Lisa Blunt Rochester

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act

This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

Family Vaccine Protection Act

This bill provides statutory authority for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and establishes related requirements. The bill also conditions the removal of a vaccine from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) on supportive scientific evidence.

The ACIP provides advice and recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the use of vaccines and immunization strategies in the United States. Currently, the ACIP is governed by a charter. The bill establishes statutory requirements for the ACIP’s membership, procedures, and responsibilities for providing guidance and recommendations on the use of vaccines, including newly authorized vaccines and vaccines in response to public health emergencies.

Also, currently, the CDC reviews and decides whether to adopt the ACIP’s recommendations. The bill requires (1) the CDC to adopt any ACIP recommendation unless the CDC determines it is not supported by a preponderance of the best available scientific evidence, and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the CDC, as applicable, to publish the scientific basis and notify Congress of any action they take that is contrary to an ACIP recommendation.

The VICP is a no-fault compensation program allowing individuals to seek federal funds for injuries allegedly caused by covered vaccines. Currently, HHS may modify via rulemaking the table of vaccines covered under the VICP. The bill requires any removal of a vaccine from the table to be supported by a preponderance of the best available scientific evidence regarding the vaccine’s safety or efficacy.

Safe Schools Improvement Act

This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits).

Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level.

The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

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.

Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers Act or the Keep Our PACT Act

This bill provides funding through FY2035 for grant programs operated by local educational agencies to provide supplementary educational and related services to low-achieving students and other students who attend elementary and secondary schools with relatively high concentrations of students from low-income families. Additionally, the bill permanently reauthorizes the grant program to assist states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.

The amounts provided by the bill are designated as an emergency requirement for the purposes of Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules and other budget enforcement procedures.

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.

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.

Ethan's Law

This bill establishes a framework to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises at the federal, state, and tribal levels.

At the federal level, the bill establishes statutory requirements for firearms on residential premises to be safely stored if a minor is likely to gain access without permission or if a resident is ineligible to possess a firearm.

An individual who violates the requirements is subject to criminal penalties. A firearm stored in violation of the requirements is subject to seizure and forfeiture.

At the state and tribal levels, the bill requires the Department of Justice to award grants to implement functionally identical requirements for the safe storage of firearms.

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.

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.