Maddy summaryThe Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act establishes two new programs to address water pollution in the Tijuana River and New River watersheds, which flow across the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to create action plans, develop priority project lists, and coordinate funding with Mexican entities to improve water quality through natural infrastructure, stormwater management, and water reuse projects. It authorizes $50 million annually from 2026-2036 for these programs to address chronic pollution issues affecting communities like Imperial Beach and San Diego, which have experienced beach closures due to sewage and contaminants flowing from Mexico. The legislation emphasizes collaboration between U.S. and Mexican governments, including the International Boundary and Water Commission, to manage transboundary water quality concerns.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes fees on carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions and criteria air pollutants from international maritime shipping. It requires operators of large cargo vessels (5,000+ gross tons) to report emissions data and pay fees based on fuel consumption and emissions. The fees collected will fund programs to modernize U.S. shipping fleets with zero-emission technology, develop low-carbon fuels, train workers for clean shipping technologies, and improve air quality monitoring in port communities. The bill affects international shipping operators and U.S. port communities, with reporting requirements starting in 2027 and funding programs beginning in 2029.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial shipping. It requires vessels of 400 gross tonnage or more operating on covered voyages (between U.S. ports or between U.S. and foreign ports) to use fuels with progressively lower carbon intensity, starting with a 30% reduction below 2027 baseline levels by 2034, increasing to 100% reduction by 2050. Owners must report fuel carbon intensity and emissions annually, and the EPA will set enforceable standards by specific deadlines (e.g., first standard finalized by January 2029). Vessels on short voyages (30 days or fewer annually) are exempt, and standards may be adjusted if technological or economic feasibility is challenged.
Maddy summarySRES 312 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating June 2025 as "LGBTQ Pride Month" to honor the LGBTQ community's historical struggles and contributions to U.S. society. The resolution expresses symbolic support for LGBTQ rights and highlights ongoing challenges like discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare, without creating new laws or policies. It serves as a formal acknowledgment by the Senate to promote awareness of LGBTQ history and advocacy, but has no legal effect on government actions or individual rights. The resolution was introduced by multiple senators and includes a preamble detailing key milestones in LGBTQ equality efforts.
Maddy summaryThe GLOBE Act of 2025 is a comprehensive bill aimed at advancing LGBTQI rights globally through several key mechanisms. It requires U.S. diplomatic posts to document and respond to violence against LGBTQI people abroad, establishes sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, and creates a Special Envoy for LGBTQI rights. The bill also reforms immigration policies to better protect LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers, and expands U.S. foreign assistance to support LGBTQI rights organizations globally. These provisions directly affect LGBTQI individuals worldwide, U.S. diplomatic personnel, and organizations receiving U.S. foreign assistance.
Maddy summaryS 2229, the United States Foreign Service Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the minting of three commemorative coins to honor the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service (established by the 1924 Rogers Act). It specifies $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000) to be issued in 2029, featuring designs symbolizing U.S. diplomacy. A surcharge from each coin sale ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) will fund the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training to preserve diplomatic history through oral histories and other programs. The coins are legal tender and will be sold at face value plus surcharge and production costs, with all funds going directly to support the Association's work.
Maddy summaryS 2212, the VISIBLE Act, requires immigration enforcement officers to visibly display their agency name and either their last name or unique badge number during all public-facing immigration enforcement activities in the United States. This applies to officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other authorized personnel during actions like stops, arrests, raids, or warrant service. The bill mandates that this identification be clearly legible from 25 feet away on outermost clothing, prohibits non-medical face coverings that obscure it (except in covert operations or hazardous conditions), and requires annual reports to Congress on compliance and disciplinary actions. It aims to increase transparency during immigration enforcement interactions where the public may be present.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $30 billion to fund wildfire prevention projects on federal lands, prioritizing areas near at-risk communities, high-value watersheds, and regions with high wildfire risk. It requires federal land managers (like the Forest Service and National Park Service) to focus on reducing flammable vegetation through methods like prescribed burns and thinning. The bill also establishes a County Stewardship Fund, directing 25% of receipts from federal forest contracts to local counties for any governmental use. Additionally, it adds $3 billion for community wildfire defense grants through 2031 to support local fire resilience efforts.
Maddy summaryThe Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes federal grants to fund community-based violence intervention programs that aim to reduce gun violence through evidence-based strategies. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate efforts and provide technical assistance, while directing funding to communities disproportionately affected by violence, particularly those with high homicide rates. The bill includes provisions for hospital-based violence intervention programs, trauma-informed services, and job training programs for opportunity youth (ages 16-25 not in education or employment) to address root causes of violence. Funding for these programs totals $300 million in 2026, increasing to $700 million annually through 2033 for the Department of Health and Human Services, plus $1.5 billion for job training programs through the Department of Labor.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits defendants in federal criminal cases from using a victim's LGBTQ+ sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression as a legal excuse for violent crimes like assault or murder. It directly affects defendants who attempt to justify violence by claiming the victim's identity provoked them, and it protects LGBTQ+ victims by preventing their identities from being used to reduce sentences. The law bans such defenses entirely, except when evidence of the defendant's past trauma is admitted under standard federal evidence rules. It also requires the Attorney General to annually report on federal prosecutions involving violence against LGBTQ+ individuals motivated by bias. This is a concrete policy change to end the use of discriminatory defenses in federal court.