Legislative Activity

This resolution congratulates the people of North Macedonia on their 34th anniversary of independence and celebrates 30 years of diplomatic relations with the United States. It recognizes North Macedonia as a key ally committed to Euro-Atlantic integration and commends its role as a security partner, particularly in supporting Ukraine. The resolution honors the strong bond of friendship and shared democratic values between the two nations.

The FARM Act ensures that owners and independent repair providers have fair and reasonable access to the necessary documentation, parts, software, and tools required to diagnose, maintain, and repair farm equipment. This legislation mandates that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) provide this access, including necessary data, while explicitly protecting OEM trade secrets. Violations of these requirements will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and subject OEMs to specific civil penalties.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress supporting the designation of the week of October 24-31, 2025, as "Bat Week." It recognizes the vital ecological and economic importance of bats, particularly in pest control and pollination. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledges the severe threat posed by white-nose syndrome and supports ongoing federal efforts to monitor and combat this devastating fungal disease impacting bat populations.

The No Big Blockbuster Bailouts Act amends the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to adjust the treatment of certain orphan drugs. Specifically, it raises the negotiation threshold for drugs exclusively treating rare diseases from \$200 million to \$400 million. These changes will apply to initial price applicability years beginning on or after January 1, 2028.

This resolution formally condemns the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel and the subsequent rise in antisemitic hatred experienced by Jewish communities in the United States. It reaffirms the commitment to protecting the rights of all people to practice their faith peacefully without fear of violence or intimidation. Furthermore, the resolution specifically denounces hateful language that unfairly links all Jewish people to the actions of the Israeli government.

The Energizing Our Communities Act establishes the Community Economic Development Transmission Fund to provide direct financial benefits to local communities hosting major new electric power transmission projects. This Fund is capitalized by a portion of the interest collected from related federal transmission loans. Host communities will receive a one-time payment to be used for local infrastructure, public services, and dedicated conservation or recreation efforts.

The Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2025 establishes a new pilot program to provide specialized development loans for beginning farmers and ranchers. These loans, capped at \$100,000 with low interest rates, are specifically designed to fund long-term investments in essential business infrastructure and capacity. Borrowers will also be required to participate in comprehensive farm and ranch management training.

The Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act of 2025 mandates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish and maintain a public database and webpage detailing all U.S. "billion-dollar disasters." This hub must include estimated costs, location, and type of event, updated at least every six months. The system will also feature historical maps and graphs, ensuring continuity with previous disaster tracking methods.

The Student Loan Deduction Act of 2025 allows households applying for food assistance to deduct monthly student loan payments from their countable income. This deduction applies to both federal and private education loans, covering payments made for any household member. Claiming this deduction can positively impact eligibility for food assistance benefits.

This Act codifies existing U.S. sanctions targeting individuals undermining peace and stability in the West Bank, making them permanent law unless lifted by the President. It immediately reinstates any previously terminated sanctions under the relevant Executive Order. The President can only lift these sanctions after certifying to Congress that the targeted person has ceased harmful activities and provided assurances against future non-compliance.

The Repealing the Trump Sick Tax Act aims to reverse previous legislative changes affecting Medicaid and drug pricing. Specifically, it eliminates prior modifications to Medicaid cost-sharing requirements and repeals changes concerning the exclusion of orphan drugs from the Drug Price Negotiation Program. This effectively restores the original rules governing these areas under the Social Security Act.

The O DAIRY Act of 2025 aims to support organic dairy farmers by expanding emergency assistance for losses due to high feed costs and establishing new programs for better cost data collection. The bill also mandates the creation of a specific safety net program for organic dairy operations, prioritizing smaller farms. Finally, it invests in local processing infrastructure and creates new market specialist positions to research and improve the organic dairy sector.

The Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act empowers copyright owners to seek information from developers of generative AI models. This allows copyright holders to subpoena records if they have a good-faith belief their work was used in training the AI model. Developers must comply with the subpoena or face a rebuttable presumption that they copied the copyrighted material.

This resolution formally honors the deep and enduring friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark, particularly in recognition of Danish Constitution Day. It highlights Denmark's role as a vital military ally, a strong NATO partner, and a significant economic investor in the U.S. The Senate expresses gratitude for past cooperation and looks forward to continuing this strong relationship for decades to come.

The 340B PATIENTS Act of 2025 clarifies that drug manufacturers must provide 340B discounts to covered entities regardless of how or where the drugs are dispensed, including through contract pharmacies. This legislation confirms the right of covered entities to use outside pharmacies to dispense discounted drugs without facing manufacturer restrictions. Furthermore, the Act establishes significant civil monetary penalties for manufacturers who violate these rules by imposing limiting conditions on the provision of 340B pricing.

The CANADA Act, or Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments Act, provides relief to small businesses by exempting them from specific import duties imposed due to the national emergency declared on February 1, 2025. This exemption applies to goods imported directly by or for the use of a qualifying small business concern.

The Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to use portable, specialized solid waste disposal systems for the on-site destruction of seized contraband, counterfeit goods, and unauthorized materials. This legislation explicitly prohibits the use of open-air burn pits for disposing of illicit or classified items. The Act provides $8.95 million in funding for fiscal year 2026, offsetting this cost by reducing funds previously allocated for open-air burn pit operations.

The Health Records Enhancement Act allows designated individuals or immediate family members to supplement the health records of deceased veterans with observed health information after their passing. This process ensures that important post-mortem details can be added to the existing records maintained by the DoD and VA. Any added information will serve only as a supplement and will not alter the original medical documentation.

The Rural Recovery Act of 2025 establishes a new program within the Department of Agriculture to provide essential technical assistance for disaster recovery in eligible rural communities. This assistance will help affected areas navigate federal and state aid applications, appeal denials, and manage recovery funds for critical infrastructure. The program is authorized to spend up to $50 million annually and offers support to communities for up to three years following a Presidential disaster declaration.

The Eliminating Thickets to Increase Competition Act (ETHIC Act) aims to curb anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry by limiting the number of patent lawsuits brand-name drug companies can file against generic or biosimilar challengers. Specifically, it restricts litigants to asserting only one patent per defined "Patent Group" in a single lawsuit against a specific challenger. This measure is designed to prevent the strategic filing of numerous, overlapping patent suits intended to delay market entry for competing drugs.