Sen. Katie Boyd Britt

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Major Richard Star Act (S 1032), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both their military retired pay and Veterans Affairs disability compensation simultaneously. It amends U.S. Code sections to remove the automatic reduction in retired pay that previously forced these veterans to choose between the two payments. The key change ensures veterans with combat-related disabilities qualify for full retired pay without offset against their VA disability benefits, effective for payments starting after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects veterans receiving military retired pay under Chapter 61 who also qualify for VA disability compensation for combat-related injuries.

Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act (S 1064) requires federal agencies to ensure open competition on construction projects by prohibiting them from mandating or banning contractors from entering into labor agreements (like union contracts) or discriminating against contractors based on such agreements. It directly affects federal contractors, subcontractors, and agencies awarding construction contracts or grants for projects involving federal funds. Key provisions ban specific bid specifications or project documents from requiring labor affiliations, apply to all contracts after enactment, and mandate updates to federal procurement rules within 60 days. The bill aims to reduce taxpayer costs, expand opportunities for small businesses, and maintain federal neutrality in labor relations for construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the EPA's 2024 emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles and amends the Clean Air Act to prevent future regulations from mandating specific technologies or limiting new vehicle availability based on engine type. It directly affects the EPA's regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers by blocking technology mandates and restrictions on engine types in new vehicles. Key provisions require the EPA to revise regulations within 24 months to align with these changes, ensuring no federal rules limit vehicle choices based on engine technology. The bill's title is misleading, as it does not address automobile retail sales or consumer choice at dealerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clean Air Act to prevent states from imposing standards that limit the sale or use of new internal combustion engine vehicles. It adds a new requirement that state standards must not directly or indirectly restrict such vehicles, and it prohibits the EPA from considering pre-2025 state standards as valid under existing waivers. The bill also requires the EPA to revoke certain existing waivers granted between January 2022 and the bill's enactment date if those waivers don't comply with the new standard. This directly affects states with their own vehicle emission rules (like California's ZEV program), limiting their ability to regulate internal combustion engine vehicles through EPA-approved standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows farmers who sell qualified farmland to a "qualified farmer" to exclude capital gains from their taxable income if they reinvest the proceeds into an individual retirement plan (IRA) within 60 days. To qualify, the land must have been used for farming by the seller for 10 years, and the buyer must agree in writing to maintain the land as farmland for at least 10 years. If the buyer sells the land or stops using it for farming within that decade, they must repay the excluded gains plus interest as an additional tax. The bill also temporarily increases IRA contribution limits for these reinvestments, applying to sales after the law's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF-ISN), a federal coordination body led by a presidentially appointed director. It brings together agencies including the DEA, FBI, Treasury, Homeland Security, and others to share intelligence and coordinate operations targeting synthetic narcotics trafficking networks, with specific focus on Chinese involvement in the crisis. The task force must submit regular reports to Congress on its activities, funding needs, and progress in disrupting trafficking, while maintaining existing agency authorities. It explicitly prohibits targeting personal drug use or low-level dealing unrelated to major trafficking networks.

Maddy summaryS 970, the Helping More Families Save Act, creates a 10-year pilot program allowing families receiving Section 8 or 9 housing assistance to save rent increases from earned income in interest-bearing escrow accounts. Covered families (earning under 80% of area median income) must opt-in, with funds becoming accessible after 5 years (or up to 7 years with continued participation) for approved self-sufficiency goals like education or housing. The program ensures these savings don’t reduce eligibility for other benefits, and participants must be fully informed about the opt-in process. The pilot will be evaluated after 8 years to assess its effectiveness in helping families achieve economic independence.

Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 116) honors women business owners in the U.S. for their economic contributions, citing that women-owned businesses: - Employ over 12.9 million people, - Generate $3.3 trillion in annual revenue, - Represent 39.2% of all U.S. businesses (up from 4.6% since 1972). The Senate formally recognizes these businesses as vital to the U.S. economy, commends women entrepreneurs’ spirit, and celebrates their achievements. It is a symbolic resolution with no policy changes or funding impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Natural Gas Act to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exclusive authority to approve or deny applications for LNG terminals (including those for export or import). It requires FERC to deem such projects "consistent with the public interest" when making decisions. The bill also clarifies that the President retains existing authority under laws like the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to block LNG exports to countries designated as "state sponsors of terrorism." This directly affects LNG terminal developers and FERC, streamlining approval processes while preserving presidential sanctions powers.