Legislative Activity

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners and originating sites, and making waivers for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Native American health facilities permanent. It also enhances program integrity by clarifying fraud and abuse laws, authorizing additional funding for oversight, and addressing unusual billing patterns. Additionally, the act supports beneficiaries and providers by requiring the development of resources and training, reviewing quality measures, and mandating the publication of data on telehealth services. These changes aim to make telehealth a more accessible, high-quality, and permanent option for patients, particularly those in underserved areas.

The "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025" mandates a wide range of sanctions on Russia, its government, affiliated individuals and entities, and sectors of its economy in response to actions against Ukraine. It requires the President to make regular determinations regarding Russia's behavior and imposes escalating penalties, including financial restrictions, import bans, and increased duties, if Russia refuses to negotiate peace, violates agreements, or takes further aggressive actions against Ukraine. The Act also targets international entities that support Russia's sanctioned activities and sets conditions for the termination and reimposition of sanctions based on Russia's adherence to peace agreements.

The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act introduces a new income-contingent student loan repayment plan (SOAR) with lower monthly payments and faster loan forgiveness. SOAR caps payments at 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans and 10% for other loans, and forgives remaining balances after 10 or 15 years, depending on the loan type. The bill phases out the existing PAYE and ICR plans, restricting eligibility to borrowers already enrolled or those meeting specific hardship requirements. It also ensures that unpaid interest does not capitalize and mandates automatic loan cancellation for eligible borrowers.

The "Paying a Fair Share Act of 2025" introduces a new tax on high-income taxpayers with an adjusted gross income exceeding $1,000,000, referred to as the "fair share tax". This tax aims to ensure wealthy individuals pay a minimum level of tax and contribute to deficit reduction. The tax is calculated based on a percentage of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income above a certain threshold, taking into account charitable contributions and other tax liabilities. The Act expresses the Senate's intention for broader tax system reforms, including eliminating loopholes and simplifying the tax code.

The "Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act" directs the Secretary of Labor to establish an interim and final standard requiring healthcare and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. These plans must include risk assessments, hazard prevention measures, incident reporting procedures, and employee training. The Act also requires employers to maintain detailed records of violent incidents and submit annual summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Finally, facilities receiving Medicare funds must comply with the workplace violence prevention standard.

This resolution designates March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to recognize the vital role of women in agriculture. It acknowledges women's significant contributions as producers, educators, leaders, and mentors within the agricultural sector. The resolution supports celebrating women's impact on food resources and the agricultural workforce, encouraging their continued involvement and leadership in the field.

The Heating and Cooling Relief Act aims to make energy more affordable for low-income households by increasing funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program, expanding eligibility, and ensuring access to both heating and cooling assistance. It prioritizes energy efficiency upgrades, protects households from utility shutoffs and late fees, and promotes renewable energy solutions. The act also includes provisions for data collection on energy arrears and the development of state and local plans for transitioning away from fossil fuels while lowering energy costs for vulnerable households. Finally, the bill renames the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the Home Energy Assistance Program.

This resolution expresses Congressional support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, recognizing the achievements and contributions of the transgender community while raising awareness of the discrimination and violence they face. It acknowledges the disproportionate oppression faced by transgender individuals in various areas, celebrates their progress in political representation and media, and urges Americans to observe the day with events that honor transgender individuals and their advocacy for equality.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Congress and states to regulate campaign finance, setting reasonable limits on contributions and expenditures to promote democracy, political equality, and the integrity of government and elections. It aims to clarify the power to differentiate between natural persons and corporations in campaign finance regulations, potentially restricting corporate spending in elections. The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of the press from any restrictions.

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act aims to preserve natural landscapes by designating wilderness areas, establishing biological connecting corridors, and protecting wild and scenic rivers in the Northern Rockies region. It focuses on protecting ecosystems, securing water rights, managing grazing, and coordinating management between federal agencies. The Act also includes provisions for wildland restoration and recovery, implementation and monitoring of the Act's goals, and protection of Indian Tribes' rights and access. This legislation seeks to balance conservation with existing rights and economic activities in the region.

The "Special Government Employees Transparency Act of 2025" aims to limit the use of special Government employees to 130 days per year and increase transparency by requiring a public database of these employees, including their positions, pay rates, and tenures. The Act also mandates the public release of financial disclosures filed by these employees, with exceptions for national defense information. This bill seeks to ensure that individuals temporarily working for the government are appropriately classified and that their activities are transparent to the public.

This resolution honors the life and distinguished career of former Wyoming Senator Alan K. Simpson, recognizing his public service, military service, and contributions to Wyoming and the nation. It celebrates his work on border security, veterans affairs, entitlement reform, and fiscal responsibility, as well as his dedication to various Wyoming institutions. The resolution expresses sorrow at his passing, directs communication to the House of Representatives and his family, and adjourns the Senate in his memory.

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 ensures the Department of Agriculture honors existing agreements with farmers and related entities by releasing committed funding and settling outstanding debts. It prevents the cancellation of contracts unless there is a violation and requires a 60-day notice to Congress before closing any Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development Service Center office.

This resolution recognizes and celebrates the heritage, culture, and significant contributions of Latinas to the United States across various sectors, including the economy, arts, sciences, and military. It also acknowledges the economic disparities Latinas face, such as the wage gap, and emphasizes the importance of investing in their future to address these challenges and ensure their continued growth and impact.

The Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Deerfield River and its major tributaries in Massachusetts and Vermont for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The study will assess the river's eligibility based on its outstanding resource values. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress within three years of funding availability.

The SEC Whistleblower Reform Act of 2025 enhances protections for whistleblowers by expanding the definition of "whistleblower" to include those who report internally, ensuring they cannot be forced to waive their rights, and mandating quicker decisions on award claims. It also grants whistleblowers the right to a jury trial in retaliation cases. This act aims to encourage more individuals to report potential securities violations by strengthening their safeguards against retaliation and ensuring a more efficient award process.

This resolution celebrates the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. It recognizes their significant achievements across various sectors, including military service, business, medicine, and the arts. The resolution also emphasizes the need to invest in the future of these women by addressing barriers they face in justice, healthcare, education, and economic advancement.

The Paycheck Fairness Act aims to strengthen and enhance the enforcement of equal pay requirements by modifying the "bona fide factor" defense, protecting employees who discuss their wages, and enhancing penalties for equal pay violations. It requires training and directs research, education, and outreach to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. The Act also prohibits employers from relying on wage history when considering prospective employees and mandates the collection of compensation data by the EEOC. Finally, the Act establishes the National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace and provides small business assistance.

The Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act, or WIPPES Act, mandates that certain disposable wipe products carry a "Do Not Flush" label and symbol to prevent damage to wastewater infrastructure. It establishes specific requirements for the placement, size, and visibility of the label on various packaging types. The Act prohibits marketing these products as flushable and grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to enforce these regulations, preempting differing state laws. These regulations will take effect one year after the law is enacted.

The FIGHT China Act of 2025 aims to protect U.S. national security by imposing sanctions on foreign entities connected to China's military-industrial complex, prohibiting certain investments in sensitive technologies, and requiring notification of other investments. It authorizes the President to sanction foreign individuals and entities involved in supporting China's defense or surveillance sectors, and restricts U.S. investment in companies linked to China's military. The Act also requires increased scrutiny and potential listing of additional entities on the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List, and mandates U.S. persons to divest from securities of listed companies. Furthermore, the Act seeks to coordinate with allied countries to prevent the development and acquisition of prohibited technologies by countries of concern.