Legislative Activity

This concurrent resolution formally supports the goals and ideals of the International Transgender Day of Visibility. It recognizes the achievements of the transgender community while acknowledging the ongoing discrimination and violence they face. The resolution encourages public observance of the day and celebrates the progress and leadership within the transgender community.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment granting Congress and the states the explicit authority to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. If ratified, it would allow for setting reasonable limits on spending intended to influence elections to protect democratic fairness. The amendment also specifically empowers regulators to treat corporations and other entities differently than individuals regarding election spending, while explicitly protecting the freedom of the press.

The Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025 establishes a strict 130-day service limit within any 365-day period for individuals serving as special Government employees in the executive branch. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of a public, searchable database listing key details for "Covered Special Government Employees" (those above GS-11 level not on advisory committees). Finally, it requires executive agencies to publicly release the financial disclosure reports filed by these Covered SGEs, with limited exceptions for national security or specific exemptions.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 mandates the Department of Agriculture to immediately honor and pay all existing, unfrozen contracts with farmers and related entities. This legislation prevents the cancellation of signed agreements unless the terms have been violated by the recipient. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 60 days' notice to Congress before closing any local Farm Service Agency, NRCS, or Rural Development offices.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act seeks to permanently protect vast tracts of federal land across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming by designating new wilderness areas, establishing critical biological connecting corridors, and safeguarding key river segments. The bill also mandates the restoration of over a million acres to a roadless character and imposes immediate development restrictions on unstudied roadless lands. Furthermore, it secures necessary water rights for new wilderness areas and reinforces tribal rights and access across the protected regions.

This resolution formally honors the life and distinguished public service career of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former U.S. Senator for Wyoming. It celebrates his extensive tenure in both state and federal government, highlighting his focus on fiscal responsibility and support for veterans. The Senate expresses its deep sorrow at his passing and directs that the day's adjournment serve as a final tribute to his memory.

This resolution officially recognizes and celebrates the rich heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas across the United States. It highlights their achievements in diverse fields while acknowledging ongoing disparities, such as the wage gap. Ultimately, the measure calls for continued investment in the future of Latinas as a vital part of the nation's growth.

This act designates the Deerfield River system in Massachusetts and Vermont for a formal study under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Secretary of the Interior must complete this comprehensive study, which includes major tributaries, within three years of funding. Upon completion, a report detailing the findings will be submitted to Congress.

The SEC Whistleblower Reform Act of 2025 significantly expands protections for individuals who report securities violations, including internal reporting to supervisors or coworkers. This legislation strengthens whistleblower rights by ensuring protections apply post-employment and invalidating mandatory arbitration clauses for related claims. Furthermore, the Act mandates the SEC to issue decisions on whistleblower award claims more promptly, generally within one year of claim finalization.

This resolution formally recognizes the rich heritage, culture, and significant contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women across the United States. It celebrates their historic achievements in areas such as military service, science, the arts, and civil rights leadership. The bill also emphasizes the importance of continued investment to overcome barriers these women face in accessing justice, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen protections against sex-based wage discrimination and close the gender pay gap. It enhances enforcement by tightening employer defenses for pay disparities, expanding anti-retaliation protections, and increasing penalties for violations. The bill also mandates new data collection by the EEOC and establishes grant programs to support negotiation skills training.

The Tar Sands Tax Loophole Elimination Act amends the tax code to explicitly classify tar sands products as "crude oil" for excise tax purposes. This ensures that various oil sands derivatives are subject to existing petroleum excise taxes. The bill also grants the Secretary authority to include other fuel products under these tax rules if they pose a significant environmental hazard when spilled.

The AMERICA Act aims to increase transparency and competition in the digital advertising market by imposing strict ownership separation requirements on large industry players. It establishes new fiduciary duties for digital advertising brokers, requiring them to act in their customers' best interests and provide detailed execution data upon request. The bill also mandates public routing disclosures and grants the Attorney General enforcement power, including the ability to seek damages and oversee required divestitures.

The Major Richard Star Act allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both veteran's disability compensation and military retired pay concurrently, without reduction. This act amends Title 10 of the United States Code to ensure that disability retirees with combat-related disabilities are not subject to reductions in retired pay due to receiving veteran's disability compensation. These changes will take effect the first day of the month following the enactment of the Act.

The FIGHT China Act of 2025 establishes new government powers to safeguard U.S. national security against risks posed by the People's Republic of China. The bill imposes sanctions on specific foreign persons and prohibits U.S. investment in certain high-technology sectors involving entities from the "country of concern." Furthermore, it mandates reporting requirements and strengthens restrictions on U.S. persons holding securities in Chinese military-industrial complex companies.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act amends the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include military spouses as eligible hires. This allows employers to claim the tax credit for hiring individuals certified as spouses of active-duty military personnel. The provision applies to wages paid for individuals hired after the Act's enactment date.

The Women's Retirement Protection Act aims to address the significant retirement savings gap disproportionately affecting women by strengthening spousal protections in defined contribution plans. The bill mandates new consent requirements for distributions and beneficiary changes to safeguard a spouse's interest in retirement assets. Furthermore, it establishes grant programs to boost financial literacy for women and specifically assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in securing their rightful retirement benefits via court orders.

The **Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2025** significantly increases accountability for higher education institutions by establishing stricter financial performance metrics, strengthening student protections against deceptive practices, and mandating greater transparency in spending and outcomes. The bill aims to empower students by simplifying loan forgiveness, banning coercive practices like forced arbitration, and ensuring they can access their transcripts regardless of outstanding debt. Furthermore, it overhauls federal oversight by creating a dedicated enforcement unit and requiring better coordination among agencies to monitor institutional integrity and contractor performance. Ultimately, this legislation seeks to protect students and taxpayers by cutting off federal aid to underperforming programs and increasing penalties for institutional misconduct.

The Foreign Agents Transparency Act clarifies and strengthens the enforcement mechanisms of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). It retroactively clarifies the five-year look-back period for registration obligations and allows the Attorney General to seek compliance orders even after representation for a foreign principal has ended. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Attorney General submit an annual report to Congress detailing all FARA enforcement actions taken against covered individuals.

The Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act moves TSA personnel from their special management system into the standard federal employee system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by a set deadline. This transition aims to grant TSA employees the same workplace protections and benefits as other federal workers while ensuring current pay and service time are protected. The bill also mandates several reviews by the Comptroller General and requires consultation with employee representatives regarding the implementation process. Finally, it preserves existing anti-strike laws and addresses specific concerns for Federal Air Marshals.