Sen. Mark Kelly

Maddy summaryThis bill changes sentencing guidelines for individuals smuggling undocumented immigrants across the border. It increases prison time based on the number of people involved (e.g., 2-4 people adds 2 sentencing levels, 50+ people adds 10 levels) and adds further increases if someone suffers injury or death during the smuggling. The law specifically targets smuggling operations involving multiple people or resulting in harm, with sentencing caps set at 29 levels (or 38 with additional factors). It directly affects people convicted of smuggling undocumented immigrants under these specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides payments to counties and states with federal land, through 2026. It also adjusts related deadlines for special projects on federal land and county fund expenditures, pushing them to 2028 and 2029 respectively. Additionally, the bill adds a pilot program allowing regional foresters to appoint resource advisory committee members, set to end on October 1, 2028. These changes maintain funding stability and administrative flexibility for rural communities dependent on federal land management.

Maddy summaryThe Building Chips in America Act of 2023 (S. 2228) amends federal law to streamline environmental reviews for semiconductor manufacturing projects receiving federal financial assistance. It clarifies that certain projects won't be considered "major Federal actions" under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) if they meet specific criteria: the project must have begun by December 31, 2024; federal assistance must be in loan/guarantee form; or non-loan assistance must be 10% or less of total project costs. The bill establishes categorical exclusions for environmental reviews related to semiconductor projects and designates the Department of Commerce as lead agency for these reviews. This primarily affects semiconductor manufacturers receiving federal funding under the CHIPS Act, reducing regulatory barriers for facility construction and expansion.

Maddy summarySRES 888 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late James Ralph Sasser, a former U.S. Senator from Tennessee (served 1976-1993). It formally expresses the Senate’s "profound sorrow" over his death and requests the Secretary of the Senate transmit the resolution to his family. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or entities - it is solely a commemorative gesture. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to tennis legend Billie Jean King in recognition of her lifelong advocacy for gender equality in sports and society. The legislation specifically acknowledges her pivotal role in advancing women's rights, including her work leading to the passage of Title IX and her efforts to establish equal prize money in tennis. Under the bill, the Secretary of the Treasury would strike a gold medal featuring an image and inscription of Billie Jean King, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The medal would be presented by congressional leaders as a formal recognition of her contributions to American society. This is a commemorative honor, not a policy that creates new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War, recognizing their life-saving medical evacuations. The medal, to be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, will be displayed at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. The bill honors the approximately 900,000 wounded personnel these crews transported over the course of the Vietnam War, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, who relied on their rapid medical evacuation services.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts the premium tax credit program under the Affordable Care Act to make health insurance more affordable for lower-income households. It establishes a new sliding scale for the percentage of income people pay toward premiums based on household income relative to the federal poverty line (ranging from 150% to 400% of the poverty line). For example, households earning 150-200% of the poverty line would pay 0-2% of income, while those earning 300-400% would pay 6-8.5%. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and directly affect individuals purchasing health insurance through marketplace plans who qualify for these tax credits.

Maddy summaryThe Secure School Buses Act of 2024 restricts the use of federal funds from the Clean School Bus program to purchase school buses manufactured by entities tied to specific countries. It prohibits funding for buses from manufacturers owned by, controlled by, or financially linked to corporations based in countries identified as nonmarket economies, designated as priority foreign countries by the U.S. Trade Representative, or under U.S. monitoring. Exceptions include pre-existing contracts signed before the bill's enactment and minor investments, though these do not apply to relationships involving the People's Republic of China. This directly affects school districts and bus manufacturers receiving Clean School Bus program funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5203) requires the U.S. Health Secretary to issue guidance to state Medicaid and CHIP programs within one year of enactment. The guidance focuses on improving syphilis screening access for pregnant women, especially during the third trimester and at delivery, and providing education for medical staff and patients. It also directs states to adopt best practices for telehealth integration, multilingual resources, and treatment strategies to prevent congenital syphilis. The bill directly affects pregnant women, newborns, and state health programs administering Medicaid/CHIP services, aiming to reduce preventable congenital syphilis cases through standardized screening and care protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) through fiscal year 2035, extending funding beyond the previous 2007-2016 period. It updates the list of priority aquifers to include Arizona (excluding a specific Yuma basin area) alongside New Mexico and Texas, and revises the program's sunset clause to reference the new TAAP Act name. The law directly affects water management in border states (New Mexico, Texas, Arizona) and Mexico by requiring ongoing assessment of shared groundwater resources. Key provisions include expanded aquifer designation, extended federal funding authorization, and updated program duration to ensure continued cross-border water resource analysis.