Russian debt, bans the trading of Russian securities on U.S. exchanges, and imposes a massive 500% import duty on Russian goods. Sanctions can only be terminated if Russia agrees to a verifiable peace deal with Ukraine.

This resolution officially designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the vital and substantial contributions of the over 1.2 million female agricultural producers to the U.S. economy and global food supply. The measure encourages citizens to acknowledge the leadership, mentorship, and economic impact women have across the entire agricultural sector.

The Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 generally restricts federal courts from issuing orders that affect non-parties to a lawsuit or granting emergency relief in certain state/federal disputes under diversity jurisdiction. The bill also clarifies language regarding who can seek declaratory judgments and limits the scope of judicial review over agency actions. Overall, this legislation aims to narrow the scope of judicial authority in issuing certain types of relief and clarifying participation in specific legal challenges.

The Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act ensures individuals can purchase standalone dental insurance plans directly through the official health insurance marketplaces. This legislation removes any requirement to also enroll in a comprehensive medical plan to secure dental coverage via the Exchange. The goal is to simplify the process for people seeking only dental benefits through the established marketplace system.

This resolution strongly affirms religious freedom as a fundamental right and a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. It expresses deep concern over the increasing global threats, persecution, and destruction of religious sites worldwide. The bill urges the State Department to prioritize the promotion of religious freedom through diplomatic engagement, support for activists, and the use of sanctions against violators.

This Senate resolution expresses the strong sense of Congress that the United States Postal Service must remain an independent federal establishment and should not be privatized. It emphasizes the USPS's vital constitutional role, its massive economic footprint supporting millions of jobs, and its essential function in providing universal service to every American address. The resolution warns that privatization would likely lead to higher costs and reduced service, particularly for rural communities.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act makes student loan repayment or forgiveness amounts received by veterinarians participating in state-based programs tax-free. This exclusion applies to funds received through programs designed to increase veterinary services in underserved areas. This tax benefit will take effect for amounts received in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This resolution formally honors the life and distinguished public service career of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former U.S. Senator for Wyoming. It celebrates his extensive tenure in both state and federal government, highlighting his focus on fiscal responsibility and support for veterans. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow at his passing and directs that the day's adjournment serve as a final tribute to his memory.

This resolution celebrates the 204th anniversary of Greek independence and reaffirms the deep, shared commitment to democracy between the United States and Greece. It recognizes the historical ties, ongoing strategic partnership in security and energy, and the contributions of the Greek-American community. The bill ultimately honors Greece as a vital NATO ally and friend.

The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025 modifies the above-the-line deduction for performing artists' business expenses, including agent commissions. It introduces a phase-out of this deduction for artists earning over $100,000, with the threshold subject to future inflation adjustments. Additionally, the bill raises the employer wage threshold used in determining deduction applicability from $200 to $500, also subject to inflation indexing. These changes aim to provide greater tax parity for performing artists.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act prohibits Federal Reserve banks from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly to individuals. This legislation explicitly bans the Federal Reserve Board from developing or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Fed and is widely available to the public. Congress asserts that any such digital currency must be explicitly authorized by Congress, not created unilaterally by the Federal Reserve.

The Rebuild America’s Health Care Schools Act of 2025 updates how hospitals calculate reimbursable costs for running nursing and allied health education programs. This bill expands the types of direct and indirect expenses hospitals can count toward Medicare payments, including costs from related entities and contracted faculty. Furthermore, the Act prohibits the recoupment of payments for costs that will be allowable under the new rules, and mandates refunds for certain past recoupments.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the energy tax credit available for qualified fuel cell property. It pushes the expiration date for claiming this credit from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2033. This extension applies to property where construction begins after December 31, 2024.

The Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA Act) ensures fair competition on federally funded construction projects by prohibiting the government from mandating or barring contractors from entering into agreements with labor unions. This promotes open bidding, reduces taxpayer costs, and prevents discrimination based on union membership. The law requires federal agencies to remain neutral regarding project labor agreements for both direct contracts and federal grants.

The Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act mandates that federal banking agencies must cease using "reputational risk" as a factor in the supervision, examination, or rating of depository institutions. This legislation aims to ensure regulators focus solely on a bank's financial safety and soundness, rather than public perception or political pressure. The Act requires all relevant agencies to remove references to reputational risk from their guidance and policies within 180 days of enactment.