Legislative Activity

This resolution officially designates the week of May 11 through May 17, 2025, as "National Police Week." It serves to honor the valor and integrity of law enforcement officers across the nation. The resolution specifically remembers the officers killed in the line of duty during 2024 and encourages the public to observe this week to show appreciation for law enforcement personnel.

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act establishes a new federal tax credit designed to close the financing gap for building and rehabilitating homes in distressed, low-income communities. This credit incentivizes developers to construct or substantially rehabilitate qualified residences in "qualified census tracts" and sell them affordably to low-to-moderate-income homeowners. State agencies will oversee allocations, ensure affordability standards are met, and enforce repayment rules if the home is sold too quickly.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act mandates that health plans cover medically necessary diagnosis and treatment for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This coverage must apply to outpatient and inpatient care, including necessary dental and orthodontic support, unless the procedure is purely cosmetic. These new requirements take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

The American Innovation and Jobs Act aims to boost U.S. competitiveness by restoring immediate expensing for most business research and development (R&D) investments. It also significantly expands the refundable R&D tax credit for new and small businesses, increasing the maximum refund amount and raising eligibility thresholds. Furthermore, the bill makes technical adjustments to the R&D credit calculation to make it more accessible for startups. These provisions are designed to incentivize domestic innovation and job creation starting in tax years after 2021 and 2024, respectively.

The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2025 extends critical Medicare payment provisions for ambulance services. This bill delays the expiration of special payment rules for "super rural" areas until January 1, 2028, while also implementing temporary payment increases for both super rural and standard ground ambulance services during that transition period. The goal is to ensure continued financial stability and access to essential ground ambulance care.

The Preserving Rural Housing Investments Act clarifies tax rules regarding stock ownership in government-sponsored enterprises like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Specifically, it ensures that when determining if an organization qualifies as a tax-exempt entity, the U.S. government's ownership stake in these GSEs is disregarded. This change applies to tax years ending after July 30, 2008.

This resolution expresses strong support for designating the week of May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Small Business Week. It aims to celebrate the vital contributions of the over 34.5 million small businesses that support tens of millions of jobs nationwide. The bill honors the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners in every community.

The Small Business Liberation Act exempts qualifying small business concerns from certain import duties or requirements imposed by the President under a national emergency declaration. This provision ensures that small businesses are shielded from specific trade restrictions enacted during national emergencies.

The SECURE Notarization Act of 2025 authorizes notaries to perform electronic and remote notarizations for transactions affecting interstate commerce, provided they adhere to strict identity verification and audio/video recording standards. This Act mandates that notarizations validly performed in one state must be recognized by federal courts and other states. Furthermore, it clarifies that states can set higher standards or restrict notaries from using these new technologies based on commission status, while protecting existing rights against fraud or duress.

This Senate resolution urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw a proposed rule that would reduce opportunities for public notice and comment on new regulations. The Senate emphasizes that robust public input is essential for creating fair and effective policies that impact millions of Americans. It calls for HHS to maintain the established 54-year practice of allowing stakeholders to provide feedback before finalizing significant rule changes.

The Reduction in Force Review Act enhances congressional oversight of federal agency workforce reductions. It mandates that agencies provide detailed justifications, including alternatives considered and impact assessments, when announcing a planned reduction in force (RIF). This ensures that significant workforce restructuring actions receive thorough review by Congress.

The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends critical federal research funding for preterm labor and the care of low birthweight infants through fiscal year 2029. It mandates the establishment of an interagency working group to coordinate efforts related to prematurity. Furthermore, the bill requires a comprehensive study by the National Academies on the financial costs, causes, prevention, and support opportunities related to preterm births.

The Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying definitions and expanding inspection powers. It grants the Attorney General direct authority to sue violators, seek injunctions, and impose substantial daily civil penalties. Furthermore, the bill allows for the seizure of animals involved in violations and mandates that collected penalty funds be used to reimburse temporary animal care costs.

The Contaminated Wells Relocation Act authorizes NASA to enter into an agreement with the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, to help fund the relocation of drinking water wells currently situated on NASA-managed land. This agreement allows NASA to reimburse the town for costs associated with planning and establishing replacement wells on Chincoteague-controlled property. The final agreement must detail the relocation plan, new well locations, and estimated costs, and must be submitted to Congress within 18 months of enactment.

The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 ensures that states must fully replace Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits stolen from SNAP recipients due to skimming or hacking. This legislation mandates that the replacement amount must exactly equal the total value of the stolen benefits. The goal is to guarantee that victims of EBT theft are made whole regarding their lost food assistance.

The Rural Patient Monitoring (RPM) Access Act aims to improve access to remote patient monitoring for rural Medicare beneficiaries. It establishes a minimum payment floor for the practice expense and malpractice indices used in calculating RPM service reimbursements, effective January 1, 2026. Furthermore, the bill mandates new quality and data reporting standards for providers offering RPM services to ensure high-quality care and track program savings for Medicare.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 comprehensively defines and bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of specific semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. It grandfathers existing possessions but requires background checks for all future private transfers of these previously owned weapons. The bill also permits the use of federal Byrne grant funds for state-run buy-back programs targeting these banned items.

The Equality Act comprehensively amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity across key areas of American life. This legislation expands existing protections in public accommodations, employment, housing, credit access, and jury service. Its purpose is to ensure consistent and clear nationwide enforcement of non-discrimination principles for LGBTQ individuals and women.

The Claiming Age Clarity Act standardizes the terminology used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) when discussing retirement ages. This legislation replaces terms like "full retirement age" and "early eligibility age" with clearer, consistent language such as "standard monthly benefit age" and "minimum monthly benefit age." The SSA is mandated to update all official materials to reflect this new terminology by January 1, 2027.

The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 comprehensively reforms the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program by updating state allocation formulas based on population and inflation, and by modifying tenant eligibility rules to protect vulnerable residents. The bill also introduces significant changes for property owners regarding casualty loss, acquisition costs, and incentives for serving extremely low-income households. Finally, it directs efforts toward increasing program transparency and encouraging local governments to reform restrictive housing policies.