Sen. Ted Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a national registry for Korean American families separated from relatives in North Korea after the 1953 Korean War Armistice. The State Department would collect names and details to facilitate future reunions (in-person or video) and maintain a database of family members, including those who may have passed away. It authorizes $1 million for this registry and requires the State Department to include family reunion progress in diplomatic talks with North Korea and annual reports to Congress. The registry aims to support reunification efforts by providing structured information for U.S. diplomatic engagement, without guaranteeing specific outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers to clearly disclose before purchase whether internet-connected consumer devices (like smart speakers or thermostats) contain a camera or microphone. It excludes devices consumers would expect to have such features, such as smartphones, laptops, or dedicated cameras. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce this by treating violations as deceptive practices, allowing penalties under existing FTC rules. The law aims to give consumers transparent information about device capabilities at the point of sale.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThe Combating Organized Retail Crime Act amends federal law to strengthen legal tools for addressing organized retail crime, including theft from stores, online, and supply chains. It establishes a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts. The Center will share information, assist with investigations, track crime trends, and provide training to combat these crimes. The bill expands legal definitions to include organized retail crime as a specific category and requires annual reports on the Center's activities. The Center will operate for 7 years before sunset.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. military from renewing, extending, or entering into new long-term retail contracts on military bases with businesses controlled by "covered nations" (nations designated under existing law). It requires the Secretary of Defense to review all existing such contracts within 180 days, terminating those involving covered retailers unless a waiver is granted or the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) determines the business won't harm national security. Waivers are only allowed if the retailer provides vital services with no alternatives and security risks are mitigated. The bill directly affects retailers operating on military bases who are controlled by designated nations, with immediate impact on their ability to maintain base contracts.

Maddy summaryThe LIABLE Act (S 1487) removes jurisdictional immunity for international organizations in U.S. courts when they are involved in terrorism-related acts. It allows lawsuits seeking money damages for personal injury or death caused by torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or material support for such acts - when committed by an organization's official, employee, or agent. This applies only if the organization conspired with, aided, or materially supported a designated foreign terrorist group (under 8 U.S.C. 1189), and the victim was a U.S. national, military member, or U.S. government contractor. Claims must be filed within 20 years of the incident. The bill directly affects international organizations operating in the U.S. or involved with designated terrorist groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the transfer of the Discovery space shuttle from the Smithsonian's Udvar Hazy Center near Washington, DC, to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, within 18 months of enactment. It requires NASA and the Smithsonian to jointly develop and submit a transfer plan to Congress within 90 days, including cost estimates and timelines. After transfer, the shuttle must be placed on public exhibition within 5 miles of Johnson Space Center to support STEM education, with title transferring to NASA one year later and eventually to a designated nonprofit entity for ongoing public display. The bill authorizes funding for these activities, with no changes to existing appropriations.

Maddy summaryThe Stop STALLING Act empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action against pharmaceutical companies that submit "sham" petitions under drug approval processes. Specifically, it targets petitions that are objectively baseless and used to delay generic drug approvals, directly affecting drug manufacturers filing such petitions. The bill establishes civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day or the revenue earned from the delayed drug during the petition's review period. It creates a presumption of "sham" status if the Health Secretary determines a petition was filed primarily to delay approval, with companies able to rebut this presumption. The law does not alter FDA drug approval rules but adds FTC enforcement for unfair competition tactics.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states that use federal Medicaid funds to pay abortion providers to submit detailed annual reports to the federal government. The reports must include specific payment amounts, purposes, comparisons to prior years, the number of abortions performed, gestational age, and abortion method for each provider. States must also publish these reports online, and the federal government must compile and publish a summary for Congress. The law directly affects states administering Medicaid who fund abortions, mandating transparency about these payments using plain language definitions of "abortion" and "abortion provider."

Maddy summaryThis 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.