United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2025
Background Check Expansion Act This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals). Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2025
Keep Head Start Funded Act of 2025 This bill provides FY2026 continuing appropriations to carry out Head Start programs without interruption during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown). The Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children. The programs seek to promote school readiness through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services. This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to continue projects and activities under the programs that were funded in FY2025. The appropriations are available until the earliest of the enactment into law of legislation that provides appropriations (including continuing appropriations) for Head Start, the enactment into law of legislation that provides regular or continuing appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services without an appropriation for Head Start, or September 30, 2026. This bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2025
This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the Trump Administration is legally obligated to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the use of the contingency fund, the Administration has the legal authority and the funds to finance SNAP through November 2025, exercising this power is extremely important for the health and wellness of families experiencing hunger, and the Administration should immediately exercise this authority.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2025
Armed Forces Pay Act of 2025 This bill provides continuing appropriations to pay members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DOD) and intelligence agencies during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown). Specifically, the bill provides continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, who perform active service or inactive-duty training during the period; and (2) civilian employees of DOD, the Coast Guard, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Central Intelligence Agency. The appropriations provided by the bill are available until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of specified appropriations legislation, or (2) September 30, 2026. The bill also specifies that the funds provided by this bill for intelligence or intelligence-related activities are deemed to be specifically authorized by the Congress during FY2026 until the enactment of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2025
Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue operating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and a related block grant program if there is a lapse in FY2026 appropriations for USDA. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to USDA for any period in which legislation to provide FY2026 interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations for USDA has not been enacted. If such a lapse in appropriations occurs, the bill provides the appropriations that are necessary to continue providing uninterrupted SNAP benefits, providing consolidated block grants to Puerto Rico and American Samoa for nutrition assistance programs, and carrying out WIC without interruption. In addition, the bill provides appropriations to pay any benefits under these programs that were missed on or after September 30, 2025, and before this bill is enacted. The appropriations for these purposes are available until the earlier of (1) the enactment into law of legislation to provide FY2026 appropriations for USDA (including continuing appropriations), or (2) September 30, 2026. The bill also requires USDA to use the funds provided by this bill to reimburse state agencies for costs that were incurred to carry out these programs during a lapse in appropriations, to the extent that the programs were carried out in accordance with federal law (including regulations) during the lapse.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2025
This resolution extends authorities related to the enforcement of several budget points of order in the Senate through FY2027. Budget points of order are used to enforce congressional budget procedures and substantive provisions of a congressional budget resolution (e.g., spending allocations). If a Senator successfully raises a budget point of order against legislation, further consideration of the legislation is generally prohibited unless the Senate waives the budget point of order. A motion to waive most budget points of order in the Senate requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of all Senators duly chosen and sworn (60 votes if there are no vacancies). This resolution extends provisions that require this three-fifths vote of the Senate to waive several specified budget points of order.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2025
This joint resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2025
This resolution designates the week beginning on October 12, 2025, as National Wildlife Refuge Week. The resolution acknowledges the importance of national wildlife refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution to local economies. Finally, the resolution reaffirms the support of the Senate for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2025
Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act This bill directs financial regulators—including the Federal Reserve Board, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration—to jointly issue guidance relating to a government shutdown. Specifically, financial regulators must issue guidance encouraging financial institutions to work with consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown, recognize that consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown may lose access to credit and face temporary hardship in making payments on debts, consider efforts to modify terms on existing loans or extend new credit to assist consumers and businesses affected by a shutdown, and take steps to prevent adverse credit information from being reported in a manner that harms consumers affected by a shutdown. In addition, financial regulators must jointly issue a press release to notify financial institutions, consumers, and businesses of this guidance in the event of a government shutdown. Financial regulators must also complete a report after a government shutdown regarding the guidance's effectiveness and update the guidance if any shortcoming are identified in the report.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2025
Federal Employees Civil Relief Act This bill establishes a framework to temporarily suspend certain judicial and administrative proceedings against a federal employee or contractor during a shutdown. Under the bill, a shutdown is a period in which (1) there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department because a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution has not been enacted, or (2) the debt of the federal government is greater than the statutory limit. A federal worker (i.e., an employee of a government agency or contractor) who is furloughed or required to work without pay during a shutdown may apply to a court for a temporary stay, postponement, or suspension with respect to any payment of rent, mortgage, tax, fine, penalty, insurance premium, student loan repayment, or other civil obligation or liability that the worker owes or would owe during the duration of the shutdown. The bill includes related provisions that restrict evictions, foreclosures, the enforcement of liens, and the termination of insurance policies during a shutdown. It also provides for the deferral of federal income taxes and student loan payments during a shutdown. The Department of Justice may commence a civil action against any person who engages in (1) a pattern or practice of violating the requirements of this bill, or (2) a violation that raises an issue of significant public importance. A person aggrieved by a violation of this bill's requirements may also bring a private right of action.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2025
This resolution supports the designation of October 5-11, 2025, as National 4–H Week and recognizes the important role of 4–H as the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension System and the Department of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2025
Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 This bill provides back pay to employees of federal contractors who lost pay due to a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) in FY2026. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies that are subject to a lapse in appropriations in FY2026 to adjust the price of contracts to compensate federal contractors for providing back pay to employees who were affected by the lapse in appropriations. The agencies must adjust the price of any contract for which the contractor stopped, suspended, delayed, or interrupted all or part of the work under the contract due to the lapse in appropriations. The price adjustment must compensate the contractor for reasonable costs incurred to (1) compensate employees who were furloughed or laid off, were not working, or experienced a reduction of hours or compensation due to the lapse in appropriations; or (2) restore paid leave taken by employees during the lapse in appropriations if the contractor required or permitted employees to use paid leave as a result of the lapse in appropriations. The maximum amount of weekly compensation of an employee for which an adjustment may be made under this bill may not exceed the lesser of (1) the employee's actual weekly compensation, or (2) $1,442 (or a lesser amount pro-rated for an employee who works less than 40 hours per week). The bill also requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report to Congress on the adjustments made under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2025
This joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability , which was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on June 25, 2025. The rule makes several changes to enrollment requirements for health insurance exchanges, including (1) requiring annual open enrollment periods for all exchanges to begin by November 1 and end by December 31, (2) requiring all exchanges to conduct pre-enrollment verification of eligibility for at least 75% of new enrollments through special enrollment periods, and (3) prohibiting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from enrolling in plans through exchanges or in state Basic Health Programs (state programs for certain low-income residents). The rule also prohibits individual and small group health insurers from covering certain sex-trait modification procedures as an essential health benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2025
Health Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2025 This bill establishes grants to (1) cover the tuition of certain students at health professions schools, (2) expand enrollment at health professions schools, and (3) assist health care practitioners with relocating their practices to rural areas. The Department of Education must provide grants to students at schools of medicine, dentistry, and nursing to fully pay their tuition and required fees. Medical students must agree to practice primary care for 10 years after graduation, and dentistry students must agree to practice in a rural area for 10 years after graduation. If recipients fail to complete such service, the grants become loans requiring repayment of up to $50,000. Additionally, the bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, with a focus on psychiatry and primary care residencies. It also reauthorizes through FY2035 the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, which supports education and training of medical students in primary care residency programs in community-based ambulatory patient care centers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must provide 10-year grants to schools of medicine, dentistry, and nursing to expand student enrollment, such as through educational partnerships and modernizing programs. HRSA must also provide grants to physicians, dentists, and nurses to assist with relocating their practices to rural areas. Grant recipients must agree to practice in the new location for at least three years.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2025
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025 This bill generally prohibits deceptive communications and voter interference regarding federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from communicating, causing to be communicated, or producing for communication certain information on voting, if the person (1) knows such information to be materially false, and (2) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from voting in an election. Additionally, the bill prohibits any person, within 60 days before a federal election, from using an artificial intelligence system to produce certain information on voting, if the person has the intent to use the system to (1) produce false information, and (2) impede or prevent another person from voting in an election. The bill also prohibits hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering to vote. A private right of action for preventive relief is established for persons aggrieved by violations of these prohibitions. Criminal penalties are also established for violations. If the Department of Justice (DOJ) receives a credible report that materially false information has been or is being communicated in violation of the prohibitions on deceptive communications, and state and local election officials have not adequately communicated corrected information, then DOJ must communicate to the public accurate information designed to correct the materially false information. The bill extends the prohibition on certain types of intimidation in federal elections to also prohibit intimidation for processing ballots or tabulating, canvassing, or certifying votes.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2025
This resolution recognizes September 20, 2025, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day and celebrates the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer servicemembers and veterans who have served in the Armed Forces. Additionally, the resolution (1) regrets the harm done to such servicemembers and veterans under policies that discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and (2) urges the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to ensure transgender veterans and servicemembers and their families have access to a full range of health care.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2025
Protecting Free Vaccines Act of 2025 This bill requires Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private health insurers to cover, without cost-sharing, vaccines that were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as of October 25, 2024. The requirement ends on January 1, 2030.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2025
Child Care Access Means Parents In Schools Reauthorization Act or the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program. The program awards grants to support the participation of eligible low-income parents in postsecondary education through the provision of campus-based child care services. Among other revisions to the program, the bill increases the minimum and maximum grant amounts, allows grant funds to be used for additional purposes (e.g., child care subsidies and support services), and specifies additional grant application requirements.
![Official portrait of Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001176_200.jpg)