Legislative Activity

This resolution officially honors the 67 victims of the tragic 2025 mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an airliner over the Potomac River. It expresses deep sympathy for the families affected and commends the hundreds of agencies and first responders involved in the response and recovery efforts. Furthermore, the resolution commits to translating safety lessons from the incident into action to prevent future tragedies.

The FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 establishes an independent expert panel to conduct a comprehensive review of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Safety Management System (SMS). This panel will assess the SMS's effectiveness, compliance, and integration across the agency. The FAA Administrator is required to act on the panel's findings and report progress on implementation to Congress.

This resolution honors the life, achievements, and legacy of former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. It recognizes his distinguished service in the Air Force, his Olympic athletic career, and his historic tenure in the U.S. Congress. The resolution specifically highlights his landmark legislative accomplishments, including establishing the National Museum of the American Indian. The Senate expresses its sorrow and will recess as a mark of respect for his memory.

Tyler's Law mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study on the frequency, costs, and impacts of fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments. Following the study, the Secretary must issue guidance addressing whether routine fentanyl testing for overdose patients is advisable. This aims to improve overdose care by informing best practices for emergency department drug screening.

This bill, the "Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act," aims to reduce fraudulent payments by improving information sharing between the Social Security Administration and the federal Do Not Pay working system. It mandates cooperation to use death data to prevent and recover improper benefit payments. The legislation also establishes standards for recording deaths and requires notification if an individual is incorrectly flagged as deceased.

This concurrent resolution marks the 15th anniversary of the tragic January 8, 2011, Tucson, Arizona shooting. It honors the six lives lost and recognizes the survivors, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, for their courage and advocacy. The resolution also commends the community's resilience and reaffirms Congress's commitment to civility and preventing gun violence.

This joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a recent rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning adherence to the text of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this resolution immediately nullifies the proposed HHS policy. Consequently, the new rule regarding APA adherence will have no legal effect.

The ROTOR Act focuses on enhancing aviation safety and transparency, primarily by reforming exceptions that allow aircraft to disable their ADS-B Out tracking systems. It mandates that the FAA require most aircraft to install and use ADS-B In technology for improved situational awareness. Furthermore, the bill establishes new coordination offices and requires comprehensive safety reviews of airspace operations, particularly around major airports, involving both civil and military aviation.

The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 aims to significantly reform benefits for coal miners suffering from black lung disease by streamlining claims, increasing payments, and strengthening the trust fund. It establishes new assistance programs, creates automatic eligibility presumptions for severe cases, and holds mining companies more accountable for securing payments. Additionally, the bill formally establishes the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor for administrative stability and includes technical updates to modernize the Black Lung Benefits Act.

The Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act of 2025 (ARCA Act) fundamentally reorganizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquisition structure to improve oversight and efficiency for major programs. It establishes a new Chief Acquisition Officer and an Office of Acquisition to centralize control over procurement and logistics. The bill also mandates independent verification, validation, and rigorous cost assessment for all major VA acquisition programs exceeding specified financial thresholds. Finally, it improves hiring for the acquisition workforce and standardizes the requirements development process to ensure better program outcomes.

This resolution officially designates December 2, 2025, as "World Nuclear Energy Day." It recognizes the historical milestones and significant contributions of nuclear energy to the U.S. economy, national security, and carbon-free electricity generation. The resolution celebrates the innovators in the field and encourages continued global cooperation in advancing safe nuclear technology.

This resolution strongly condemns white supremacy, hate, and antisemitism, specifically targeting the promotion of these dangerous ideologies by Nick Fuentes. It further condemns Tucker Carlson and Kevin Roberts for platforming and defending Fuentes's documented antisemitic and Holocaust-denying statements. The resolution affirms the nation's commitment to fighting antisemitism and urges all leaders to reject these hateful views.

The PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act aims to increase fairness and oversight in prescription drug pricing across Medicaid and Medicare Part D. It mandates transparent payment models for Medicaid, prohibiting abusive spread pricing by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Additionally, the bill establishes new network access standards for Medicare pharmacies and imposes strict compensation and reporting requirements on PBMs to ensure accountability to Medicare plans.

The Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act mandates the Secretary of the Interior to issue a specific right-of-way for an emergency exit from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 9.6. This issuance is conditional upon the Secretary certifying that alternative non-federal routes have been evaluated, a fire behavior analysis is complete, and all necessary environmental reviews are finalized. This legislation aims to secure a vital emergency egress route for the Wintergreen area.

The Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2025 aims to significantly bolster cybersecurity across the Healthcare and Public Health Sector. It mandates increased coordination between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CISA, establishes clear cybersecurity oversight within HHS, and requires HHS to develop a comprehensive incident response plan. Furthermore, the bill introduces mandatory cybersecurity standards for covered entities, creates a grant program to fund security upgrades, and focuses on developing the healthcare cybersecurity workforce.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, Virginia. The building will now be known as the "Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building." This designation applies to all current and future federal references to the post office.

The Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 enhances the FDA's authority to require pediatric investigations for new molecularly targeted cancer drugs. It also extends the priority review voucher program designed to incentivize the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases until September 2030. Furthermore, the bill mandates studies to assess the effectiveness of these new drug investigation requirements and the existing voucher program.

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.

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.

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.