Mike Rounds

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.

Back the Blue Act of 2025

This bill establishes new criminal offenses for violent conduct against judicial officers and law enforcement officers and makes related changes. The bill also broadens the authority of certain law enforcement officers to carry firearms.

Specifically, the bill prohibits killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, a federal law enforcement officer, or a public safety or judicial officer for a state, local, or tribal agency that receives federal funding. The bill also prohibits fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody, or confinement for an offense.

Additionally, the bill prohibits killing former federal judges, former federal law enforcement officers, or former public safety or judicial officers for state, local, or tribal agencies that receive federal funding.

The bill also prohibits certain assaults on state or local law enforcement officers for state (or District of Columbia) agencies that receive federal funding.

The bill limits federal court review of challenges to state court convictions for killing a public safety officer or judge. The bill also limits the recoverability of damages and attorney's fees in a proceeding to enforce a civil rights violation during or relating to conduct by the injured person that constitutes a felony or crime of violence.

The bill allows federal, state, and local law enforcement officers to carry firearms if authorized by law. The bill also allows qualified law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms and ammunition (including magazines) in school zones and in certain federal facilities that are open to the public.

Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025

This bill expands the Scott Hannon Initiative for Precision Mental Health, a program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Specifically, the bill expands the scope of the initiative by requiring the identification and validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans for repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and other such brain conditions. Currently, the initiative addresses several other conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The VA must work with the Department of Defense to establish a data-sharing partnership under the initiative.

The bill requires the VA to conduct various research studies about repetitive low-level blast exposure under the initiative.

The VA must seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to work in tandem with the initiative on validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans and report on the findings at least once every two years.

The VA must assess all in progress and planned translational research studies under the initiative and report to Congress on the assessment.

Additionally, the VA must report to Congress on the initiative at least once every two years and include recommendations for immediate administrative and legislative action to improve the initiative.

The bill authorizes the initiative through FY2034.

This resolution recognizes November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

This resolution designates November 1, 2025, as National Bison Day.

Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025

This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights take into consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA's) working definition of antisemitism when reviewing or investigating complaints of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. According to the IHRA's working definition, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.

Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act

This bill provides for permanent coverage under Medicare of certain pharmacist services.

Specifically, the bill provides for permanent coverage of testing and treatment services provided by pharmacists relating to (1) COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat); and (2) other public health needs in relation to a declared public health emergency. (Similar authorities were temporarily granted during the COVID-19 public health emergency.) Such services must be provided in accordance with the applicable state laws governing pharmacists' scope of practice.

Extending Expired Cybersecurity Authorities Act

This bill extends the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 through FY2035. The act includes authorities and requirements that facilitate the voluntary sharing of cyber threat information between private sector entities and the federal government. The bill also renames the act as the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act.

For more information about the act, see CRS In Focus 12959.

Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act

This bill allows funds awarded by the State Justice Institute to be used to establish, implement, and operate a judicial threat and intelligence resource center. The State Justice Institute is a private, nonprofit corporation established by federal law to support and improve the administration of justice in state courts.

Equal Campus Access Act of 2025

This bill prohibits funding made available under the Higher Education Act of 1965 from being provided to any public institution of higher education (IHE) that denies certain campus rights to religious student organizations.

Specifically, the bill prohibits a public IHE from receiving these funds if it denies a religious student organization any right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to other student organizations at the IHE because of the religious student organization's beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or standards of conduct.

Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act

This bill establishes an advisory committee on falls prevention to assess federal efforts to prevent falls and recommend related policies to the Administration on Aging (AOA).

The advisory committee must oversee the creation and maintenance of a national plan to address falls prevention, including through the advancement of programs or interventions to prevent falls and reduce the number and severity of fall-related injuries. The committee must also assist the AOA in coordinating falls prevention research and services across federal agencies.

The committee must be comprised of members representing specified federal agencies, non-government organizations, and populations (e.g., caregivers and health care providers).

Within a specified period, the advisory committee must submit an initial report to the AOA and Congress, including

• an evaluation of all federally funded efforts related to falls prevention and recommendations for adjusting these efforts based on their purpose and performance;

• a recommendation for developing a Medicare pilot or demonstration program to provide coverage for basic home modifications to reduce falls; and

• recommendations for increasing provider use of a fall risk screening, assessment, and intervention tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The AOA must submit regular reports to Congress with assessments of U.S. progress in addressing falls prevention, outcomes of the committee’s recommendations, and recommended priority actions. These reports must evaluate the implementation of any Medicare program initiated pursuant to a committee recommendation.

This resolution condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk, extends condolences and sympathies to his family, and honors his commitment to civil discussion and debate.