This resolution (SRES 248) calls on the federal government to create a national biodiversity strategy to address accelerating biodiversity loss. It specifically urges the establishment of a coordinated strategy with key goals, including protecting at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 (the "30x30" target), protecting endangered species, integrating climate action, and incorporating Indigenous knowledge. The strategy would require federal agencies to coordinate conservation efforts, collaborate with states, tribes, and communities, and ensure equitable access to nature for historically impacted groups like Tribal communities and communities of color. As a non-binding resolution, it directs agencies to develop this strategy but does not create new laws or funding.
S 1861, the Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act of 2025, removes a barrier preventing Selected Reserve and National Guard members who work in civilian federal jobs from enrolling in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) health plans. Currently, eligibility for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) blocks these service members from purchasing TRS, disrupting healthcare continuity during mobilization. The bill amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to change the effective date for TRS enrollment eligibility from 2030 to January 1, 2026. This change directly affects thousands of reserve and National Guard members and their families, providing them with consistent healthcare options while serving both militarily and as federal employees.
Care for Military Kids Act This bill requires a state Medicaid program to consider active-duty members of the Armed Forces and their dependents who are receiving home- and community-based services to be residents of that state even if they are relocated to another state because of their military service, unless the member chooses not to be considered as such. The requirement applies beginning in 2028. The bill provides funds through FY2030 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to implement the bill.
The VALOR Act of 2025 modifies the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to better support military service members and veterans with federal student loans. It directly affects borrowers who served in covered active duty, including National Guard members and the NOAA commissioned corps, during their loan repayment period. Key provisions count deferred or forbearance payments made while serving as qualifying payments, waive the standard 10-year full-time public service requirement if the borrower completed 10 years of active duty during the loan term, and allow borrowers to receive forgiveness regardless of when they enrolled in PSLF.
The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act (S 1879) requires current and new Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children, to divest or place certain investments in qualified blind trusts. It defines "covered investments" broadly to include stocks, bonds, commodities, and derivatives, while excluding diversified mutual funds, Treasury securities, and retirement plan investments. Members must complete this process within 120 days of enacting the law (with possible 180-day extensions), and new members have 120 days after taking office to comply. The law mandates public reporting of assets placed in blind trusts and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, equal to a monthly portion of the member's salary. This legislation directly affects congressional staff members and their immediate families who hold financial interests that could create conflicts of interest.
This bill expands workplace safety protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to cover public employees, including those working for federal, state, or local government agencies. It amends the law to explicitly include "the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State" in the definition of covered workers, removing previous exclusions. The key provision requires all public workplaces to follow OSHA safety standards, with a 36-month transition period for states or localities without their own OSHA-approved plans. This directly affects government workers like teachers, police, and sanitation staff who were previously excluded from federal OSHA coverage.
This bill (S 1856) would amend the tax code to exclude certain military bonuses from being counted as taxable income. Specifically, it changes Internal Revenue Code Section 134 to remove bonuses paid to active-duty service members under Chapter 5 of Title 37, U.S. Code, from gross income calculations. The change would apply to tax returns filed for 2025 and later tax years. It directly affects service members receiving these specific bonuses by potentially reducing their federal tax burden.
This bill amends military retirement rules for members of the Ready Reserve. It changes the effective date used to calculate early retirement eligibility from January 28, 2008, to September 11, 2001, affecting eligible service members seeking early retirement benefits. The change simplifies the eligibility calculation by aligning it with a historically significant date.
This bill would establish federal grants to support comprehensive sex education and sexual health services for young people ages 10-29, with specific emphasis on making these programs evidence-informed, medically accurate, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive of diverse identities. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for five years to fund programs in schools, colleges, and youth organizations that provide age-appropriate education on topics like anatomy, contraception, consent, healthy relationships, and STI prevention. It specifically requires programs to address racial and gender equity, serve underserved youth (including Black, Indigenous, Latine, LGBTQ+, and low-income youth), and avoid harmful practices like abstinence-only education. The bill repeals the "abstinence-only-until-marriage" program and redirects those funds to support the new comprehensive approach, requiring grantees to report on program impact including how many young people were served and how programs address racial and gender equity.
This bill requires the Coast Guard to retain enlisted members who have completed 18 but less than 20 years of service and are facing separation or expiration of their enlistment. It applies to both regular Coast Guard members and Reserve members serving in active status. The key provision mandates that these members must remain on active duty until they qualify for retirement (reaching 20 years), with specific time limits based on their exact service length (e.g., 2-3 years depending on whether they have 18-19 or 19-20 years). This policy directly affects eligible Coast Guard enlisted personnel who would otherwise separate before becoming retirement-eligible.
S 1915, the "Remove the Stain Act," rescinds 20 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. Army soldiers for their role in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, where unarmed Lakota men, women, and children were killed. The bill requires removing these soldiers' names from official military Medal of Honor rolls but does not require them to return their medals or deny them federal benefits. This action follows historical findings that the massacre involved the killing of hundreds of unarmed Native Americans, including women and children, and was described by military leaders as "brutal" and "cold-blooded." The bill directly affects the historical record of the Medal of Honor, aligning with requests from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the National Congress of American Indians.
This bill requires federal law enforcement officers, Bureau of Prisons staff, and U.S. Marshals to immediately obtain or provide medical care when someone in federal custody shows medical distress (like breathing difficulties). It makes it a federal offense for covered officials to negligently fail to act, punishable by fines, up to one year in prison, or both. The bill mandates Inspector General investigations into such failures that cause harm and establishes confidential complaint processes. It also requires agencies to train covered officials on responding to medical distress in custody. The law directly affects individuals in federal custody and the specific federal officials responsible for their care.
