The ACES Act (HR 530) mandates a study by the National Academies to examine cancer rates and deaths among veterans who served as aircrew members (e.g., pilots, navigators) in fixed-wing military aircraft. The study will identify potential exposure risks (like chemicals) linked to 12 specific cancers (including brain, lung, prostate, and melanoma) and use VA, DoD, and CDC data to analyze prevalence and mortality. It does not change benefits or laws but requires a final report to the VA and congressional committees. The study directly affects veterans with the defined aircrew service history.
SRES 201 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating the week of May 4-10, 2025, as "National Small Business Week." It honors small businesses and entrepreneurs across all U.S. communities for their economic contributions, citing that small businesses support over 59 million jobs. The resolution recognizes their resilience and celebrates their role in strengthening local economies. This symbolic gesture, consistent with annual presidential proclamations since 1963, does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes.
SRES 202 is a Senate resolution recognizing April 2025 as "Community College Month" to celebrate the role of U.S. community colleges. It highlights how over 1,000 community colleges - serving 10.2 million students - support affordable higher education, workforce training, and economic growth, citing their $898 billion annual economic impact. The resolution has no binding effect; it is a symbolic acknowledgment intended to honor these institutions' contributions to education and prosperity.
This resolution designates May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" to honor victims and support families. It calls on the public to commemorate affected individuals and demonstrates solidarity with their families. The resolution also recommends the Department of Justice commission a new study on the crisis, noting that a previous study (2016) is outdated. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but aligns with existing efforts like Savanna’s Act.
This is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 187), not a legislative bill. It formally recognizes April 25, 2025, as National Arbor Day to celebrate the 153rd anniversary of Arbor Day's founding on April 10, 1872. The resolution encourages the public to participate in Arbor Day activities focused on tree planting and environmental stewardship, but it does not create new laws, programs, or obligations. It serves solely as a symbolic acknowledgment of Arbor Day's history and purpose, with no direct impact on individuals, communities, or policy.
This resolution designates April 2025 as "Second Chance Month" to raise public awareness about barriers faced by people with criminal records. It directly affects individuals returning from incarceration who encounter automatic legal and societal restrictions - such as employment, housing, and education access - often unrelated to their original offense. The resolution calls on communities, employers, and organizations to promote awareness of these "collateral consequences" and support reentry efforts through public actions and programs. It is a non-binding symbolic gesture, not a policy change, referencing existing laws like the Second Chance Act of 2007 and First Step Act of 2018.
This resolution designates the week of April 19-27, 2025, as "National Park Week" in the U.S. Senate. It encourages the public to responsibly visit, experience, and support national parks across the United States. The resolution highlights the National Park System’s role in preserving natural and cultural resources while acknowledging its economic impact and recreational value. It does not create new laws or alter funding, focusing solely on recognition and public engagement.
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
This resolution (SRES 159) is a ceremonial Senate measure honoring the late Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr. (1932-2024), who represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate from 1972 to 1997. It commemorates his career, including his work on energy policy, flood control, and Louisiana conservation efforts, and requests the Senate adjourn in his memory while sending condolences to his family. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or laws.
SRES 156 is a Senate resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), signed into law on January 4, 1975. It recognizes how ISDEAA has enabled federally recognized tribes to administer federal programs - including healthcare, education, and public safety - for their communities, with 92% of tribes using its authorities as of 2024. The resolution is purely ceremonial and does not create new policy or alter existing law, instead affirming congressional support for tribal self-governance.
SJRES 37 would terminate a national emergency declared on February 1, 2025, that authorized duties (tariffs) on articles imported from Canada. The resolution ends this emergency under the National Emergencies Act, removing the legal basis for imposing those duties. This directly affects U.S. importers of Canadian goods who were subject to these tariffs under the emergency authority. The bill does not eliminate the duties themselves but formally ends the emergency justification used to impose them.
SRES 153 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the contributions of women in U.S. agriculture, citing that women operate over 1.2 million farms (36% of total sales, $222 billion in 2022) and work across diverse roles from farming to education and advocacy. The resolution encourages public acknowledgment of women’s impact on the agricultural workforce and food systems, urging support for women entering the field, leadership opportunities, and global food security. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally honors this group during National Women’s History Month and National Ag Week.
