Legislative Activity

This resolution formally honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former U.S. Senator for Louisiana. It details his career, highlighting his significant tenure on key Senate committees, particularly his leadership on energy policy. The resolution recognizes his legislative achievements benefiting Louisiana, including flood control and conservation efforts. Finally, the Senate adjourns immediately in his memory as a final tribute to his service.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning California's "Advanced Clean Cars II" pollution control standards. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, Congress is effectively vetoing this EPA regulation. This action prevents the EPA's rule regarding California's vehicle emission standards from taking effect.

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Health Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand access to telehealth services under Medicare by permanently removing outdated geographic restrictions and broadening provider eligibility.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 Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 updates federal regulations to allow for the control of destructive double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities. This update expands the scope of the existing depredation order to include lake and pond managers in twelve additional states. The Secretary of the Interior must reissue these updated rules within one year of the Act's passage.

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 Securing Smart Investments in our Ports Act updates the Port Infrastructure Development Program to ensure fairer distribution of funding. This legislation mandates that project selections for both major and smaller port improvements must achieve equitable geographic representation across the United States. The goal is to spread vital port investments more evenly nationwide.

The Free Speech Fairness Act amends tax law to allow 501(c)(3) organizations to make political campaign statements without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. This is permissible only if the statement is made in the ordinary course of carrying out their established tax-exempt purpose and requires only a de minimis amount of extra expenditure. This change provides greater latitude for mission-related political commentary by certain non-profits.

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.

The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act permanently reauthorizes and mandates the use of the E-Verify system for nearly all U.S. employers, phasing in requirements over one year. The bill significantly increases penalties for non-compliance and establishes new procedures for reverification and information sharing between federal agencies. Furthermore, it offers liability protection to employers who use the system in good faith and directs the creation of a demonstration program for small businesses in rural areas.

The No Dollars for Dictators Act of 2025 prohibits the U.S. from supporting the allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through the IMF to any member country that has committed genocide in the last decade or is currently designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. This restriction remains in place unless Congress explicitly authorizes the vote through new legislation. The bill ensures that U.S. financial influence is not used to benefit regimes engaged in genocide or terrorism.

The Vessel Tracking for Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2025 establishes a temporary pilot program to test the use of big data analytics in identifying vessels attempting to evade U.S. sanctions and export controls. This program, run by Homeland Security, will specifically analyze patterns like the disabling of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to generate actionable intelligence for law enforcement. The pilot will conclude after four years, followed by a comprehensive report to Congress assessing its effectiveness in catching sanctions violators.

The Safeguarding Medicaid Act mandates that all applicants and recipients of Medicaid across all states and territories must undergo asset testing, removing existing exemptions for age, blindness, or disability. This legislation requires states to incorporate resource eligibility checks alongside income verification for most applicants, with limited exceptions for continuous coverage groups. Furthermore, the bill establishes federal tracking of savings resulting from these new asset verification requirements and mandates regular public reporting from states on their eligibility review processes.

The Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive new program to restructure forest conservation easements under existing farm law. This Act creates two primary easement types: Forest Land Easements for working forests and Forest Reserve Easements for species protection. The bill also repeals the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program but ensures all prior agreements under that program remain fully honored. Funding is authorized through 2029 to support sustainable forest management and habitat restoration across eligible private and tribal lands.

This bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through December 31, 2026. It specifically pushes back both the program's funding authority and its overall expiration date. This action ensures the continued operation and financing of the NFIP for an additional three years.

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 Freedom to Haul Act of 2025 prohibits the EPA from implementing or enforcing the Phase 3 heavy-duty vehicle emission rules. Furthermore, the bill prevents the EPA from issuing tailpipe emission regulations that mandate specific technologies or limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on engine type. This ensures manufacturers retain flexibility in meeting pollution standards.

The SAFE Orbit Act establishes the framework for the Department of Commerce to manage civil space situational awareness and space traffic coordination. This involves gathering and publicly sharing unclassified data on objects in orbit while providing basic services for free. The bill also elevates the existing Office of Space Commerce into a new, directly reporting Bureau led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary. Finally, it grants liability protection to government entities and contractors involved in providing or receiving this space traffic information.

The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2025 repeals the EPA's recent multi-pollutant emissions standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles. Furthermore, this Act prohibits the EPA from issuing future tailpipe emission regulations that mandate specific technologies or limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on engine type. The EPA must update existing rules within 24 months to comply with these new restrictions.

The Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2025 amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit states from receiving waivers to set new vehicle emission standards that restrict the sale or use of new cars with internal combustion engines. This legislation invalidates any existing or future state standards that directly or indirectly limit traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Furthermore, the bill mandates the revocation of any previously granted waivers that conflict with this new restriction.