Legislative Activity

This resolution celebrates Black History Month by honoring the profound contributions and resilience of African Americans throughout United States history. It acknowledges both the struggles of the past and the significant achievements of individuals who have shaped the nation’s progress. By recognizing this history, the resolution encourages all Americans to reflect on our shared past and continue working toward a future of unity and justice.

The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 aims to address environmental injustices by establishing an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice, which will be responsible for developing strategies, coordinating efforts, and administering grants to support environmental justice initiatives. It also establishes a grant program to assist state, local, and tribal governments in enforcing environmental laws in communities disproportionately affected by environmental harm. The act defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Ethan's Law aims to reduce gun violence by promoting responsible firearm storage. It establishes a federal requirement for gun owners to securely store firearms, especially in homes with minors or individuals prohibited from owning firearms, with penalties for improper storage. The law also creates a grant program to assist states and Indian Tribes in implementing similar safe storage laws. Additionally, it expresses the sense of Congress that failing to securely store a firearm constitutes negligence and can establish legal causation for harm resulting from its discharge.

This resolution affirms the Senate's commitment to ensuring the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains fully funded and operational without interruption. It recognizes the NIH workforce as essential to medical progress and emphasizes that protecting these operations is vital to national health, economic stability, and security.

The "Fair Credit for American Hostages Act of 2025" amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to protect individuals who have been unlawfully or wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. It prevents consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information in a consumer report about a "covered consumer" if the information is from the period of their detention or hostage situation and can be authenticated. This bill aims to ensure that Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad are not penalized on their credit reports due to their captivity.

The "Protect the West Act of 2025" establishes an Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to provide grants and support restoration projects on federal and non-federal lands, with the goal of improving forest health, watershed function, and wildlife habitat. It creates a Restoration Fund Advisory Council to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on fund distribution and project prioritization. The act also establishes a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program to implement restoration projects in designated areas, and it allocates significant funding for these initiatives, emphasizing job creation, community involvement, and ecological integrity.

The "Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025" postpones tax deadlines for U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, including their spouses. It also allows these individuals to apply for a refund or abatement of certain tax penalties and fines paid between January 1, 2021, and the bill's enactment. The Secretaries of State, the Attorney General, and the Treasury will coordinate to identify eligible individuals and implement these provisions.

This bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to clarify the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community. It ensures the 1986 Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement remains in effect unless modified by mutual consent between the tribe and Oregon, while protecting the rights of other tribes. Future agreements will derive authority solely from the State of Oregon, and the bill allows for court review of changes to a related Consent Decree. This amendment does not impact existing treaty or sovereign rights of any Indian Tribe.

The "Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025" amends the Social Security Act to provide retirement benefits to U.S. nationals who were wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. It ensures these individuals are credited with deemed wages for each month of their detainment or hostage situation, based on the national average wage index, for the purpose of calculating Social Security benefits. The bill requires the Social Security Commissioner to establish regulations for application and certification, with the changes taking effect 24 months after enactment.

The Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2025 amends Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 4001, to prohibit the detention of individuals in the United States based solely on protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and any additional characteristic the Attorney General specifies. The Attorney General cannot remove any of the characteristics already listed (race through disability).

The Stop Antiabortion Disinformation (SAD) Act aims to prevent deceptive advertising related to reproductive health services, particularly concerning abortion and contraception. It empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate and enforce this prohibition, including the ability to bring civil actions against violators, with significant financial penalties for non-compliance. The Act also mandates regular reporting to Congress on enforcement activities.

The DRIVE Act of 2025 ensures that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a mileage reimbursement rate for beneficiary travel that is at least equal to the federal rate provided to government employees. It also mandates that the VA process and pay these mileage allowances within 90 days of receiving a complete and accurate claim. This bill aims to reduce the financial burden on veterans when traveling to receive medical care.

The "Age 21 Act" aims to regulate firearm sales and possession by individuals under 21 years of age. It defines specific types of firearms, including "semiautomatic assault weapons," and prohibits licensed dealers from selling these firearms or large capacity ammunition feeding devices to individuals under 21. The act also restricts the possession of handguns, semiautomatic assault weapons, and related ammunition by those under 21, with certain exceptions for activities like employment, military service, or self-defense.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 requires the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ensuring consistent enforcement against antisemitism in federally funded programs. This bill aims to increase awareness and improve the safety of Jewish communities by codifying the use of the IHRA definition. The Act does not expand the Department of Education's authority, change harassment standards, reduce existing rights, or diminish First Amendment rights.

The United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 seeks to enhance the defense partnership between the United States and Israel through various initiatives. This includes establishing programs to counter unmanned systems, extend anti-tunnel and counter-unmanned aerial systems cooperation, and promote collaboration in emerging technologies. The act also directs the establishment of a Defense Innovation Unit office in Israel and assesses integrated air and missile defense in the United States Central Command region. Finally, it explores Israel's potential inclusion in the national technology and industrial base.

The Fair Play for Women Act aims to address sex-based discrimination in athletics by improving data collection and transparency, ensuring understanding of Title IX rights, and guaranteeing equal access to quality athletic opportunities for all students. It prohibits discrimination based on sex in athletics by State and intercollegiate athletic associations, local educational agencies, and covered institutions of higher education. The Act also expands athletic disclosure requirements for colleges and universities, as well as elementary and secondary schools, and mandates annual Title IX training for specific individuals. Finally, it allows the Secretary of Education to identify and penalize institutions that did not comply with Section 7 or Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in the previous year.

The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and countering its support for terrorism by imposing sanctions on those involved in logistical transactions of Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical products. It mandates the President to block the property of sanctioned individuals and entities within the U.S. and deny them U.S. visas, with potential waivers based on national interest. The Act also establishes an Interagency Working Group to coordinate and enhance the enforcement of sanctions against Iran, and encourages the formation of a multilateral contact group with similar countries to coordinate international enforcement of sanctions against Iran. Finally, the Act amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include identifying individuals or entities involved in activities that violate or evade sanctions under the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025.

The "Help Our Kelp Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within the Department of Commerce to conserve, restore, and manage kelp forest ecosystems. Grants will be awarded to various entities, including fishing industry members, educational institutions, and Indian Tribes, for projects addressing kelp forest decline and promoting long-term resilience. The federal government can fund up to 85% of project costs, with specific funding set aside for Indian Tribes. The act authorizes \$5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2030 for this program.

This resolution expresses the Senate's formal opposition to deploying United States military assets or personnel to take over the Gaza Strip. It emphasizes that such an action lacks congressional authorization, risks American lives, and would undermine U.S. interests and regional stability. The measure reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination while rejecting the prospect of a new, costly, and extended military engagement in the region.

The "Protecting Americans Privacy Act of 2025" aims to safeguard financial and tax information by restricting unauthorized access to the Treasury Department's payment systems and preventing the unlawful disclosure of tax returns. It prohibits specific individuals, including certain federal employees and contractors, from accessing these systems or disclosing tax information. Individuals harmed by violations can pursue legal action, with a minimum damage award of $250,000 for unauthorized access or disclosure. The act clarifies that it does not retroactively determine the legality of actions taken before its enactment.