Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 5-year pilot program for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire two new image technician roles (Image Technician 1 and 2) to review scanning images of cargo and containers at ports of entry. Image Technician 1s assess images for anomalies indicating contraband or unauthorized persons, recommending release or further inspection to CBP officers, while Image Technician 2s also analyze intelligence on smuggling tactics and report to the National Targeting Center. Supervisory CBP officers retain final decision-making authority, and all technicians must undergo annual training on privacy rights, image analysis, and identifying threats like drugs or weapons. The program establishes five regional command centers, requires detailed quarterly reports to Congress on metrics like seizure rates and wait times, and ends after five years with potential for staff transfers to permanent CBP roles.
Sponsored bills
Credit Union Board Modernization Act This bill revises the required frequency of meetings held by a credit union's board of directors. Specifically, new credit unions and credit unions with a low soundness rating must meet monthly. All other credit unions must hold at least six meetings annually, with at least one meeting held during each fiscal quarter. Currently, all credit union boards must meet at least once a month.
Maddy summaryThis bill permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, which incentivizes private investment in low-income communities. It modifies the tax code to keep the credit available beyond 2025 (replacing "2020 through 2025" with "2020 and each calendar year thereafter") and adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to the credit amount starting in 2026. The bill also provides tax relief by allowing NMTC credits to offset the alternative minimum tax, specifically for investments made after December 2024. This directly affects community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and investors who fund projects in designated low-income areas.
Maddy summaryS 475, the Alternatives to PAIN Act, changes Medicare Part D coverage to make non-opioid pain management drugs more accessible and affordable for beneficiaries. It requires Medicare plans to cover qualifying non-opioid pain drugs without deductibles and place them on the lowest cost-sharing tier (meaning patients pay the least out-of-pocket) starting in 2026. The bill also prohibits plans from requiring step therapy (forcing patients to try opioids first) or prior authorization for these specific drugs. Qualifying drugs must treat acute pain (like post-surgery), not work on opioid receptors, have no equivalent alternatives, and meet cost thresholds. This directly affects Medicare Part D beneficiaries needing pain management and the plans that cover them.
This resolution condemns Russia's nuclear escalatory rhetoric and implied threats on the potential use of nuclear weapons in the context of its invasion of Ukraine. The resolution also (1) condemns Russia's purported suspension of participation in the New START Treaty, (2) emphasizes the value of arms control agreements between the United States and Russia, and (3) calls on the administration to continue pursuing nuclear arms control and risk reduction with Russia and China.
Maddy summaryThe Focus on Learning Act requires the Surgeon General to study how mobile device use affects student learning, mental health, and school climate in K-12 schools. It establishes a pilot program offering $5 million to fund secure containers/lockers for schools to create "mobile device-free environments" during school hours (excluding school-issued devices). Participating schools must maintain communication systems for staff/emergency response, have clear parent contact processes, and get parental input before implementing the policy. The bill directly affects elementary and secondary schools, students, and parents by mandating a study and pilot program to test device-free learning environments.
Maddy summaryS 383 (the JOBS Act of 2025) expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in certain short-term job training programs at eligible institutions of higher education. The bill creates a "job training Federal Pell Grant" for programs meeting specific criteria: 150-600 clock hours over 8-15 weeks, aligned with high-demand industry sectors, and leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that meet employer hiring requirements or licensure prerequisites. It also lowers the minimum Pell Grant award from 10% to 5% of the full annual amount. This directly affects students seeking career-focused training and institutions offering qualifying programs that validate industry partnerships.
Maddy summaryS 385, the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2025, requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review the automatic maximum coverage amount for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) every five years starting in 2026. The review compares the current coverage limit to a new amount calculated as $500,000 multiplied by the average change in the Consumer Price Index over the previous five years. This adjustment mechanism ensures coverage levels better reflect inflation, directly affecting active-duty servicemembers and veterans enrolled in these insurance programs. The bill mandates that the review results be submitted to congressional committees, potentially guiding future coverage increases within existing administrative structures.
Maddy summarySRES 51 is a symbolic Senate resolution expressing that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is essential for advancing U.S. national security. It states USAID helps mitigate foreign threats before they reach U.S. shores, promotes global stability, addresses the root causes of migration and extremism, and counters China's influence. The resolution does not change laws or funding - it only affirms the Senate’s view on USAID’s role. It was introduced by 38 Senators and refers to existing laws requiring congressional input for USAID changes.
Maddy summaryThe Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2025 bans the civilian sale, transfer, or possession of rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition, directly affecting individuals and businesses handling these weapons. It includes exceptions for government use and rifles owned before the law's enactment, and requires owners to register such rifles with the federal registry within 12 months without fees. The bill also adds new liability for sellers who knowingly transfer these rifles to foreign narcotics traffickers or individuals designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act. Additionally, it expands firearm sales reporting to include rifles and creates a new federal prohibition on firearm transfers to designated foreign traffickers.