Legislative Activity

The LOCAL Foods Act of 2025 expands exemptions under the Federal Meat Inspection Act for small-scale, personal meat processing. This allows individuals who partially own livestock to process the resulting meat for their household, guests, or employees without federal inspection. The bill requires owners to maintain strict control and identification of the meat, even when using agents for slaughtering or transport, to prevent it from entering commercial channels.

The SHARE Act of 2025 establishes new rules for how states can share and use criminal history records when processing professional licenses across state lines through interstate compacts. It mandates that the FBI must provide relevant criminal history information to state licensing authorities for these multi-state checks. Crucially, the receiving state authority is strictly limited to using this data solely for the licensing decision and cannot share the detailed records with any other entity, though they may confirm the check's completion.

The Deliver for Democracy Act ties the Postal Service's ability to raise periodical rates to meeting specific on-time delivery performance targets for magazines and newspapers. It mandates annual public reporting by the Postmaster General on newspaper delivery performance, requiring input from relevant industry groups. Finally, the bill directs the GAO to study and report on alternative pricing strategies for periodicals that currently cost the USPS more to handle than they generate in postage.

The Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act aims to ensure pharmacies receive accurate payments under Medicaid by requiring government surveys to establish transparent national drug acquisition cost benchmarks. It also prohibits abusive "spread pricing" by requiring Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pass through ingredient costs plus dispensing fees directly to pharmacies. This legislation mandates greater transparency in PBM contracts and establishes penalties for non-compliant pharmacies refusing to participate in cost surveys.

The Farm Ownership Improvement Act establishes a temporary, five-year pilot program for direct farm ownership loans to help farmers and ranchers secure financing. This program allows the Secretary of Agriculture to use flexible financial assessment methods when evaluating a borrower's ability to repay. The Secretary must track the program's success and report annually to Congress with a recommendation on making the program permanent.

This Act aims to immediately restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support refugees across the region. It repeals previous legislative bans on UNRWA funding and directs the Secretary of State to resume payments promptly. The bill mandates regular reporting to Congress detailing UNRWA's progress in implementing accountability reforms recommended by the Independent Review Group.

This resolution reaffirms the principle that no country should forcibly take territory from another, supporting Ukraine and its allies. It echoes President Reagan's call to stand with democracies against aggression. The resolution asserts that a country's borders and government should not be threatened or attacked by another country.

The Digital Integrity in Democracy Act removes Section 230 immunity for large social media platforms that intentionally or knowingly host false information regarding election administration logistics. This legislation establishes a strict timeline for platforms to review and remove such objectively false content upon receiving a complete complaint. Failure to comply with these removal requirements subjects platforms to significant financial penalties enforceable by the Attorney General, State officials, or affected candidates. The Act specifically excludes content attacking political candidates or parties from this definition.

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.

This bill amends existing regulations to include Czechia in the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for admission into the United States as E-1 nonimmigrant traders, under the condition that the Czech government provides similar trade benefits to U.S. citizens. This change would allow Czech citizens to enter the U.S. for trade purposes if U.S. citizens are afforded the same opportunities in Czechia.

The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025 expands the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont. It authorizes the acquisition of land within the updated boundaries for park inclusion and allows for the continuation of Vermont's agricultural and forestry practices on acquired lands. This act also establishes the National Park Service Stewardship Institute within the park to promote conservation and stewardship through various programs and partnerships.

This resolution congratulates the University of Vermont men's soccer team, the Catamounts, on their first NCAA Division I national championship win in 2024. It celebrates their victory over Marshall University, key players, and the pride they brought to Vermont. The resolution also directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies to the university's interim president, athletic director, and head coach.

The WEATHER Act of 2025 directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop a single index insurance policy that protects farmers against income losses resulting from extreme weather events. This policy must be available nationwide and offer flexible coverage options, with priority given to small-scale and underserved producers. The goal is to provide timely financial assistance to farmers affected by severe weather, supporting the resilience of the agricultural sector. A report to Congress is required within one year detailing the research, development, and recommendations for the policy.

The "Baby Changing on Board Act" mandates that all new Amtrak passenger trains include at least one baby changing table per rail car in a restroom, including an ADA-compliant restroom. These restrooms and changing tables must have clear signage to indicate their availability. The baby changing table must be designed to hold a child weighing up to 30 pounds.

The Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential Act (MAPLE Act) amends the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The bill expands the program to include maple syrup as an eligible food that can be purchased. This change aims to support local maple syrup producers and provide seniors with access to locally sourced products.

The "Supporting All Producers Act" or "SAP Act" amends the Agricultural Act of 2014, requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to consult with maple industry stakeholders to gather input on research and education priorities before issuing grant applications for the Acer Access and Development Program. It also mandates the Secretary to consider the information provided during these consultations when awarding grants and extends the Acer Access and Development Program's authorization through 2030.