Legislative Activity

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 aims to safeguard federal elections by criminalizing the knowing spread of materially false information intended to suppress voting within 60 days of an election. This bill specifically prohibits the use of deceptive Artificial Intelligence in election interference and grants citizens the right to sue violators. Furthermore, it empowers the Attorney General to issue public corrections to widespread false information and creates new criminal penalties for intimidating election workers involved in vote tabulation and certification.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act nullifies two specific Executive Orders related to federal labor-management programs and prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce them. Furthermore, the Act ensures that all existing collective bargaining agreements between the federal government and labor organizations remain fully in effect until their original expiration dates. This legislation solidifies current federal union contracts while removing the authority of the voided orders.

The CIVICS Act of 2025 updates federal funding criteria for national history and civics education programs. It mandates that any approved activity must demonstrate measurable improvements in student achievement across history, civics, and geography. Furthermore, funded programs must incorporate innovative, scalable methods, accountability measures, and practical, hands-on civic engagement focused on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The HIV Medication Access Act officially recognizes the provision of HIV prevention tools, including PrEP medication, as core life-saving humanitarian assistance. This legislation updates how the U.S. approaches HIV/AIDS prevention aid under existing foreign assistance laws. Furthermore, it mandates that the identification of at-risk populations for aid must align with scientific guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, veteran status, or military status. This expansion broadens protections to cover lawful income sources, including housing vouchers and various benefits, alongside military service. The Act ensures these new protected classes are covered across all aspects of the housing transaction, from advertising to rental agreements.

The Billionaires Income Tax Act fundamentally changes how the wealthiest Americans are taxed by requiring them to pay taxes annually on the unrealized gains of their investment assets, eliminating indefinite tax deferral. It also removes several existing tax deferral mechanisms and imposes stricter tax consequences on these "applicable taxpayers" regarding investment income, expatriation, and deferred compensation. In essence, the bill aims to ensure that the ultra-wealthy pay taxes yearly on their growing wealth rather than waiting until assets are sold.

The Department of Defense’s Cost of ‘War’ Act of 2025 mandates that any expenses associated with renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War must be covered using existing travel funds. If travel budgets are insufficient, the Secretary of Defense must draw the remaining necessary funds from the travel allocations of the individual military departments. The Secretary is also required to report the total costs of this name change to Congress within one year of enactment.

The FAMILY Act establishes the Family and Medical Insurance Leave program, creating a new office within the Social Security Administration to manage paid benefits for qualified caregiving and serious health conditions. This law outlines eligibility requirements, a tiered formula for calculating monthly benefit payments, and protections against employer retaliation for taking leave. The Act also provides funding mechanisms for states that already have similar paid leave programs in place.

This resolution condemns the anti-vaccine policies of the Secretary of Health and Human Services and opposes Florida's efforts to roll back immunization requirements. It strongly asserts that vaccines are critical for public health, preventing illness and death, and must be widely available based on scientific consensus. The Senate expresses its support for science-based health decisions and criticizes political interference in vaccine advisory bodies.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month to highlight ongoing threats to ballot access and encourage civic engagement. It urges Congress to pass legislation strengthening voting protections, like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Furthermore, the resolution encourages educational outreach to inform citizens about registration and the history of voting rights in America.

The Head Start for America's Children Act aims to strengthen early childhood education by explicitly including infants and toddlers in growth goals and emphasizing mental health support. The bill significantly increases funding authorizations, updates numerous definitions to promote inclusivity (especially for Native American and Native Hawaiian communities), and establishes new requirements for staff compensation and professional development. Furthermore, it creates several new pilot programs focused on extending operating hours, fostering partnerships with higher education, and enabling community-wide eligibility in high-poverty areas.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Literacy Month to raise awareness about the critical importance of reading skills. It highlights the significant national challenges in literacy rates and the economic costs associated with low literacy. The measure calls upon all sectors of society to observe the month by promoting evidence-based reading programs and activities.

The Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2025 imposes a new surtax on corporations whose ratio of top executive pay to average worker pay exceeds 50 to 1. This penalty tax is calculated based on a five-year average of the compensation ratio and applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025. The legislation mandates that large private companies must also calculate and report this ratio to avoid the penalty. The Treasury Department is tasked with issuing regulations to prevent companies from exploiting loopholes to avoid this tax.

The Fed Integrity and Independence Act of 2025 aims to safeguard the Federal Reserve's crucial role in economic stability by reinforcing its independence from political influence. This legislation explicitly prohibits current Federal Reserve officials, including Board of Governors members and Federal Reserve Bank staff and directors, from simultaneously holding any other position requiring a Presidential appointment. The core purpose is to eliminate potential conflicts of interest and ensure monetary policy decisions remain free from partisan pressures.

The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard Act (SUN Act) requires the President to report to Congress within 15 days following most domestic deployments of the National Guard. This report must detail the legal justification, goals, impact on civilians, local law enforcement feedback, and cost estimates for the deployment. This oversight requirement is waived only when the National Guard is deployed domestically due to a declared natural disaster.

The Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act invalidates pre-dispute agreements that force individuals into private arbitration for employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights claims. This legislation protects the right of individuals and groups to pursue legal action in court rather than being compelled into private arbitration before a dispute arises. It ensures that courts, not arbitrators, decide if this new law applies to a specific agreement. The Act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

This Act officially establishes the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025 to honor the life and groundbreaking civil rights achievements of the late legal pioneer. The bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to her family in recognition of her service, including her role in *Brown v. Board of Education*. Furthermore, it permits the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover production costs.

The Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025 mandates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish and maintain a public database and webpage detailing all U.S. "billion-dollar disasters." This hub must include estimated costs, location, and type of event, updated at least every six months. The system will also feature historical maps and graphs, ensuring continuity with previous disaster tracking methods.

The Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act of 2025 makes strike benefits received from a labor union tax-free for striking workers. This legislation ensures that these payments are excluded from gross income and will not negatively affect a worker's eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). These provisions apply to compensation received after December 31, 2025.