Maddy summaryThe HUD Inspection Reform and Capital Improvement Act of 2023 establishes new standards for inspecting federally assisted housing properties, requiring annual physical inspections using a 100-point Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) scoring system. Properties scoring below 60 points face increased scrutiny, including mandatory corrective plans within 30 days, potential civil penalties, and possible termination of housing assistance if deficiencies aren't fixed. The bill mandates quarterly public reports on property conditions and annual HUD reports on inspection results across the country. It directly affects HUD, housing property owners receiving federal assistance, and approximately 3 million low-income tenants living in federally assisted housing.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce European reliance on Russian energy by promoting U.S. natural gas exports to NATO allies and partners. It requires the State Department to develop a transatlantic energy strategy within 180 days and expedites LNG export approvals for qualifying countries, including NATO members and Japan. The bill also mandates sanctions on companies investing over $1 million in Russian energy pipelines, targeting projects like Nord Stream 2. These provisions directly affect NATO members, U.S. energy exporters, and entities involved in Russian pipeline development.
Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023 This bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for Haiti. It also extends through FY2035 the duty-free treatment provided for certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti.
Maddy summaryS 541 establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Ukrainian Military, Economic, and Humanitarian Aid to independently oversee U.S. funding provided to Ukraine for military, economic, and humanitarian assistance. This office will conduct audits and investigations of all aid programs, monitor fund usage, and submit quarterly reports to Congress and the Secretaries of State and Defense detailing obligations, expenditures, and project costs. The Special Inspector General will have authority to conduct investigations without interference from other agencies, must publish reports in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, and is authorized $20 million for fiscal year 2024. The office will terminate when unexpended aid funds for Ukraine fall below $250 million.
Maddy summaryThe National Right-to-Work Act would amend federal labor law to prohibit requiring employees to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. It removes existing provisions in the National Labor Relations Act that allowed for "union security agreements" (such as agency shops) and similarly amends the Railway Labor Act for railroad workers. This change would mean private sector and railroad workers nationwide would not face mandatory union fees to retain their jobs, applying to all new or renewed employment agreements after enactment. The bill directly affects all covered employees in the private workforce and railroad industry by eliminating forced financial contributions to labor unions.
Maddy summarySRES 79 designates February 26-March 4, 2023, as "National Fentanyl Awareness Week" to highlight the dangers of fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid linked to rising overdose deaths. The resolution encourages the public to use only prescribed medications and seek treatment for substance use disorder, while recognizing law enforcement and recovery organizations working to address the fentanyl crisis. It cites data showing fentanyl-related overdoses as the leading cause of death for U.S. adults aged 18-49 and notes seizures of over 379 million fentanyl doses in 2022. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it does not create new laws but aims to raise public awareness about fentanyl's role in the overdose epidemic.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 538, the FORCE Act) blocks the U.S. from removing Cuba from the "state sponsors of terrorism" list until specific conditions are met under existing law (Section 3). It requires a report identifying terrorists or fugitives in Cuba (Section 4) and restricts U.S. financial transactions with entities linked to Cuba’s military, intelligence, or security services (Sections 5-6), while exempting certain activities like agricultural exports, medical supplies, and democracy-building programs. The bill also mandates reports on Cuban corruption and U.S. engagements with Cuba (Sections 7-8), with financial restrictions set to end after 90 days if Cuba meets U.S. democratic benchmarks. The law directly affects U.S. sanctions enforcement, Cuban government entities (like the military), and U.S. financial institutions handling Cuban transactions.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 536) authorizes the U.S. President to seize Russian government funds held under U.S. jurisdiction. Confiscated funds would be deposited into the U.S. Treasury to directly offset costs paid by the U.S. for emergency aid to Ukraine in fiscal year 2023. The bill grants the President authority to confiscate these assets through licenses or other means, with all rights to the funds vesting in the U.S. government. It directly affects Russian assets within U.S. jurisdiction and impacts how U.S. aid costs for Ukraine are funded.
Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act (S 537) requires federal agencies and recipients of federal construction funds to prohibit bid specifications or project agreements from mandating or banning contractor agreements with labor organizations (like unions), or discriminating against contractors based on such affiliations. It applies to all federal construction contracts and subcontracts awarded after the law's enactment, aiming to ensure open competition, reduce costs, and expand opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. Federal agencies must update their regulations within 60 days to implement these rules, with limited exemptions only for urgent public health, safety, or national security threats - not labor disputes. This law directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and federal construction projects funded by the government.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 4) sets strict 30-day deadlines for the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to review and act on North Carolina’s proposal to place a statue of Reverend Billy Graham in the National Statuary Hall. The Committee must approve or deny the clay model design within 30 days of receiving required submissions (photos, dimensions, engineering details), then approve or deny the completed statue within another 30 days of receiving final materials. If approved, the Committee must also designate a permanent Capitol location within 30 days. The bill directly affects North Carolina (as the submitting state), the Architect of the Capitol (as the recipient of submissions), and the Joint Committee (as the decision-maker), streamlining a standard procedural step for statue placements.