Maddy summaryS 3914 establishes two new offices within the Supreme Court: an Office of Ethics Counsel to advise justices and their spouses on ethics matters (like financial disclosures, gifts, and conflicts of interest), and an Office of Investigative Counsel to review formal ethics complaints filed by top congressional leaders. The Ethics Counsel provides mandatory biannual training to justices and submits annual reports to Congress on ethics advice given. The Investigative Counsel handles complaints, conducts investigations within 60 days of filing, and submits findings to the Chief Justice (or senior associate justice if the Chief is the subject), with reports also shared with relevant congressional committees. This bill directly affects Supreme Court justices, their spouses, and dependents by creating formal processes for ethics guidance and oversight.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3905, the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refund all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to importers within 180 days of the bill's enactment, including interest. It mandates CBP to reliquidate previously processed imports to calculate refunds and prioritizes small businesses for faster processing, with coordinated outreach to them via the Small Business Administration. The bill also requires CBP to submit regular reports to Congress detailing refund progress and timelines. This directly affects importers who paid IEEPA duties, with specific provisions to streamline refunds for small business importers.
Maddy summaryThe SAVES Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans with specific disabilities, such as blindness, mobility issues, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury. Nonprofits must apply competitively, meet training and animal welfare standards (including ADA compliance), and provide service dogs at no cost to veterans, with the VA covering all program expenses. The VA will also provide ongoing veterinary insurance for the dogs, which continues even after the pilot ends. This program is funded with $10 million annually for five years, targeting veterans as defined by VA medical criteria.
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act This act requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250 th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026. The time capsule shall contain a joint letter from congressional leadership (the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate) and such other contents as they shall determine. The act directs the Architect of the Capitol to also install a plaque about the time capsule, subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration of the House and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. The time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276. On that date, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader shall present the time capsule to the 244th Congress.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 25) commemorates the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured 13, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. It honors the victims (such as Judge John Roll, Gabriel Zimmerman, and 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green), survivors like Giffords and Ron Barber (who later became a U.S. Representative), and the community's response. The resolution expresses support for survivors, recognizes Giffords’ advocacy against gun violence, and reaffirms commitment to respectful dialogue and opposing political violence. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or policy changes.
Maddy summaryThe Healthy Families Act would require most private employers and certain government entities to provide employees with earned paid sick time, allowing workers to take up to 56 hours per year for their own health needs, caring for family members, or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with the ability to use it for medical appointments, caring for family members with health needs, or seeking safety from violence. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this time and requires employers to post clear notices about the policy. It applies to most private employers, with specific provisions for government entities like the Library of Congress and Government Accountability Office.
Maddy summaryS 3868, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, requires the Attorney General and specific federal agencies to compile detailed reports on federal criminal offenses. The bill mandates that agencies submit lists of all criminal statutory offenses (under federal law) and criminal regulatory offenses (enforceable via regulations), including their penalties, annual prosecution numbers over 15 years, and mental state requirements. These reports will be made publicly accessible via online indexes on government websites within two years. The bill directly affects agencies like the DOJ, EPA, FTC, and others listed, aiming to increase transparency about the scope of federal criminal law without changing existing penalties or enforcement.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study firearm advertising and marketing for unfair or deceptive practices, such as ads targeting people under 18, implying illegal use, or promoting semiautomatic assault weapons. Within two years, the FTC must report findings to Congress and then create regulations to ban these practices within 18 months of the report. These regulations would apply to firearm manufacturers, dealers, and importers, prohibiting specific deceptive marketing tactics. Violations would be enforced under existing FTC authority, with penalties matching current unfair business practice violations.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3866) updates the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) aircraft type certification process to accelerate approval for new aviation technologies like air taxis and advanced air mobility vehicles. It directly affects aircraft manufacturers, FAA staff, and infrastructure providers (such as vertiport operators) by requiring the FAA to publish clear timelines for certification milestones and establish standardized criteria for when the FAA issues formal "issue papers" about safety concerns. Key mechanisms include mandating a public transparency plan within 180 days, setting standard expected timelines for key certification steps (like responses to industry requests), and revising delegation rules to improve efficiency while maintaining safety. The bill aims to reduce delays for innovative aircraft without compromising safety standards, focusing on predictable processes for emerging technologies.
Maddy summary# Summary of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Legislation This comprehensive bill expands protections against workplace discrimination and harassment while strengthening enforcement mechanisms for workers. Key provisions include: 1. **Expanded Protections (Section 301)**: - Extends anti-discrimination protections to independent contractors, interns, fellows, volunteers, and trainees under major civil rights laws - Creates "covered establishment" definition for entities engaging these workers 2. **Nondisclosure/Nondisparagement Clause Ban (Section 302)**: - Prohibits employers from requiring workers to sign nondisclosure or nondisparagement clauses covering harassment or discrimination - Establishes strict requirements for settlement agreements (including 21-day consideration period, 7-day revocation period, and clear written disclosure) - Protects workers' right to report harassment to the EEOC without penalty 3. **Arbitration Restrictions (Section 303)**: - Bans mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements that prevent class or collective actions - Establishes new requirements for post-dispute arbitration agreements - Allows workers to sue employers who violate these provisions 4. **Federal Contractor Compliance (Section 304)**: - Requires federal contractors to disclose past violations of labor and civil rights laws - Establishes Labor Compliance Advisors at executive agencies - Creates a system for monitoring contractor compliance with labor laws 5. **Grant Programs (Sections 401-436)**: - Creates national grants to prevent and address employment discrimination - Establishes grants for legal assistance for low-income workers facing discrimination - Creates a system of state advocacy for workers' rights through state-level systems The bill aims to strengthen worker protections against discrimination and harassment while expanding access to legal remedies and creating new mechanisms for enforcement and prevention. It also includes provisions to ensure federal contractors comply with labor and civil rights laws and establishes new reporting requirements for contractors with past violations.