Legislative Activity

This Senate resolution urges the Department of Agriculture to immediately use its contingency funds and interchange authority to ensure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is fully financed. The Senate asserts the administration has a legal obligation to use these existing resources to support millions of vulnerable Americans through November. This measure expresses a position and does not enact new law.

The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 ensures that essential nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC, continue to provide benefits without interruption if full appropriations for the Department of Agriculture are not enacted for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation immediately makes funds available to cover benefits and state operating costs during any funding lapse, retroactive to September 30, 2025. These special appropriations terminate once the standard FY 2026 funding bill is passed or by September 30, 2026.

The Innovation Fund Act establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to reward local governments that have successfully increased their housing supply. These grants aim to support activities that expand the availability of attainable housing through various local initiatives, such as zoning reform and streamlining development processes. The program prioritizes entities demonstrating innovative policies and significant growth in housing supply, while explicitly prohibiting federal preemption of local land use policies.

The HUD Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide annual testimony to Congress. This testimony must detail the office's efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, assess HUD program effectiveness, and evaluate the agency's resource needs. The goal is to enhance public accountability and oversight of HUD operations.

This Senate Resolution officially designates October 26, 2025, as the "Day of the Deployed." The resolution honors the service and sacrifice of all deployed members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, particularly those serving since September 11, 2001. It calls upon the nation to observe this day with appropriate reflection and ceremonies.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that federal employees, contractors, and service members affected by a government funding lapse starting October 1, 2025, receive retroactive back pay for the period they worked without funding. Additionally, the bill prohibits agencies from initiating permanent staffing reductions or furloughs during such a lapse. These provisions are designed to provide financial security and stability to essential government personnel during periods of lapsed appropriations.

The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act ensures that federal employees, military members, and covered contractors receive their full standard compensation for work performed or time furloughed during a lapse in government appropriations occurring after September 30, 2025. This bill appropriates necessary funds for agencies to make these retroactive payments. Payments must be made promptly, generally within seven days of enactment for furloughed individuals. This legislation guarantees that no covered individual loses pay due to a government shutdown during the specified period.

The Keep America Flying Act of 2026 ensures that essential Air Traffic Controllers and TSA security personnel continue to receive pay and benefits at the start of fiscal year 2026, even if Congress has not yet passed a budget. This continuing appropriation provides necessary funding for FAA and TSA staff, as well as their contractors, to maintain safe and secure air travel operations. The funding automatically ceases once a full budget is enacted or on September 30, 2026.

This bill mandates a feasibility study to determine if the Benton MacKaye Trail should be designated as a National Scenic Trail. The study will assess the 287-mile scenic, nonmotorized route spanning Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Secretary of Agriculture must complete and submit this report to Congress within one year of enactment.

The Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 ensures that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue without interruption, even if Congress fails to pass the Department of Agriculture's budget for fiscal year 2026. This legislation authorizes automatic funding from the Treasury to maintain payments and cover any retroactive benefits missed due to the delay. This temporary funding mechanism remains active until the regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations are officially enacted.

This resolution expresses deep concern over the rising trend of book banning and threats to freedom of expression across the United States. It strongly opposes censorship in schools and libraries, citing constitutional rights and the harm done to democratic discourse. The measure urges local entities to protect students' access to diverse viewpoints and calls for the reversal of restrictive orders impacting educational materials.

This resolution expresses support for designating October 5 through October 11, 2025, as National 4-H Week. It recognizes 4-H as a vital youth development program that empowers millions of young people through hands-on learning. The bill encourages citizens to celebrate the organization's significant impact on developing confident and compassionate leaders.

This resolution formally recognizes Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) as a serious, widespread health condition affecting millions of women and girls. It expresses strong support for designating September 2025 as "PCOS Awareness Month" to promote education and improve diagnosis and treatment. The bill urges increased research and better care to address the significant physical and mental health risks associated with PCOS.

This Act prohibits the use of the U.S. Treasury Department's Exchange Stabilization Fund to provide any financial assistance or bailout to Argentina's financial markets. Congress asserts that these funds should instead protect American jobs and stability against foreign currency manipulation. The prohibition on using the fund to aid Argentina remains in effect until December 10, 2027.

This resolution officially recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, running from September 15 to October 15, 2025. It celebrates the immense and vital contributions of Latinos to the United States across culture, the economy, and civic life. The bill encourages all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities honoring this heritage.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove and nullify a specific rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services concerning the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Market Integrity and Affordability." If enacted, this measure would prevent the CMS rule from having any legal force or effect.

This resolution designates the week of September 21 through September 27, 2025, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." It aims to honor and recognize the profound sacrifices made by the families of service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as the families of veterans. The designation encourages the nation to observe this week through acts of service and goodwill to celebrate these families.

This resolution expresses support for designating September 2025 as "Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month." The goal is to educate the public about sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that significantly impacts thousands of Americans, particularly the Black community. This designation aims to promote awareness regarding the need for research, early detection, effective treatments, and preventative care programs.

The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to significantly improve the national understanding and prevention of stillbirths. It authorizes federal grants to help states enhance stillbirth surveillance, data collection, and analysis, ensuring all collected data remains de-identified. Furthermore, the Act mandates the creation of clear federal guidelines for standardized data collection and the development of public educational materials regarding stillbirth risk factors.

The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act establishes a federal grant program to help student parents remain in college by making childcare accessible. The Secretary of Education can award five-year grants to eligible colleges and universities to provide on-campus or subsidized childcare services to student parents who qualify for Pell Grants. Grantees must ensure the funded programs meet specific quality benchmarks within three years and report annually on student outcomes. The Act authorizes $500 million annually for this program from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031.