Legislative Activity

The Safe Step Act establishes mandatory exception processes for group health plans and insurance issuers that utilize step therapy protocols for prescription drugs. This ensures patients and doctors have a clear, timely pathway to request coverage for medically necessary alternatives when required initial treatments are inappropriate or ineffective. Plans must provide rapid decisions for urgent requests and adhere to specific reporting requirements detailing exception outcomes.

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month to highlight ongoing threats to ballot access and encourage civic engagement. It urges Congress to pass legislation strengthening voting protections, like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Furthermore, the resolution encourages educational outreach to inform citizens about registration and the history of voting rights in America.

The Fed Integrity and Independence Act of 2025 aims to safeguard the Federal Reserve's crucial role in economic stability by reinforcing its independence from political influence. This legislation explicitly prohibits current Federal Reserve officials, including Board of Governors members and Federal Reserve Bank staff and directors, from simultaneously holding any other position requiring a Presidential appointment. The core purpose is to eliminate potential conflicts of interest and ensure monetary policy decisions remain free from partisan pressures.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act establishes a framework for financial entities to test new Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects under regulatory supervision. This allows firms to apply for temporary waivers from specific rules by proposing an alternative compliance strategy that demonstrates public benefit and manages risk. Regulatory agencies must create "AI Innovation Labs" to review these applications, generally requiring approval within 120 days unless an immediate threat is identified. The goal is to foster responsible innovation in financial services while maintaining systemic stability and consumer protection.