Marsha Blackburn

Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025

This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report about anticompetitive practices and other trends within the pharmaceutical supply chain that may impact the cost of prescription drugs.

The report must address whether pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) (1) reimburse pharmacies owned by the PBM at a higher price than other pharmacies, and (2) implement formulary designs to increase the market share of higher-cost prescription drugs or depress the market share of lower-cost prescription drugs.

The FTC also must provide recommendations to increase transparency in the supply chain, prevent anticompetitive practices, and ensure that consumers benefit from cost savings or efficiencies that result from mergers and consolidations.

Additionally, the FTC must report the number and nature of complaints the FTC receives relating to an allegation of anticompetitive conduct by a manufacturer of a sole-source drug.

Strong Communities Act of 2025

This bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to make competitive grants for local law enforcement agencies to provide training to officers and recruits who agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities.

This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency notice titled California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision (90 Fed. Reg. 642) and published on January 6, 2025. Among other elements, the notice grants the California Air Resources Board request for a waiver for its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations. (Under the Clean Air Act, California may seek waivers of the preemption prohibiting states from enacting certain emission standards.)

Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT Act

This bill expands oversight and disclosure requirements related to foreign sources and institutions of higher education (IHEs).

Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to annually disclose to the Department of Education (ED) any year in which the IHE

• receives a gift from a foreign country of concern (e.g., China or Russia) or foreign entity of concern of any dollar amount;

• receives a gift or contract from a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts within a calendar year (current disclosure threshold is $250,000 or more), or which has an undetermined monetary value;

• enters into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern after receiving a waiver for such contract; or

• is substantially controlled by a foreign source.

Additionally, the bill

• prohibits IHEs from entering into contracts with a foreign country of concern or with a foreign entity of concern without obtaining a waiver, and

• requires certain IHEs to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources.

The bill requires ED to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation. Penalties may include losing eligibility for federal student financial aid.

Driving Forward Act

This bill directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to permanently allow states to exempt school bus drivers from the “under-the-hood” testing requirement for a commercial driver's license (CDL).

As background, on December 2, 2024, the FMCSA renewed an exemption through November 28, 2026, that allows states to exempt all school bus driver applicants for a CDL from the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip vehicle inspection skills testing requirement, commonly referred to as the under-the-hood testing requirement. States must meet certain terms and conditions for the exemption.

Under the bill, the FMCSA must make permanent the December 2, 2024, exemption, thus permanently allowing states to exempt school bus drivers from the under-the-hood testing requirement. States must meet the additional terms and conditions for an exemption, which include (1) restricting school bus drivers who are issued a CDL based on the exemption to the intrastate operation of school buses, and (2) requiring states to conduct the remaining pre-trip vehicle inspection components of the skills test.

Further, the FMCSA must require any state participating in the exemption to submit an annual report describing the number of drivers that obtain a CDL under the exemption.

This resolution designates March 27, 2025, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.

Major Richard Star Act

This bill allows a veteran with a combat-related disability to receive retirement pay, without reduction, concurrently with their disability compensation. This includes veterans with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service. (Currently, veterans who receive combat-related special compensation and retirement pay are subject to an offset in retirement pay for concurrent receipt of such benefits.)

Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act

This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs from authorizing, facilitating, providing funding for, or otherwise supporting any event that promotes anti-Semitism on the IHE's campus.

Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act

This bill prohibits a state or any political subdivision of a state from imposing or collecting an excise tax on the sale of a firearm, ammunition, or any part or component of a firearm or ammunition by a manufacture or dealer.

Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act of 2025

This bill establishes new federal crimes for the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information by officers or employees of the Supreme Court.

Specifically, the bill prohibits an officer or employee of the Supreme Court from knowingly publishing, divulging, disclosing, or making known in any manner or to any extent not authorized by law any confidential information coming to that officer or employee in the course of the employment or official duties of that officer or employee.

A violation is subject to criminal penalties. Additionally, any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained as the result of the violation is subject to criminal forfeiture.

First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.

Cultural Trade Promotion Act

This bill expands certain trade activities by the Department of Commerce and its related trade agencies to promote goods and services from microenterprises, creative industries and occupations (e.g., businesses focused on arts or culture), and Native Hawaiian businesses.

Specifically, the bill expands the activities that must be carried out by the U.S. Commercial Service to include the promotion of U.S. goods and services that are exported by microentrepreneurs.

Additionally, the bill expands the activities that must be carried out by Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to include in its annual strategic plan (1) recommendations to better assist microenterprises, and (2) a consideration of how to promote exports of goods and services from creative industries and occupations.

The bill authorizes Commerce to provide assistance to eligible entities (e.g., Native Hawaiian tribes and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses) for the development of foreign markets for authentic Native Hawaiian arts and crafts.

The bill also requires the International Trade Administration, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the U.S. Postal Service to consult and collaborate to connect microenterprises and small businesses to fast and reliable international shipping services.

The bill directs the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to place special emphasis on the creative industries and occupations sectors when promoting U.S. private sector participation in development projects in developing and middle-income countries.

Finally, Commerce must appoint a representative of creative industries and occupations to serve as a permanent member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.