Sen. Rick Scott

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3181) renames a U.S. Customs and Border Protection marine unit in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, as the "Michel O. Maceda Marine Unit" in honor of Marine Interdiction Agent Michel O. Maceda. It directly affects government documents and records referencing this specific unit by requiring all future references to use the new name. The bill updates official records, maps, and regulations to reflect the designation, with no new policies or funding changes. It commemorates Agent Maceda, who died in 2022 while conducting a drug interdiction operation off Puerto Rico's coast. (This is a procedural commemorative bill, so the summary is concise.)

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - 223 women who served as Army Signal Corps telephone operators in WWI. They connected 26 million calls in France, worked 12-hour shifts under combat conditions, and were denied veteran benefits for 60 years despite wearing uniforms and facing combat hazards. The medal recognizes their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and the decades-long struggle for recognition as soldiers. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and place it in the Smithsonian for public display at institutions like the National WWI Museum.

Maddy summarySRES 851 is a Senate resolution designating November 2, 2024, as National Bison Day. It encourages the American public to observe the day with ceremonies and activities to recognize bison's cultural, historical, and economic significance. The resolution highlights bison's role in Indigenous traditions, conservation efforts, and U.S. heritage, as detailed in its preamble. It does not create legal obligations but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of bison's importance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to include per-citizen cost estimates in its budget analyses. Specifically, it mandates that CBO estimates for any bill or resolution must show the pro rata cost to each U.S. citizen for changes in total federal spending and debt if the measure passes. The key mechanism adds a new requirement to CBO's reporting process, breaking down the financial impact of legislation on individual taxpayers. This change affects how budget scores are presented to Congress and the public, making cost impacts more transparent at the individual level.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal anti-discrimination law to explicitly include antisemitism as a protected category under Title VI, requiring colleges and universities receiving federal funds to address antisemitic harassment. It defines antisemitism broadly to cover both verbal and physical acts targeting Jewish individuals or institutions, and clarifies that "deliberate indifference" to severe, pervasive harassment constitutes discrimination. Colleges found repeatedly violating these standards face escalating fines - 10% for a second violation within five years, and 33% for a third - applied to their federal funding. The law does not create new rights but strengthens enforcement of existing protections against antisemitism in campus environments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. government agencies from purchasing biotechnology equipment or services from specific foreign companies tied to national security threats. It bans contracts with entities like BGI, MGI, and Wuxi Apptec (and their affiliates) that pose risks through ties to foreign adversaries, particularly regarding genetic data collection. Exceptions cover intelligence activities, overseas health care for military personnel, and publicly available genetic data. The ban takes effect 60-180 days after implementing guidance is issued, with limited waivers allowed for national security or overseas health care needs.

Maddy summaryS 5110, the "Stopping Adversarial Tariff Evasion Act," clarifies how U.S. tariffs apply to goods made by entities tied to specific adversarial countries. It directly affects importers and manufacturers dealing with goods produced by entities owned, controlled, or operated by entities from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela under Maduro, or Syria. The bill requires that any article made by such entities - defined as having 25%+ ownership by these countries through direct or indirect means (including joint ventures or financial arrangements) - be treated as originating from the adversarial country for tariff purposes. This applies to enforcement actions under trade agreements, injury determinations, and national security safeguards, closing loopholes that might allow tariff evasion through third-party manufacturing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. government to actively pursue the extradition of specific fugitives from the United States who are believed to be living in Cuba, including Joanne Chesimard (convicted of murdering a trooper) and William Morales (linked to bombings). It mandates an annual report from the Secretary of State to Congress detailing efforts to secure their return and determining if Cuba is fulfilling its extradition treaty obligations. The bill also prohibits using certain U.S. law enforcement funds for programs in Cuba until Cuba complies with these extradition requirements. The bill directly affects U.S. diplomatic and law enforcement efforts regarding Cuba and the return of fugitives facing U.S. criminal charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 5124 (Protect our Presidents Act), requires the U.S. Secret Service to provide presidential and vice-presidential candidates with security protection equivalent to that given to the sitting president. It specifically covers major party candidates who have accepted nominations at national conventions, their spouses, and the president-elect or vice president-elect. The Secret Service must report to congressional committees every 15 days during election years - detailing threat levels, security costs, personnel assigned, and any unmet security needs for each candidate. Candidates may decline the enhanced protection if they choose. The bill focuses on standardizing security protocols for candidates during elections, not on altering existing protections for current officeholders.

Maddy summaryThe STOP MADURO Act (S 5126) authorizes a $100 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro Moros, directly affecting individuals who provide actionable intelligence. It specifies that this reward must be funded exclusively from assets already frozen under existing U.S. sanctions against Maduro and his regime, including those blocked under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act and Venezuela-related executive orders. The bill does not impose new sanctions but repurposes funds from current asset freezes to incentivize cooperation. This provision targets informants who can aid U.S. law enforcement in pursuing Maduro, who faces prior criminal charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.