Legislative Activity

The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act aims to significantly expand the palliative care and hospice workforce through new federal grant and award programs for education, training, and career incentives. The bill also mandates the dissemination of information about palliative care services to patients, families, and providers, while enhancing palliative care research efforts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Importantly, the legislation clarifies that funds cannot support activities intended to cause death, ensuring alignment with existing federal funding restrictions.

This resolution commemorates the 14th Dalai Lama's 90th birthday by designating July 6, 2025, as a "Day of Compassion." It strongly reaffirms U.S. support for the human rights and distinct cultural and religious identity of the Tibetan people. Furthermore, the resolution rejects any interference by the People's Republic of China in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. It underscores the U.S. commitment to a negotiated solution leading to meaningful autonomy for Tibet.

This resolution officially designates July 2025 as "Plastic Pollution Action Month" to raise national awareness about the growing crisis of plastic pollution. It acknowledges the severe environmental and health risks posed by plastic waste, including its impact on wildlife and human bodies. The measure encourages individuals and communities across the United States to actively participate in efforts to reduce, reuse, and clean up plastic pollution during this designated month.

The Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act establishes strict new rules to protect consumers from deceptive automatic renewal and free trial charges. It mandates that businesses must obtain express, informed consent before billing for renewals and provide clear, easy cancellation methods upfront. Violations of these consent and disclosure requirements will render the renewal void, requiring full refunds, and will be enforced by the FTC as unfair business practices.

This concurrent resolution officially recognizes the significance of equal pay and highlights the persistent wage disparity faced by Black women compared to White, non-Hispanic men. It designates July 10, 2025, as Black Women's Equal Pay Day to draw attention to the economic losses caused by this gap. The resolution underscores that closing this disparity is vital for the economic stability and wealth-building of Black women and their families.

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025 establishes a new federal process for trafficking survivors to seek the expungement of arrest records or the vacation of certain criminal convictions resulting from their victimization. It also creates a specific "duress" defense for defendants charged with serious federal crimes if they committed the offense while being trafficked. Furthermore, the bill mandates reporting on the use of these new relief mechanisms and clarifies that federal grants for legal aid can be used for post-conviction representation.

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2025 establishes mandatory reporting requirements for large commercial shipping voyages that involve U.S. ports. This bill imposes new fees on ship operators based on the lifecycle carbon emissions and criteria air pollutants generated during covered voyages. Revenue generated from these fees will fund various programs aimed at decarbonizing the maritime sector, modernizing port infrastructure, and improving air quality in port communities. The fee structure will expire if the International Maritime Organization implements a comparable global pollution fee.

The Click to Cancel Consumer Protection Act of 2025 codifies the Federal Trade Commission's existing "negative option" rule into permanent federal law. This action locks in current regulations governing automatic subscription renewals and recurring charges. The bill ensures that consumers have legally established protections against unwanted automatic billing practices.

The GLOBE Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. policy to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI people globally. It mandates increased State Department reporting on international abuses, implements sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for such violations, and directs foreign assistance to support LGBTQI rights defenders. Furthermore, the Act reforms immigration procedures to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers and ensures non-discrimination for LGBTQI U.S. citizens serving abroad.

The VISIBLE Act mandates that federal immigration officers (CBP and ICE) clearly display their agency and name/badge number on their outermost clothing during all public-facing enforcement activities. This law aims to increase transparency and public trust by ensuring officers are easily identifiable from a distance. The Department of Homeland Security must report annually to Congress on compliance rates and disciplinary actions taken for violations. Furthermore, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will investigate public complaints regarding these new identification standards.

The Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical funding for both Type 1 Diabetes research programs and diabetes programs serving Native Americans. This legislation secures specific annual appropriations of \$160 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, along with a transition allocation in late 2027. The bill ensures continued financial support for these vital public health initiatives through the end of 2027.

This resolution officially recognizes June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month to honor the history, struggles, and significant contributions of the LGBTQ community in the United States. It acknowledges past and ongoing discrimination while celebrating key legal milestones toward equality. The Senate encourages the nation to use this month to learn about inequality and celebrate the community's achievements both domestically and globally.

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025 updates definitions to expand protections for victims of intimate partner violence, including broadening who qualifies as an intimate partner. This legislation clarifies what constitutes a "dating relationship" and extends misdemeanor domestic violence protections to children harmed by a parent's dating partner. Crucially, the Act also creates a new federal prohibition preventing individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking from owning or possessing firearms.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support for the rights and freedoms of LGBTQI+ individuals across the United States. It recognizes key Supreme Court victories that advanced equality while acknowledging the ongoing need for federal legislation to combat discrimination. The bill specifically supports designating June 26th as "LGBTQI+ Equality Day" to commemorate these legal milestones.

The Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2025 is a legislative update designed to modernize the Internal Revenue Code by ensuring gender-neutral language is used when referencing married taxpayers and their spouses. This bill systematically replaces outdated gendered terms like "husband and wife" or "his" with inclusive terms such as "married couple" and "spouse." The changes are purely linguistic, ensuring consistency across tax rules without altering any existing tax liabilities or deductions.

The Refund Equality Act of 2025 extends the deadline for certain legally married couples to amend past tax returns filed separately before September 16, 2013, based on Revenue Ruling 2013-17. This allows these couples to now file jointly for those years, extending the statute of limitations for filing the joint return and claiming related refunds or credits. These extensions are strictly limited to changes resulting from recognizing their marital status for federal tax purposes.

The Global Respect Act of 2025 mandates the President to publicly identify foreign individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses against LGBTQI individuals. Those identified will be deemed inadmissible to the United States, and their visas will be subject to cancellation. The Act also requires enhanced reporting to Congress regarding the identification process and strengthens the State Department's tracking of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity abroad.

This resolution recognizes Tunisia's historical role as the birthplace of the Arab Spring and commends its initial democratic achievements. It expresses deep concern over the recent erosion of democratic norms, including the consolidation of presidential power and the suppression of political opposition. The Senate urges the Tunisian government to release political prisoners and restore judicial independence. Furthermore, it calls on the Administration to consider imposing sanctions on officials undermining democratic principles.

The Energy Circuit Riders Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to fund expert advisors, or "Circuit Riders," who will assist rural communities with energy efficiency and clean energy projects. These funded professionals will provide technical assistance on planning, financing, and implementing energy initiatives across multiple rural areas. The program aims to boost rural energy resilience while requiring annual reporting on energy savings and emission reductions.

The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2025 aims to prevent the proliferation of untraceable firearms manufactured using 3D printing technology. This legislation makes it illegal to intentionally distribute digital files or instructions online that can program a device to manufacture a complete firearm or key firearm components. The goal is to preserve existing gun tracing capabilities and enhance public safety against the threat of ghost guns.