Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Maddy summarySJRES 90 is a joint resolution directing the removal of U.S. military forces from Venezuela when their actions lack congressional authorization. It requires the President to withdraw troops unless Congress has declared war or passed a specific authorization for military force against Venezuela. The resolution applies to all current military operations in Venezuela not covered by existing congressional approval. It includes an exception allowing military action for self-defense against imminent attacks.

Maddy summaryThe Farm to School Act of 2025 updates the federal program that connects schools with local farmers to increase access to fresh, locally sourced food. It expands funding for schools and early childhood programs to buy local produce, support farm-to-school gardens, and integrate nutrition education into curricula, while prioritizing projects serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds and incorporating traditional foods. The bill sets grant limits ($500,000 maximum per recipient, 3-year terms) and requires the USDA to fund distribution improvements like transportation and processing. It also mandates regular reviews to identify and remove barriers for small, Tribal, and socially disadvantaged farmers seeking to participate.

Maddy summaryS 107, the Lumbee Fairness Act, extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. This bill directly affects the Lumbee Tribe and its members residing in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland counties, North Carolina. Key provisions include making the Tribe eligible for all federal services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the Tribe, and establishing that members in those counties are deemed to reside near an Indian reservation for service delivery. The bill amends the 1956 Act to remove previous restrictions and formally recognize the Tribe under federal law.

Maddy summarySRES 481 is a non-binding Senate resolution urging the Trump administration to use the USDA’s existing $4.5 billion contingency funds and interchange authority to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November 2025. The resolution states that SNAP is an entitlement program requiring government funding, and the USDA legally has the authority to draw from these reserves to avoid benefit disruptions. This would directly support the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. The resolution does not change the law but calls for immediate action to maintain food assistance during a potential funding gap.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides temporary funding for military pay and certain civilian employee salaries during fiscal year 2026 if Congress hasn’t passed regular appropriations. It covers all active-duty military members, reserve personnel on active duty or training, and civilian employees of the Defense Department, Coast Guard, intelligence community (including the CIA and National Intelligence Director’s office). The funding remains available until either regular appropriations are enacted, the Intelligence Authorization Act passes, or September 30, 2026. It does not change existing pay policies but ensures continuous payment during budget gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures uninterrupted access to SNAP (food stamps) and WIC benefits during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It authorizes the Treasury to provide emergency funds if Congress fails to pass full-year appropriations for the Department of Agriculture by September 30, 2025, covering all missed benefits retroactively from September 30, 2025. State agencies administering these programs would be reimbursed for costs incurred during the funding lapse. The funding automatically terminates once Congress passes 2026 appropriations or by September 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the USDA to reimburse states for costs they incurred while operating the SNAP program during a federal funding gap, provided states followed federal rules. It directly affects state agencies administering SNAP, ensuring they aren't financially burdened when Congress fails to pass annual funding. The key provision mandates reimbursement for all eligible costs during the lapse, covering the period when SNAP benefits would otherwise have stopped. It does not change SNAP eligibility, benefit levels, or program rules - it only addresses financial responsibility during funding interruptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how often the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updates its manufacturing strategy. It requires NIST to update the plan no more frequently than every four years, aligning the update schedule with the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing under the America COMPETES Act. The key mechanism is adjusting the timing requirement from a three-year cycle to a four-year cycle, ensuring both strategies evolve together. This directly affects NIST's process for developing and revising its manufacturing strategy plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for a program under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 from 2024 to 2029. It amends Section 797(a) of that act to reauthorize the existing diesel emissions reduction funding mechanism. The change directly affects the administration of this federal program, which supports projects reducing emissions from diesel engines. No new requirements or policy changes are introduced - only a deadline extension for an existing program.

Maddy summaryS.Res. 466 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning President Trump's pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who had pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws. The resolution highlights financial connections between the Trump family and Zhao's company, including the use of the Trump family's cryptocurrency in a $2 billion Binance transaction, and calls on Congress to take action against what it describes as corrupt pardons. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new law but formally expresses the Senate's disapproval of the pardon and urges legislative steps to prevent similar conflicts. The resolution was introduced on October 23, 2025, the same day Trump granted Zhao's pardon.