Legislative Activity

The Small Business RELIEF Act exempts qualifying small businesses from import duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 due to a national emergency declaration. This legislation also mandates refunds for any such duties already paid by these small businesses. The goal is to provide immediate financial relief to small businesses impacted by these specific emergency tariffs.

The Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act aims to protect Social Security from external government interference, specifically exempting it from the jurisdiction of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The bill also tightens restrictions on political appointees accessing beneficiary data, mandates that only verified deceased individuals are added to the Death Master File, and locks in current SSA office levels. Finally, it allocates significant new funding for improving customer service, modernizing technology, and establishing state and community grants to assist disability applicants.

The Keeping Deposits Local Act modifies federal banking regulations concerning reciprocal deposits to provide favorable treatment for certain funds held by agent institutions. It establishes a tiered structure for calculating the amount of reciprocal deposits that will not be considered funds obtained through a deposit broker. Furthermore, the Act updates the definition of an "Agent Institution" to require a specific CAMELS rating for qualification.

The CDFI Fund Transparency Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to testify before key Congressional committees regarding the operations of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. This testimony is mandated only when requested jointly by the chairs of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services. This ensures regular oversight of the Fund's activities by Congress.

This Senate resolution expresses a profound lack of confidence in Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing numerous actions that allegedly undermine public health, scientific integrity, and the legal duties of his office. The resolution details accusations of illegal funding cuts, mass firings of career staff, and the dismantling of key advisory committees. Therefore, the Senate declares that the Secretary should be removed from his position.

This joint resolution terminates the President's declared crime emergency in the District of Columbia from August 2025. Congress asserts that the emergency is unwarranted given declining crime rates and argues against diverting local Metropolitan Police Department resources for federal tasks. The resolution effectively ends the special conditions established by the Executive Order.

This bill, the District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act, transfers primary command authority of the D.C. National Guard from the President of the United States to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. It updates outdated laws to officially name the Mayor as Commander-in-Chief, granting them authority over appointments, calling up the Guard, and disciplinary actions. The legislation also makes numerous technical amendments across federal military codes to ensure the Mayor is the recognized authority for the D.C. National Guard.

The ACES Act of 2025 mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to investigate cancer prevalence and mortality rates among active duty Armed Forces aircrew. This study will examine potential links between occupational exposures during flight duties and specific types of cancer. The findings will be reported to Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to better understand health risks for covered service members.

The Lowering Electric Bills Act extends crucial tax credits for residential clean energy installations until 2034. It also modifies the phase-out schedule for the Clean Electricity Production and Investment Credits, tying their continuation to achieving specific emissions reduction targets or the year 2032. These changes aim to provide long-term stability for clean energy investments.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025 mandates the President to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or groups whose actions threaten the peace and stability of the West Bank. These penalties specifically target those involved in violence against civilians, property destruction, or terrorism. The law requires regular reporting to Congress detailing those sanctioned and the steps being taken to mitigate violence in the region.

The Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2025 aims to modernize the bankruptcy system by increasing the compensation for Chapter 7 trustees to a level reflecting current economic realities. The bill also adjusts various bankruptcy fees to ensure the U.S. Trustee System remains fully funded without taxpayer assistance. Finally, it extends the terms of certain temporary bankruptcy judge offices to ensure continued judicial capacity.

This bill aims to strengthen efforts to prevent maternal deaths by reauthorizing support for State-based Maternal Mortality Review Committees. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regularly disseminate proven best practices for maternal mortality prevention to hospitals and professional societies. Furthermore, the legislation increases federal funding dedicated to these crucial prevention initiatives.

The Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act primarily repeals previous health subtitle changes and permanently extends enhanced premium tax credits for marketplace health insurance. This extension removes the income cap for receiving enhanced credits and updates the calculation method for determining an individual's required premium contribution. The bill aims to simplify the tax code related to health insurance affordability.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Attorney General to release all unclassified Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment. This sweeping requirement covers investigations, travel logs, and communications, with limited exceptions primarily focused on protecting victim privacy and active cases. Any redactions must be publicly justified, and the Attorney General must report the details of the release and any withheld information to Congress.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 significantly strengthens the Voting Rights Act by establishing new standards to challenge discriminatory voting practices and updating federal oversight criteria for states. It mandates greater transparency for all changes to voting rules and implements "practice-based preclearance" for certain jurisdictions. Additionally, the bill creates new federal criminal penalties for using force or threats to intimidate voters or election workers.

The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025 authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to be appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding is specifically designated for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. This appropriation is in addition to any existing funds allocated for this purpose.

The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act allows taxpayers whose original IRS refund check was lost or stolen to elect to receive their replacement refund via direct deposit. This change provides an alternative to receiving a second paper check for the lost funds. The Treasury Department must establish the necessary procedures for this election.

The Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act expands Medicare Part B coverage to include services provided by pharmacists starting in 2026. This legislation covers pharmacist services that align with state law and are provided in collaboration with a physician or approved practitioner. The bill specifies payment rates for these covered services, particularly enhancing reimbursement for services related to public health emergencies like COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Furthermore, it prohibits pharmacists from balance billing Medicare patients for these covered services.

The Stop the Scammers Act establishes a new whistleblower incentive and protection program within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), allowing individuals to receive awards of 10% to 30% of collected penalties for providing original information leading to successful enforcement actions. Furthermore, the Act invalidates predispute arbitration agreements that attempt to waive these new whistleblower rights. Finally, this bill increases the annual funding cap for the CFPB, allowing it to receive up to 12 percent of the Federal Reserve's prior year earnings.

The RESIDE Act establishes the Blighted Building to Housing Conversion Program, administered by HUD, to turn vacant commercial structures into attainable housing. This pilot program awards competitive grants, funded by excess HOME Program money, to local entities for the acquisition, renovation, and conversion of these properties. Priority is given to projects in economically distressed areas or those that streamline local conversion regulations. The program will run from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, followed by a final report to Congress.