Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council under Title 5 of the U.S. Code to advise the President on labor-management relations across the federal government. The Council, composed of agency leaders, labor representatives, and management officials, must support local partnerships, share best practices, and gather input from agencies and external experts. It requires all federal agencies (and three specific legislative branch entities: the Capitol Police, GAO, and Architect of the Capitol) to create labor-management committees that involve employees early in workplace decisions, provide dispute-resolution training, and evaluate performance improvements. Key provisions mandate pre-decisional employee input on workplace matters - regardless of bargaining status - and require agencies to resolve changes through these committees. The law aims to formalize collaborative structures to improve federal workforce operations and public service delivery.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) by removing three outdated subsections (formerly (b), (c), and (d)) and reorganizing the remaining rules. It directly affects VHA employees and their unions, streamlining how they negotiate with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The key change simplifies the existing framework without adding new requirements or restrictions. This is a procedural adjustment to the current labor relations process for VA healthcare workers.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a civil right for individuals aged 18+ (or their legal guardians for minors, incapacitated, or incompetent individuals) to sue senders who knowingly share non-consensual explicit images or videos via interstate commerce. It defines "consent" using existing law, includes machine-manipulated media (like deepfakes) under "visual depiction," and allows for fixed monetary damages up to $500, attorney fees, or injunctions. Key exclusions prevent liability for third-party platforms (like social media) and cover medical/educational sharing. The law does not affect existing criminal penalties for such acts.
Maddy summaryThe American Innovation Act (S 3997) authorizes significant funding increases for federal science and technology programs through fiscal year 2035. It directly affects five key agencies: the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Department of Defense science programs, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The bill sets specific annual funding levels for each agency (e.g., $9.74 billion for NSF in 2025), with automatic annual increases tied to inflation for years 2035 onward. It also exempts these appropriations from sequestration under the Balanced Budget Act, ensuring stable funding without requiring offsetting budget cuts.
Maddy summaryThe PAST Act of 2024 amends the Horse Protection Act to strengthen protections against "soring" - the deliberate infliction of pain on horses to exaggerate their gait, primarily affecting Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses at shows, exhibitions, or sales. Key provisions include defining prohibited "action devices" (like certain boots or weighted shoes), implementing stricter disqualification periods for sore horses (180 days, then 1 year, then 3 years), requiring licensed, conflict-free inspectors, and increasing penalties for violations (fines up to $5,000 per offense and up to 3 years in prison). The bill directly affects event organizers, inspectors, competitors, and horse owners by mandating new inspection protocols and enforcement. It focuses on concrete policy changes to prevent animal cruelty in the horse show industry.
Maddy summarySRES 597 is a Senate resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women. It formally celebrates their historical and ongoing achievements in fields like military service, business ownership, healthcare, science, arts, and civil rights, without creating new laws or policies. The resolution highlights specific examples, such as their roles in the military (including veterans and pioneers like Minnie Spotted Wolf), economic contributions (e.g., over 160,000 businesses owned by Native women), and cultural preservation efforts. As a symbolic gesture, it does not provide funding or mandate action but aims to honor these women's impact on U.S. society.
Maddy summaryThe Telehealth Modernization Act makes permanent Medicare's temporary telehealth coverage rules that were set to expire in 2024, ensuring continued access for beneficiaries. It expands eligibility for healthcare providers who can offer telehealth services under Medicare, allowing the Secretary to add more professions (like nurse practitioners or therapists) after stakeholder consultation. The bill also changes payment rules for community health centers and rural clinics, treating telehealth services provided after 2025 as if delivered in person for billing purposes. Additionally, it permanently allows audio-only telehealth visits for Medicare coverage, removing previous restrictions.
Maddy summaryThe Hawaii Wildfire Disaster Unemployment Assistance Continuity Act extends disaster unemployment assistance for Hawaii residents who lost jobs due to the August 8, 2023 wildfires. It requires the President to provide this assistance for 39 weeks after the disaster declaration, overriding any existing law that would shorten the benefit period. This directly affects workers in Hawaii who qualify under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act for wildfire-related job losses. The bill provides a fixed 39-week benefit period without requiring additional eligibility reviews beyond the initial disaster declaration.
Maddy summaryThe TAME Extreme Weather Act requires Federal agencies, including NOAA, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy, to use artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasting, enhance grid resilience, and monitor environmental impacts. Key provisions mandate agencies to create public Earth system reanalysis datasets for AI training, develop AI models for wildfire detection and emissions monitoring, and optimize energy grids using AI. Agencies must make AI models, training datasets, and code publicly available under open licenses while continuing traditional weather observation and research. The bill also requires best practices to minimize environmental impacts of AI use and includes national security reviews for sensitive data. This legislation aims to modernize weather forecasting and climate adaptation through AI while ensuring public access to government-developed tools.
Maddy summaryThe John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2024 updates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to strengthen protections against voting discrimination. It clarifies how to prove vote dilution, denial, or abridgement claims and expands the types of voting changes requiring federal preclearance, including changes to election methods, boundaries, voter ID requirements, and polling locations. The bill requires states to provide public notice of voting changes at least 48 hours in advance and mandates transparency about demographic data related to polling places. This legislation directly affects states and political subdivisions with a history of voting rights violations, aiming to protect minority voters from discriminatory voting practices.