Thom Tillis

This Senate resolution formally designates September 30, 2026, as "National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day." It highlights the serious issue of veteran suicide, citing Department of Veterans Affairs data showing an average of 17.5 veteran suicides per day, and emphasizes that the psychological wounds of military service are treatable when veterans are connected to proper care and resources. The resolution calls for collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, veteran service organizations, health care providers, and community groups to support prevention efforts, including promoting safe firearm storage and timely crisis intervention. It also recognizes the importance of supporting the surviving families of veterans who have died by suicide, noting their experiences can help inform future prevention work. The resolution carries no funding or binding legal requirements; it simply encourages Americans and relevant organizations to observe the day through awareness programs and activities.

The DEFEND IP Act would create a legal mechanism for copyright owners to combat foreign websites engaged in digital piracy. Copyright holders could petition federal district courts to designate foreign websites as "foreign digital piracy sites" if those sites are primarily used for copyright infringement and likely to cause irreparable harm to the copyright owner. Once designated, copyright holders could then petition courts to order internet service providers and domain name services to block U.S. users' access to these sites, provided the burden on service providers is not excessive and no less restrictive alternatives exist. ISPs would receive broad legal immunity for good-faith compliance efforts and could recover reasonable compliance costs from those seeking the orders. The bill would also enable courts to compel payment processors, internet service providers, and ad networks to cease business with designated piracy platforms.

This bill establishes the Heart Security Foundation, a nonprofit corporation chartered by the federal government to accelerate cardiovascular research in the United States. The foundation will raise private donations and apply for federal research grants to provide targeted funding to research institutions, with a particular focus on biomarker research related to early-onset heart disease. A five-member board of directors, appointed by the director of the National Institutes of Health, will oversee the foundation's operations, and at least three members must have expertise in cardiovascular research, genetic biomarkers, clinical studies, or related fields. The foundation is prohibited from engaging in political advocacy, community organizing, public messaging campaigns, or operating as a health care provider, and it must submit annual reports to Congress detailing funds raised, grants awarded, and research outcomes. No specific federal funding is allocated in the bill, as the foundation will primarily rely on private donations and competitive federal research grants.

The Protect and Serve Act of 2026 creates a new federal crime specifically targeting those who kill or attempt to kill law enforcement officers because of their status as law enforcement. Those convicted of killing a law enforcement officer face life imprisonment or fines, while those who attempt to kill an officer and cause serious bodily injury face up to 20 years in prison. The law applies when the crime involves interstate travel or commerce, federal officers, or weapons that have crossed state lines, giving federal prosecutors jurisdiction in these cases. Federal prosecution requires written certification from the Attorney General that either a state has requested federal involvement or that federal prosecution is in the public interest and necessary for substantial justice. The law covers all law enforcement employees authorized to prevent, detect, or investigate crimes, or to detain or incarcerate people.

This bill authorizes any federally recognized Indian tribe to lease their land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years.

To reallocate funds that would have been used for the Anti-Weaponization Fund to fraud enforcement.

The ALERT Act of 2026 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to expand and enhance the National Healthcare Safety Network over a five-year period to create real-time surveillance systems that monitor infectious diseases in nursing homes across the country. The bill authorizes the CDC to contract with eligible companies to develop technology infrastructure that can detect disease outbreaks, notify health authorities immediately, and support optional care management programs at nursing facilities. The contracted company must be U.S.-based, hold specific security certification, not be an electronic medical records company, and must have experience operating public health surveillance networks. The legislation includes strong privacy protections for patient data and prohibits using the surveillance data for regulatory enforcement unless specifically authorized by law. The bill authorizes funding through fiscal year 2031 and requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the system's effectiveness, its impact on hospitalizations and patient outcomes, and recommendations for continuing or expanding the program.

Senate Resolution 705 formally honors the "Donut Dollies," volunteer women who served alongside U.S. troops during major 20th century conflicts to boost morale and provide comfort. These women, primarily working through the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, traveled to combat zones during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War to serve refreshments, organize recreational activities, and offer conversation to servicemembers. During the Vietnam War alone, over 600 young women participated in the program, reaching more than 300,000 servicemembers monthly and traveling 27,000 miles per month to reach remote bases and hospitals, often under enemy fire. The resolution recognizes that five Red Cross workers, including three women from the Vietnam program, died while serving, and acknowledges the emotional toll these volunteers endured while supporting troops. This is a commemorative resolution that requires no funding and simply provides official congressional recognition of their service and sacrifice.

The amendment introduces provisions to enhance transparency and accountability in the reporting processes of federal agencies, mandating regular updates and public disclosures of specific data. Additionally, it establishes new penalties for non-compliance with these reporting requirements, aiming to ensure adherence to the revised standards.

This resolution authorizes the use of the atrium in the Philip A. Hart Senate Office Building for a "Bipawtisan Doggi Gras Pawrade" on February 25, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event appears to be a dog-themed parade that plays on bipartisan cooperation, combining Mardi Gras festivities with dogs as a unifying theme. The resolution affects Senate staff, visitors, and their dogs who would participate in or attend this event in the Hart Building's atrium. The legislation cites that over 65 million U.S. households have dogs and references President Truman's famous quote about needing a dog to find a friend in Washington. No funding is specified since this is simply a space authorization for a two-hour event.

S. 3782 creates a civil lawsuit right for individuals harmed by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in so-called "sanctuary jurisdictions"—states or localities that restrict sharing immigration information or cooperating with federal immigration detention requests. Victims of murder, rape, or felonies committed by immigrants who benefited from these policies can sue the jurisdiction for compensatory damages, with claims valid for up to 10 years after the crime, and prevailing plaintiffs can recover attorney's fees. The bill also requires states and localities accepting certain federal grants (such as community development block grants and economic development funds) to waive legal immunity from these lawsuits as a condition of receiving federal funding. Additionally, S. 3782 enhances federal criminal penalties by requiring minimum 20-year sentences for assaults on law enforcement officers and establishing murder of law enforcement as a federal crime when interstate commerce or interstate weapons are involved, with the Attorney General required to report on prosecutions under these new provisions within three years of enactment.

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. [sic]This bill temporarily directs the Department of the Interior to award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule ActThis act requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026.The time capsule shall contain a joint letter from congressional leadership (the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate) and such other contents as they shall determine. The act directs the Architect of the Capitol to also install a plaque about the time capsule, subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.The time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276. On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader shall present the time capsule to the 244th Congress.

The amendment introduces provisions that enhance oversight and reporting requirements for federal agencies, ensuring greater transparency in their operations. It also allocates additional funding for specific programs aimed at improving efficiency and accountability within these agencies.

The PROTECT for Rare Act expands drug coverage for patients with rare diseases affecting 200,000 or fewer people in the United States across Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance. Under Medicare and Medicaid, the bill allows coverage of drugs used to treat rare conditions when supported by peer-reviewed medical literature or clinical guidelines, even if those uses are not officially approved by the FDA. For private insurance, the bill requires health plans to establish expedited appeal processes so patients and their doctors can quickly contest denials of coverage for FDA-approved drugs used to treat rare diseases when evidence supports their effectiveness. All provisions take effect on January 1, 2027, affecting Medicare beneficiaries, Medicaid enrollees, and people with employer-sponsored or individual health insurance coverage. The bill does not specify new federal funding, instead modifying existing coverage rules within these three health insurance programs.

The Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act of 2025 would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to conduct outreach and education efforts to help Medicare beneficiaries authorize family caregivers to access their health information through the 1-800-MEDICARE phone line. The legislation affects Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Parts A or B, as well as their family caregivers, healthcare providers, and suppliers. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop best practices to prevent fraud within one year of enactment and to distribute information about the authorization option prominently through Medicare.gov, enrollment notices, social media, and other platforms, while training 1-800-MEDICARE operators to assist family caregivers. The outreach materials must be available in multiple languages and coordinate with existing state and community programs, with provisions for family caregivers to provide feedback on their experiences accessing information.

This Senate resolution condemns the Government of Azerbaijan for the arrest and mistreatment of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, a respected economist and academic who was arrested in July 2023 along with his wife, severely beaten in custody, and subsequently placed under house arrest without trial. The resolution documents serious human rights concerns, including wrongful detention, denial of due process, lack of medical care, and suppression of academic freedom, while also noting similar cases of other political prisoners held by Azerbaijan. The Senate calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Ibadoghlu and other political prisoners, and instructs U.S. government agencies—including the State Department and Treasury Department—to prioritize his case in all dealings with Azerbaijan's government. The resolution emphasizes that Azerbaijan's credibility on peace initiatives and international partnership depends on respecting human rights standards, and signals that the U.S. will highlight these detention concerns at international forums, including Azerbaijan's hosting of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, until the prisoners are released.

This Senate resolution formally recognizes suicide as a serious public health crisis in the United States and designates September as "National Suicide Prevention Month." The resolution highlights alarming statistics: approximately 49,000 Americans die by suicide annually (one every 11 minutes), suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, and the suicide rate has increased 36 percent since 1999. The resolution also notes that over 6,400 veterans die by suicide each year and that suicide attempts affect roughly 1.5 million Americans annually, with an estimated economic cost of $70 billion per year. By passing this resolution, the Senate declares suicide prevention a priority, acknowledges that multiple factors beyond mental illness contribute to suicide, and expresses support for expanding access to mental health services and substance abuse treatments while working to reduce the stigma that prevents people from seeking help.