Legislative Activity

The MARA Act of 2025 aims to establish and grow a regulated domestic offshore aquaculture industry by creating a dedicated Office of Aquaculture for centralized oversight. The bill sets up a framework for assessing commercial-scale demonstration projects under strict environmental and safety standards. Finally, it provides significant federal support through workforce development, financing mechanisms, and mandated scientific studies to guide future regulation.

This bill reauthorizes funding for critical American aquaculture assistance programs through fiscal year 2029. It ensures a consistent funding stream of $15 million annually for these research and development efforts. Furthermore, the Act updates the rules governing how indirect (overhead) costs are calculated for these specific aquaculture awards.

The Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish comprehensive, science-based physical activity recommendations for all Americans, updated at least every ten years. This legislation mandates specific guidance for diverse populations, including advice on reducing sedentary behavior. The resulting reports must inform federal health program guidelines, though the Act explicitly prohibits mandatory fitness standards for individuals.

The Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act establishes a settlement process for residents who suffered health issues due to decades of U.S. military training on the island. It authorizes compensation payments to individuals based on qualifying illnesses linked to contamination and mandates the creation of a comprehensive trauma and cancer center for the municipality. This legislation aims to address the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Hurricane Maria by providing financial relief and essential long-term healthcare infrastructure.

The Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 clarifies the federal tax treatment of certain payments received from the Nurse Corps program. This legislation ensures that specific Nurse Corps payments are treated as qualified scholarships, potentially exempting them from federal income tax. These changes apply only to payments received in tax years beginning after the Act's enactment.

The Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to negotiate specific trade agreements with foreign markets during domestic animal disease outbreaks. These agreements aim to maintain U.S. livestock and animal product exports by establishing measures like regionalization or zoning. This ensures trade continuity by using the latest scientific standards when negotiating with importing countries.

The BOOST for Engines Act directs the NASA Administrator to maintain and modernize rocket engine testing infrastructure across NASA sites. This modernization aims to enhance capability, safety, and support for both government and commercial space transportation development. Funding prioritizes upgrades for testing large engines and multi-engine systems, while ensuring existing government programs are not delayed. The Act also mandates that underutilized facilities remain available for commercial rental on a fair, cost-reflective basis.

This resolution officially supports the goals of World Malaria Day and affirms that combating global malaria is in the vital national interest of the United States. It commends past U.S. efforts in reducing cases worldwide while recognizing the current threat of stalled progress and domestic resurgence. The bill encourages continued U.S. leadership through international partnerships and innovation to achieve significant global reductions by 2030.

The LOCAL Infrastructure Act reinstates the availability of advance refunding bonds, effectively undoing a change made by the 2017 tax law. This action immediately restores the previous rules regarding these bonds. By bringing back advance refunding, the bill aims to provide greater financial flexibility for infrastructure projects.

This resolution officially designates the week of April 14 through April 20, 2025, as "National Osteopathic Medicine Week." It recognizes the vital contributions of the nation's growing number of osteopathic physicians (DOs) who focus on whole-person healthcare. The designation celebrates the history, dedication, and ongoing training of these essential healthcare providers across the country.

The American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2025 establishes a new federal tax credit for issuers of qualifying municipal bonds used for infrastructure projects. This credit reimburses the issuer for 28% of the interest paid on the bond. While the interest remains tax-exempt for the bondholder, it must be treated as taxable income for the issuer for federal purposes.

The Engine Testing for Exploration Act mandates that NASA maintain and enhance its internal capabilities for testing rocket propulsion systems critical for human spaceflight missions, such as those to the Moon. This legislation affirms the Stennis Space Center's central role in managing all NASA rocket propulsion testing programs. Furthermore, the Administrator must report to Congress on future testing plans for both low-Earth orbit and deep space missions.

The Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2025 makes certain federal loan repayments received by dental school faculty tax-free. This change updates the Internal Revenue Code to exclude these specific loan repayment amounts from taxable income. The bill also requires the GAO to review participation in the relevant dental faculty development and loan repayment programs.

The Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act establishes a new, nonbinding commission to coordinate fishery management across the vast Mississippi River Basin. This body will bring together states, federal agencies, and tribes to develop shared goals, focusing heavily on conserving fish populations and controlling aquatic invasive species. The Commission is authorized to create a grant program to fund cooperative projects aligned with the existing Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Mississippi River Fisheries.

This Act officially modifies the boundaries of the Vicksburg National Military Park by transferring two specific parcels of federal land to the State of Mississippi. The state intends to use these areas for public facilities, such as a welcome or interpretive center. Upon conveyance, the official park boundaries will be immediately adjusted to reflect the change in ownership.

The **PLAN for Broadband Act** mandates the creation of a National Strategy to synchronize and improve the efficiency of all federal broadband programs. This strategy will be followed by a detailed Implementation Plan to reduce duplication, streamline permitting processes on federal lands, and ensure responsible use of funding. The bill also requires federal agencies to track and report on the processing times for broadband infrastructure applications on government property.

The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act mandates expanded coverage for advanced cancer diagnostic and laboratory tests under Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. This legislation ensures federal health programs cover high-tech sequencing and interpretation services, while also waiving the Part B deductible for Medicare patients receiving these tests. Additionally, the bill establishes a national education program to raise awareness among both patients and providers regarding the importance of genomic testing in cancer care.

This resolution formally congratulates the Jackson State University Tigers football team on their historic 2024 Celebration Bowl victory. It recognizes the team’s outstanding season, individual player and coaching honors, and their commitment to excellence both on and off the field.

The "Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act of 2025" amends the Animal Health Protection Act to provide compensation to poultry growers and layers in areas under federal control due to animal health concerns. It mandates payments based on lost income, ensuring producers are compensated for flocks they were unable to raise during the control period. The compensation is capped to avoid duplication of benefits from other sources and must be paid within 60 days of request. This act aims to support poultry farmers affected by disease control measures.

This resolution authorizes the Senate Committee on Armed Services to fund its operations, personnel, and investigations from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027. It establishes specific expenditure caps for committee expenses, including consulting and staff training, while outlining the administrative procedures for managing these funds.