Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2025

A resolution honoring the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter and commending President Jimmy Carter for his life-long career of public service, humanitarian leadership, diplomacy, and courageous advocacy.

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

This resolution (1) mourns the passing of former President Jimmy Carter and extends sympathy to his family; and (2) honors his life, legacy, and contributions to the United States. 

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Washington, D.C. Admission Act This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States. The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits. The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives. The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services.  The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. The commission must (1) compile documentary evidence of slavery in the United States; (2) study the role of the federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery; (3) analyze discriminatory laws and policies against formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants; and (4) recommend ways the United States may recognize and remedy the effects of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, including through a formal apology and compensation (i.e., reparations). The commission consists of individuals from civil society and reparations organizations and individuals appointed by the President and congressional leadership. The commission may hold hearings, subpoena witnesses and records, and contract with other entities to conduct its work. The commission must submit its final report within one year of its first meeting.

MAPLE Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential Act or the MAPLE Act This bill includes maple syrup as one of the eligible foods under the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).  As background, the Department of Agriculture's SFMNP provides grants to participating states to provide low-income seniors with coupons/vouchers that may be used at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs to purchase eligible foods (i.e., fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey).

SAP Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Supporting All Producers Act or the SAP Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to solicit input from maple industry stakeholders with respect to the research and education priorities of the maple industry for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). Specifically, the bill amends Acer to require USDA to consider the information provided through consultation with the maple industry when making program grants. The bill also extends the program's authorization through FY2030. As background, Acer provides competitive grants to states, tribal governments, and research institutions to support their efforts to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with, among other things, the promotion of (1) research and education related to maple syrup production, and (2) natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry.

Health Care Affordability Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 This bill makes permanent temporary changes enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) that generally expand eligibility for and increase the amount of the premium tax credit. Currently, eligible taxpayers may be able to claim the premium tax credit, which applies toward the cost of obtaining health insurance through health insurance exchanges. To be eligible for the premium tax credit, a taxpayer’s household income must meet or exceed 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and, after 2025, may not exceed 400% of the FPL (maximum income limit). For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA eliminated the maximum income limit, which generally expands eligibility for the premium tax credit. Further, under current law, the amount of the premium tax credit is (1) generally the plan premium (conditions apply), minus (2) the taxpayer’s household income multiplied by the applicable percentage. The applicable percentage is a specific percentage that varies depending on which of six income ranges (adjusted for inflation after 2025) the taxpayer’s household income falls within. For 2021-2025, the ARPA and IRA lowered the applicable percentages and eliminated the adjustment of the applicable percentages for inflation, which generally increases the amount of the premium tax credit. The bill makes permanent the elimination of the 400% maximum income limit, the lower applicable percentages, and the elimination of the inflation adjustment for the applicable percentages.

Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2025

Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act This bill provides a statutory safe harbor from patent infringement claims for generic or biosimilar manufacturers that seek or obtain approval for skinny labels of their drugs. Under current law, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may approve generic and biosimilar drugs through a process known as skinny labeling, which allows a generic manufacturer to seek approval only for approved uses of the drug that are no longer protected by patents. However, in GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. , a court held that a generic manufacturer may sometimes be liable for patent infringement when it markets skinny label generics. The bill specifically lists the following as actions that are not considered infringement of a method of use claim in a patent under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: submitting or seeking approval of a skinny label for a generic or biosimilar drug; promoting or commercially marketing a drug with skinny labeling approved by the FDA; or describing a drug product approved by the FDA as a generic of, or therapeutically equivalent to, the branded drug. The bill also applies the safe harbor to similar actions under the Public Health Service Act.

Baby Changing on Board Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2025

Baby Changing on Board Act This bill requires Amtrak passenger rail trains to have a baby changing table in at least one restroom in each car, including in an Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990-compliant restroom. The bill applies to passenger rail trains that are (1) owned and operated by Amtrak, and (2) solicited for purchase after the bill's enactment for use by Amtrak.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2025

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025 This bill requires mortgage lenders to include on the Uniform Residential Loan Application (i.e., Fannie Mae Form 1003 or Freddie Mac Form 65) a notification that applicants with military service may qualify for a Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan. Not later than 18 months after the enactment of the bill, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on whether at least 80% of lenders using the loan application form have met this requirement.

United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025 This bill repeals the trade embargo on Cuba and other provisions restricting trade and travel to Cuba. Specifically, the bill (1) removes restrictions on certain transactions related to trademarks used in connection with a confiscated business or asset, (2) extends nondiscriminatory treatment (i.e., normal trade relations treatment) to Cuban products, and (3) prohibits and rescinds limits on remittances to Cuba. The bill authorizes common carriers to provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. In addition, travel by U.S. citizens and residents to Cuba may not be regulated or prohibited if such travel would be lawful in the United States. The President shall take all necessary steps to engage with Cuba to (1) negotiate settlements relating to claims that Cuba had taken the property of U.S. nationals, and (2) secure the protection of internationally recognized human rights. The President may, with respect to Cuba, impose new export controls and exercise powers related to declared national emergencies. The President must submit a specified determination about a foreign country to Congress prior to denying an income tax credit for taxes paid to the foreign country.

Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2025

Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2025 This bill revises antitrust laws applicable to mergers and anticompetitive conduct. Specifically, the bill applies a stricter standard for permissible mergers by prohibiting mergers that (1) create an appreciable risk of materially lessening competition, or (2) create a monopsony (i.e., where a single buyer or employer has sufficient market power to lower the price of goods or wages due to a lack of competition) Additionally, for some large mergers or mergers that concentrate markets beyond a certain threshold, the bill shifts the burden of proof to the merging parties to prove that the merger does not violate the law. The bill also prohibits exclusionary conduct that presents an appreciable risk of harming competition. No predispute arbitration agreements or predispute joint-action waivers are valid or enforceable with respect to an antitrust dispute. The bill also establishes monetary penalties for violations, requires annual reporting for certain mergers and acquisitions, establishes within the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the Office of the Competition Advocate, and sets forth whistleblower protections. The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) the success of merger remedies required by the Department of Justice or the FTC in recent consent decrees; and (2) the impact of mergers and acquisitions on wages, employment, innovation, and new business formation.

Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2025

Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the President from exercising authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose or increase duties or impose tariff-rate quotas on imports entering the United States. However, this limitation does not prohibit the President from excluding all articles, or all of a certain type of article, imported from a country from entering the United States. (IEEPA provides the President with broad authority to regulate various economic transactions following a declaration of a national emergency.)

She DRIVES Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2025

She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act or the She DRIVES Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise motor vehicle safety standards to require the use of certain anthropomorphic test devices (i.e., crash test dummies) and testing on female crash test dummies. Specifically, DOT must issue final rules to revise the current testing regulations to include specific adult male and adult female frontal impact and side impact crash test dummies. The final rules must establish or update the testing injury criteria based on real-world injuries and the greatest potential to increase safety. The injury criteria must include head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper leg, and lower leg criteria for the crash test dummies. The final rules must also establish crashworthiness frontal and side impact tests for adult female occupants in all front seating positions that are currently tested for adult male occupants (as of the date of the bill's enactment). Further, DOT must promulgate a final decision notice to update the testing procedures for the  New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require the use of these crash test dummies for frontal and side impact crashworthiness testing. Finally, DOT must submit reports to Congress that, among other things, identify timelines for DOT to incorporate additional types of crash test dummies into the regulations and identify testing devices used in other countries for similar crashworthiness standards.

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025 This bill prohibits using federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress expressly authorizes such a strike pursuant to a declaration of war. A first-use nuclear strike is an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy without confirming that there has been a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or its allies.

CURD Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2025

Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act or the CURD Act This bill establishes a statutory definition for natural cheese . Under the bill, natural cheese is defined as cheese (ripened or unripened soft, semi-soft, or hard) that is produced from animal milk or certain dairy ingredients and is produced in accordance with established cheese-making standards. The definition excludes pasteurized process cheeses, cheese foods, and cheese spreads. A food that does not meet this definition is deemed misbranded and may not be sold if its label includes the term natural cheese as a factual descriptor of a category of cheese.

Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

DTC Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Drug-price Transparency for Consumers Act of 2025 or the DTC Act of 2025 This bill requires consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products to include certain price information if the drug or biologic is (1) covered under Medicare or Medicaid, and (2) required to include a risk summary under current law. Specifically, such advertisements must clearly and conspicuously disclose the wholesale price for a 30-day supply of the drug or biologic and may explain that a consumer may pay a different amount for the drug or biologic depending on the consumer's health insurance coverage. The requirement does not apply to advertisements for drugs or biologics with a wholesale cost of less than $35 for a one-month supply. Each violation of this requirement is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100,000.

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 This bill extends death and disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) to certain public safety officers who suffer from exposure-related cancer while on duty and their survivors. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty and their survivors. The bill specifies that exposure to a carcinogen shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury in the line of duty if the exposure occurred while the officer was in the line of duty; the officer began serving as an officer not fewer than 5 years before the date of the diagnosis of an exposure-related cancer and the diagnosis occurred not more than 15 years after the last date of active service; and the exposure-related cancer directly and proximately resulted in the death or permanent and total disability of the officer. The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance must periodically review the definition of exposure-related cance r and update the definition if appropriate based on medical evidence and in accordance with the requirements of a petition process.

WEATHER Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Withstanding Extreme Agricultural Threats by Harvesting Economic Resilience Act of 2025 or the WEATHER Act of 2025 This bill requires the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) to provide for the research and development of a single index insurance policy to insure against agricultural income losses due to covered weather conditions. Specifically, the FCIP must develop a single index policy that is available in every state, each U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia to insure against agricultural income losses due to one or more covered weather conditions. Covered weather conditions are those found to be closely correlated with agricultural income losses, including high winds, excessive moisture and flooding, extreme heat, abnormal freeze conditions, wildfire, hail, drought, and any other severe weather or growing conditions applicable to small-scale farmers. Under an index policy, claim payments are generally triggered based on a predetermined index that is entirely independent of the individual farm operation (e.g., rainfall level). Under such a policy, the payments are automatically triggered when the index reaches a certain level rather than when an insured farmer files a claim.  In carrying out the research and development, the FCIP must hold stakeholder meetings to solicit producer and agent feedback. In addition, the FCIP must make publicly available a report on the results of the research and development, and any recommendations to Congress with respect to those results. 

A resolution expressing support for the recognition of January as "Muslim-American Heritage Month" and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim Americans in the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

This resolution supports the designation of January as Muslim-American Heritage Month and honors the contributions and integral role of Muslim Americans in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Currently, schools participating in the program must provide milk that is consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans; USDA regulations require milk to be fat-free or low-fat and allow milk to be flavored or unflavored. The bill modifies these restrictions and instead permits schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. The milk that is offered may be organic or nonorganic. Further, schools currently must provide a substitute for fluid milk, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician, for students whose disability restricts their diet. Under the bill, a parent or legal guardian may also provide the written statement. In addition, schools currently participating in the program must provide meals that meet certain nutrition requirements; USDA regulations require that the average saturated fat content of the meals offered must be less than 10% of the total calories. Under the bill, fluid milk is excluded from the saturated fat content calculation; milk fat included in any fluid milk provided by the program must not be considered saturated fat for the purposes of measuring compliance with USDA regulations.

A resolution designating January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2025

This resolution designates January 23, 2025, as Maternal Health Awareness Day.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the people of the United States should have continuous access to timely, up-to-date, and accurate health information.

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025

This resolution expresses the Senate’s sense that the Department of Health and Human Services should provide the public with continuous access to timely, up-to-date, and accurate health information.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States, States, cities, Tribal nations, businesses, institutions of higher education, and other institutions in the United States should work toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2025

FAIR Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2025

Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2025 or the FAIR Act of 2025 This bill establishes more stringent requirements for the federal government with respect to civil asset forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture generally refers to the seizure and forfeiture of property in connection with federal crimes. Specifically, the bill makes various changes to the general rules governing civil forfeiture proceedings. Among the changes, the bill  generally requires the government to notify interested parties within 7 days (currently, 60 days) of a seizure, requires an indigent property owner to be represented by counsel regardless of whether the owner requests counsel, requires the government to meet a higher evidentiary standard in order to prove that seized property is connected to a crime, and expands the factors courts must consider in determining whether a forfeiture of property is constitutionally excessive. Additionally, the bill eliminates statutory authority for equitable sharing (i.e., sharing of federally forfeited assets with state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies that participate in law enforcement efforts resulting in a forfeiture). It directs forfeiture proceeds to be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury instead of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Assets Forfeiture Fund. The bill requires a prompt probable cause hearing following the seizure of money involved in a structuring offense (i.e., structuring currency transactions to evade currency reporting requirements). Finally, the bill requires the annual report on deposits to the DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund to specify total deposits from each type of forfeiture.

A resolution condemning the pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers.

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

This resolution disapproves of pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officers.

Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Kids Off Social Media Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2025

Kids Off Social Media Act This bill limits children’s access to social media platforms and requires both platforms and schools to implement certain restrictions on children’s social media usage.  Specifically, the bill prohibits social media platforms from knowingly allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain accounts. Platforms must delete existing accounts held by children and any personal data collected from child users. Platforms are also generally prohibited from using automated systems to suggest or promote content based on personal data collected from users under the age of 17. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these provisions. States may also bring civil actions against platforms whose violations of these provisions have adversely affected their residents.  Further, as a condition of receiving discounted telecommunications service under the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-Rate) program, schools must enforce policies preventing the use of E-Rate-supported services, networks, and devices to access social media, and must use blocking or filtering technology to prevent such access. Schools that do not make a good faith effort to comply and correct known violations are required to reimburse any E-Rate support they received for the applicable period. Schools must also submit copies of their internet safety policies to the Federal Communications Commission for publication.  Under the bill, social media platforms are defined as public-facing sites that function primarily as forums for user-generated content. Some categories of online platforms are explicitly excluded, including sites that provide primarily videoconferencing, emailing, or educational services.

PLAN for Broadband Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2025

Proper Leadership to Align Networks for Broadband Act or the PLAN for Broadband Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop and implement a national strategy to improve the coordination and management of federal broadband programs and agency consideration of applications to build or maintain broadband infrastructure on federal property.  The NTIA must also develop and publish for public comment a plan for the implementation of the national strategy. Among other requirements, the implementation plan must establish, for federal broadband programs that are not technologically neutral (i.e., programs that involve a preference for certain broadband technologies), a ceiling on the amount of funding that may be awarded to support the provision of broadband service to a single location.  The bill also requires executive branch agencies to identify and address factors that contribute to delays in their review of applications for easements, rights-of-way, or leases related to communications infrastructure projects on federal property. (Under current law, agencies are generally required to act on such applications within 270 days.) Agencies must also establish methods to alert employees when the agency is at risk of failing to meet the 270-day deadline with respect to a particular application.  Finally, the bill lowers the cost threshold for certain broadband infrastructure projects to qualify as covered projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act from $200 million to $5 million. Such projects qualify for expedited federal environmental review.

Rural Hospital Support Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025

Rural Hospital Support Act This bill modifies and extends certain payment adjustments for rural hospitals under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system. Specifically, the bill indexes payment adjustments for sole community hospitals and Medicare-dependent hospitals to FY2016 operating costs, if it results in higher payments for such hospitals. The bill also makes payment adjustments for Medicare-dependent hospitals and low-volume hospitals permanent (the adjustments currently expire on March 31, 2025).

Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2025

Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act This bill allows, beginning in 2028, for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that are used to screen for cancer across many cancer types, if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services determines such coverage is appropriate. Coverage is limited to those under a certain age (age 68 in 2028, increased by one year every year thereafter) and to one test every 11 months.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Agency for International Development is essential for advancing the national security interests of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2025

This resolution affirms the centrality of the U.S. Agency for International Development for advancing the national security interests of the United States, including by promoting global stability and mitigating threats abroad before they reach the United States.

Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2025

Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2025 This bill expands the activities eligible to increase the federal cost share under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program. Under current law, FEMA provides PA applicants (i.e., government entities and certain nonprofits) a minimum federal cost share of 75% of the costs of repairing or replacing eligible disaster-damaged facilities, but FEMA may increase this to up to 85% if the applicant invests in certain incentive measures that increase disaster readiness and resilience. The bill expands the measures eligible to cause this increase to include (1) investments in preparedness programs, (2) programs designated by FEMA that increase disaster resilience through building standards or land use practices, and (3) support for community emergency response teams or similar non-governmental organizations that provide disaster assistance and advance preparedness. The bill takes effect one year after enactment.

Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2025

Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 This bill expands the regulation of .50 caliber rifles under federal firearms laws and authorizes new civil remedies for certain violations. Firearms that are trafficked from the United States to Mexico are often routed to transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), including cartels. In recent years, TCOs increasingly use .50 caliber rifles in attacks on Mexican security forces. In 2025, in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos , the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) bars a civil lawsuit by Mexico against U.S. firearms manufacturers and one U.S. firearms distributor for costs associated with gun violence in Mexico. (The PLCAA limits the civil liability of firearms manufacturers and sellers for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearms.) This bill generally criminalizes the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of .50 caliber rifles under the Gun Control Act and subjects .50 caliber rifles to regulation (i.e., registration and licensing requirements) under the National Firearms Act. Additionally, the bill criminalizes the sale or transfer of firearms and ammunition to foreign individuals or entities designated as significant foreign narcotics traffickers or as part of their networks and sanctioned under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). Finally, the bill creates an exception under the PLCAA to allow civil lawsuits against firearms manufacturers or sellers that knowingly sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition to a foreign individual or entity designated and sanctioned under the Kingpin Act.

A resolution congratulating the University of Vermont men's soccer team on winning the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's soccer national championship.

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

This resolution congratulates the University of Vermont men’s soccer team on winning the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s soccer national championship.

NO BAN Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or the NO BAN Act This bill imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, unless there is a statutory basis for such discrimination. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any aliens or class of aliens after the Department of State determines that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as public safety. The bill also imposes limitations on such restrictions, such as requiring the President, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to (1) only issue a restriction when required to address a compelling government interest, and (2) narrowly tailor the suspension to use the least restrictive means to achieve such an interest. Before imposing a restriction, the State Department and DHS shall consult with Congress. The State Department and DHS shall report to Congress about the restriction within 48 hours of the restriction's imposition. If such a report is not made, the restriction shall immediately terminate. Individuals or entities present in the United States and unlawfully harmed by such a restriction may sue in federal court. The bill transfers the authority to suspend the entry of aliens traveling to the United States on a commercial airline that failed to comply with regulations related to detecting fraudulent travel documents from the Department of Justice to DHS. 

Access to Counsel Act of 2025

United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2025

Access to Counsel Act of 2025 This bill provides various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States. Covered individuals include U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) in possession of a visa, returning asylees, and refugees. The Department of Homeland Security must ensure that a covered individual subject to secondary or deferred inspection has a meaningful opportunity to consult with counsel and certain related parties, such as a relative, within an hour of the start of the secondary inspection and as necessary during the inspection process. The counsel and related party must be allowed to advocate on behalf of the covered individual, including by providing evidence and information to the examining immigration officer. A lawful permanent resident subject to secondary or deferred inspection may not abandon lawful permanent resident status until the individual has had a meaningful opportunity to seek advice from counsel, unless the individual voluntarily and knowingly waives in writing this opportunity to seek counsel's advice.

Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2025