Sen. Tom Cotton

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution states that the U.S. Senate believes Israel has the inherent right to defend itself and take necessary steps to eradicate the terrorist threat posed by Hamas. It also declares that any U.S. government official calling for elections in Israel would constitute electoral interference. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for Israel’s security actions and sets a position on U.S. involvement in Israeli electoral matters. The resolution was introduced in March 2024 by multiple senators.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint and sell commemorative coins to honor the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the worst maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with fixed minting limits, to be sold during 2027 at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin respectively). All surcharge revenue will be directed to the Sultana Historical Preservation Society to fund a museum and preservation efforts for the disaster's history. The coins are legal tender and designed with historical inscriptions, but the bill has no policy impact beyond commemoration.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 608), not a bill with policy changes. It formally denounces the Biden administration's immigration policies by listing grievances, such as claims about border security, termination of asylum agreements, and alleged failures to use existing legal authorities. The resolution urges the administration to immediately implement specific actions under current law, including ending "catch-and-release" policies, reinstating Migrant Protection Protocols, and using expedited removal. It does not create new laws or alter policy - it is a statement of disapproval by the Senate. The resolution has no legal effect on immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the export of petroleum products drawn from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to specific countries and entities, including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Cuba, and any entity controlled by those nations or the Chinese Communist Party. It amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to add this export restriction, requiring the Secretary of Energy to issue implementing rules within 60 days of enactment. The Secretary may grant waivers if exports are certified as serving U.S. national security interests. This directly affects U.S. energy exports and entities involved in international oil transactions with the listed countries or their designated affiliates.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Department of Defense from using Tutor.com for military education services. It requires the DoD to stop offering Tutor.com services within 30 days and terminate all current contracts with the company, which was acquired by a Chinese-owned entity (Primavera Capital Group, linked to ByteDance/TikTok). The ban also prevents future DoD contracts with Tutor.com if it remains owned by Chinese entities, citing concerns that Chinese law requires companies to share user data (including location and session content) with the Chinese government. The policy directly affects military personnel and their families who previously used Tutor.com for educational support.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3992) prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from making new direct loans under its 7(a) program, which previously allowed the SBA to lend directly to small businesses. It specifically stops the SBA from issuing new direct loans after the bill's enactment, though it requires the SBA to continue servicing any existing direct loans made before the law took effect. The key mechanism is a clear prohibition on new direct lending, shifting future 7(a) credit access to rely on SBA-guaranteed loans through private lenders instead. This directly affects the SBA's operational authority and the structure of how small businesses access certain types of federal credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 9-member commission to study whether the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia should transfer to the Smithsonian Institution. The commission must examine the museum’s collections, finances, governance, legal constraints, and feasibility of integration - including costs for operating a new Smithsonian museum outside Washington, D.C. - and report findings within two years. It will also develop a fund-raising plan and legislative recommendations for potential transfer. The bill does not authorize the transfer itself but sets up a formal review process. The study will directly affect the museum’s future operations and relationship with the Smithsonian.

Maddy summaryThe Countering China’s Political Warfare Act of 2024 authorizes the U.S. President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals or entities that knowingly engage in "political warfare" on behalf of a foreign government, such as spreading propaganda, recruiting for the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department, or disrupting protected U.S. activities. Key sanctions include blocking assets held in the U.S. and barring entry (revoking visas, making individuals inadmissible). The bill requires the Secretary of State to determine within 90 days whether the United Front Work Department meets sanctions criteria under existing laws. The law expires on January 1, 2025, but sanctions imposed before that date remain in effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal student aid to comply with immigration laws regarding employee hiring. Specifically, it makes institutions ineligible for federal funding if they violate rules against employing unauthorized workers (Section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act) and mandates all such institutions to participate in the E-Verify program to check employee immigration status. The Department of Homeland Security must monitor compliance every six months and notify the Department of Education within 10 days if an institution violates immigration rules or fails to use E-Verify. The policy directly affects higher education institutions that receive federal student aid or institutional funds.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 65) seeks to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have revised national air quality standards for tiny air particles (particulate matter), which are pollutants linked to health issues like asthma and heart disease. The EPA rule, published on March 6, 2024, proposed updating these standards to tighten pollution limits. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, maintaining the current standards without changes. This directly affects the EPA’s ability to implement the proposed revisions to air quality regulations, impacting public health protections and industry compliance requirements.