Maddy summaryThe Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 91) authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats who risked their careers and safety to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. These diplomats, representing countries including Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and others, issued visas and provided safe passage to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution despite strict orders from their home governments. The medal will be presented collectively to the next of kin of each diplomat, along with representatives from their home countries, and then permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The act recognizes these individuals' bravery without implying they represent all who performed similar humanitarian acts during the Holocaust. The medal serves as a permanent tribute to their sacrifice and will be available for public display and research.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 74 is a Senate resolution condemning Iran's state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority, which directly affects Baha'is in Iran facing systemic discrimination. The resolution calls on Iran to immediately release imprisoned Baha'is, end hate propaganda against them, and reverse policies denying equal access to education, jobs, and religious practice. It also urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to demand Iran's compliance with international human rights treaties and use existing sanctions authority against Iranian officials responsible for abuses. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional condemnation of Iran's violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends organic certification standards to require soil and growing medium testing for prohibited substances (like synthetic chemicals) before planting. Organic producers must verify the absence of these substances through Secretary-certified methods prior to cultivation. The Secretary must issue proposed guidelines for these verification methods within 60 days of enactment. These changes apply directly to organic farmers and certifiers under the Organic Foods Production Act.
Maddy summarySRES 925 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma, who died on November 23, 2024, at age 94. The resolution expresses the Senate’s sorrow at his passing, requests that his family be notified, and directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal expression of respect for a former senator’s legacy.
Maddy summaryThe Border Patrol Enhancement Act sets the authorized staffing level for U.S. Border Patrol agents at 20,500. It requires the agency to develop and validate a staffing model through an independent research entity within 180 days, allowing adjustments to staffing levels based on the validated model. The bill mandates a minimum 14% pay increase for agents at the GS-12 grade by January 1, 2023, and establishes annual training on topics including de-escalation tactics, handling vulnerable migrants, migration trends, and environmental impact of border operations. These provisions directly affect Border Patrol agents and the Department of Homeland Security’s operational and personnel policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that states may provide Medicaid primary care services through fixed-fee arrangements with providers (where patients pay a set monthly fee for all primary care, not per visit), including within Medicaid managed care plans. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to issue guidance to states within one year and submit a report to Congress within two years analyzing how states use these arrangements and their impact on care quality and costs. The bill directly affects states administering Medicaid, Medicaid managed care organizations, and primary care providers offering direct primary care models. It does not change existing Medicaid requirements but explicitly permits this payment structure under current law.
Maddy summaryThe Drought Resilient Infrastructure Act of 2024 requires the Army Corps of Engineers to update reservoir operations using weather forecasts to improve water supply during droughts, particularly in California, Nevada, and Arizona. It establishes a pilot program allowing the Corps to prioritize water supply during drought emergencies at specific projects while maintaining flood management and existing agreements. The bill also permits non-Federal entities to contribute funds for water conservation and drought resilience measures, including removing invasive species and restoring wetlands. These changes apply to reservoirs managed under the Corps’ authority, focusing on practical adjustments to existing infrastructure without altering project purposes or state water rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to strengthen partnerships between the U.S. intelligence community and private sector companies. It directs intelligence agencies to explore using private capital for technological advancements and expands public-private talent exchanges, focusing on fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and biotechnology. Key changes include extending temporary employee details from 3 to 5 years, adding new technology focus areas, and requiring annual reports to Congress on implementation. The bill affects intelligence agencies (e.g., CIA, NSA) and private companies in specified tech sectors, with no direct impact on the general public.
Maddy summaryThe Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act revises cost-sharing for salinity control projects in the Colorado River Basin. It requires the federal government to cover 70% to 85% of construction, operation, and maintenance costs for different project types (e.g., 85% for on-farm measures), reducing financial burdens on states and local water management entities. For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the bill temporarily increases federal coverage for certain projects. This directly affects agricultural users and water agencies in the basin by altering their cost responsibilities under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands career services under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program to include specific spouses. It directly affects spouses of disabled veterans (as defined in section 4101(5) of Title 38) and spouses of service members who died while serving in the Armed Forces (Gold Star spouses). The key change adds "eligible persons" to the program's eligibility criteria throughout the relevant section, allowing these spouses to access career counseling, job placement, and other support services previously available only to veterans themselves. This is a concrete policy change that broadens access to existing career assistance programs for these two groups of military spouses.