Legislative Activity

The Inspector General Access Act of 2025 amends existing law to streamline investigations of Department of Justice personnel. Specifically, this bill removes a previous exception regarding certain types of allegations from the general investigation procedures governing the Inspector General. This change ensures that the Inspector General has broader authority to investigate all relevant matters concerning DOJ personnel.

This concurrent resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian War in 1995. It honors the historic negotiations held in Dayton, Ohio, and reaffirms U.S. support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. The resolution also urges continued commitment to constitutional reform and democratic principles within the nation.

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, or marital status in federally funded child welfare services. This aims to increase the number of available, stable foster and adoptive homes, particularly for LGBTQ youth and youth of color who are overrepresented in the system. The bill mandates federal guidance, cultural competency training, and the establishment of a resource center to improve safety and permanency outcomes for all children in care. Entities found in violation may face the withholding of federal payments.

The Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention Act (ASAP Act) amends Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias beginning in 2028. This coverage applies to FDA-cleared tests designed to detect pre-symptomatic or early-stage conditions. The legislation specifically outlines the types of genomic and imaging tests that will qualify for Medicare payment.

This bill, the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act, extends and significantly increases the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for employers hiring from targeted groups through 2030. It raises the base credit amount, adjusts key figures for inflation, and adds qualified military spouses as an eligible group. Furthermore, the legislation mandates federal agencies to promote the hiring of WOTC-eligible individuals within critical sectors like manufacturing and healthcare.

This resolution supports the goals of Transgender Day of Remembrance by formally recognizing the epidemic of violence targeting transgender people. It specifically honors the lives lost to violence over the past year, particularly transgender women of color. The resolution calls on Congress and the executive branch to enact inclusive legislation and policies to protect transgender lives and ensure their dignity.

The Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 aims to strengthen domestic food security by repealing specific sections of a previous law (Public Law 11921). This repeal effectively reinstates the original statutes that were previously altered by those sections.

This Act establishes the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Workers Act, which creates a new, tiered loan forgiveness schedule for newer public service loans. Borrowers will see increasing percentages of their loan balance canceled after reaching specific payment milestones, culminating in full forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments. The bill also streamlines the employment certification process and ensures that interest accruing during the application review period is canceled.

The End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 prohibits rental property owners from using coordinators to gather and analyze rental data to recommend prices or terms. This bill makes paying for or performing such "coordinating functions" illegal under federal antitrust law. Enforcement is granted to the FTC, the Department of Justice, and State Attorneys General, and allows harmed individuals to sue for treble damages.

The EXPERTS Act of 2025 aims to reform the federal rulemaking process by increasing transparency and accountability across executive agencies. It mandates extensive disclosure requirements for studies and funding sources submitted during public comment periods and establishes new standards for judicial review of agency actions. Furthermore, the bill creates an Office of the Public Advocate to focus on social equity in regulations and streamlines the review timeline for significant regulatory actions by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

The VISIT USA Act transfers \$160 million from the Travel Promotion Fund to Brand USA to support international tourism promotion. This funding is specifically allocated from existing unobligated balances collected through certain travel-related fees. The transfer is made within 30 days of the law's enactment.

This resolution officially designates November 20, 2025, as "National Rural Health Day." It recognizes the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities, including provider shortages and hospital vulnerability. The Senate expresses support for rural health providers and commits to advancing policies that improve healthcare access and affordability in these areas.

The Background Check Expansion Act mandates that nearly all private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals must go through a licensed dealer to complete a federal background check. This legislation establishes a universal background check requirement for these transactions, with specific exceptions for family gifts and law enforcement transfers. The bill aims to close loopholes in existing firearm transfer laws while explicitly prohibiting the creation of a national firearms registry.

The Bivens Act of 2025 amends existing federal law to clarify the scope of civil actions that can be brought against individuals acting under federal authority. This legislation specifically modifies Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes to ensure its application extends to actions taken by federal agents.

The Anti-Cash Grab Act repeals a specific provision (Section 213 of division C of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). This repeal effectively restores a previous law, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005. The legislation is designed to take effect retroactively as if the repealed section had never been enacted.

This resolution honors Dr. Jane Goodall for her groundbreaking work as an ethologist, conservationist, and activist, recognizing her pioneering research on chimpanzees. It highlights the significant impact of the Jane Goodall Institute and her global efforts in environmental restoration and youth engagement. The resolution further designates specific national days to commemorate her birthday and enduring legacy.

This bill, the Restoring Access for Detainees Act, mandates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provide detained individuals with free, limited telephone and electronic communication services. It aims to ensure detainees can consult with legal counsel and maintain essential family ties at no cost. The legislation specifies minimum free calling minutes, required access for legal consultation, and prohibits monitoring of confidential communications with attorneys.

The Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025 ensures the uninterrupted continuation of all Head Start projects and activities throughout fiscal year 2026, even if full appropriations are delayed. This legislation provides necessary continuing funding based on the terms of existing 2025 continuing resolutions. Funding authority under this Act will terminate upon the enactment of regular 2026 appropriations or by September 30, 2026.

The CARE Act of 2025 mandates the testing of a new Comprehensive Alternative Response for Emergencies (CARE) Model under Medicare. This model allows Medicare Part B to pay ground ambulance providers for emergency response services, even if no transport occurs. The goal is to evaluate how this alternative payment structure impacts emergency medical service access, beneficiary outcomes, and resource utilization over a five-year period.

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.