Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1912) expands the Veterans Community Care Program to ensure veterans can access mental health and substance-use services in the community when they cannot get timely care through VA residential treatment programs. It requires community providers to meet state licensing and accreditation standards, prohibits the VA from denying care solely because community providers cannot meet wait-time standards, and mandates the VA to track and report on mental health care requests (including approvals, denials, and veteran preferences). The bill also ensures veterans can choose their preferred care option and prevents VA referrals from overriding timely community care access. These changes directly affect veterans seeking mental health services who face delays in VA programs, aiming to improve immediate access to critical care.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe RESTORE Act (S 1882) aims to improve reproductive health care by expanding access to restorative reproductive medicine, which focuses on diagnosing and treating underlying causes of infertility rather than solely using assisted reproductive technologies. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct regular literature reviews on standard care for infertility and reproductive health conditions, and to modernize medical coding to better classify and reimburse restorative treatments like laparoscopic excision for endometriosis. It also expands Title X funding eligibility for restorative medicine providers, advances education on fertility awareness-based methods, and directs the National Survey of Family Growth to collect data on reproductive health conditions. These changes primarily affect women and men with conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and uterine fibroids, as well as healthcare providers and health insurance plans. The legislation seeks to address gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and coverage for reproductive health conditions that impact 15-16% of couples experiencing infertility.
Maddy summarySRES 237 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr., Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, and Pfc. Dante Taitano, who died during a vehicle recovery mission in Lithuania while supporting a NATO training exercise. The resolution expresses the Senate’s gratitude for their service, acknowledges the multinational recovery effort involving U.S., Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian personnel, and reaffirms commitment to NATO deterrence in the Baltic region. It has no policy impact - it solely commemorates the soldiers’ sacrifice and their role in a U.S.-led NATO mission.
Maddy summarySRES 236 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning Russia’s abduction and forced transfer of Ukrainian children, citing over 19,500 confirmed cases as of April 2025. It urges that all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia be returned before any peace agreement is finalized, emphasizing this as a prerequisite for a just resolution to the war. The resolution references Russia’s changed adoption laws, violations of international treaties, and documented human rights abuses against children in occupied territories. It does not create new law but formally expresses the Senate’s position on this issue.
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a new tax on entities receiving funding for civil lawsuits through litigation financing agreements. It requires a 3.8% surcharge (added to regular income tax rates) on profits from such funding, applied at the entity level for businesses like partnerships. The tax applies to third parties (e.g., corporations, individuals) who receive funds for lawsuits but excludes small agreements under $10,000 and standard loans with interest capped at 7% or 2x Treasury rates. The tax takes effect for 2026 taxable years, with 50% of the tax withheld directly from settlement payments.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends key anti-discrimination laws (Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII, ADA, and Rehabilitation Act) to change how discrimination claims are proven. It requires workers to show only that age (or race, disability, etc.) was a *motivating factor* for employment decisions - not the *sole* cause - to establish discrimination. Under the new standard, complainants can use any admissible evidence, and courts cannot award damages or reinstatement if an employer proves they would have made the same decision without the discriminatory factor. The law applies to all pending and future claims involving age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability discrimination in employment.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program allowing state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to hire retired officers for specific non-enforcement tasks like crime scene analysis, forensics, cyber investigations, and reviewing evidence. Agencies can use funds to train civilian staff and have retired officers perform these defined tasks, such as analyzing camera footage or providing IT expertise. The program includes accountability measures requiring annual audits by the Justice Department Inspector General, mandatory exclusion of agencies with unresolved audit findings for two years, and priority for applicants with clean audit histories. It directly affects law enforcement agencies seeking to leverage retired officers' skills while preventing misuse of grant funds.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 with updated requirements. It mandates a National Strategy for child exploitation prevention to be reviewed every four years (instead of every two), requiring detailed analyses of trends, resource needs, and ICAC task force performance. The bill modifies ICAC task force operations to include prioritizing victim identification, expands coordination with tribal/military agencies, and adds limited liability protections for task forces regarding investigative decisions. It increases annual funding for the program from $70 million (2026) to $90 million (2028), directly affecting federal agencies (DOJ, FBI, ICE), state/local law enforcement, and ICAC task forces nationwide.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes funding for existing mental health support programs designed to assist law enforcement officers experiencing crisis. It extends the authorization period for these programs from 2020-2024 to 2025-2029 under Section 1001(a)(21) of the 1968 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers who access these crisis support services, ensuring continued availability of the established program. It does not create new programs but maintains current funding for existing mental health treatment and support resources for officers.
Maddy summaryS 180, the Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025, requires the federal government to provide training and resources for first responders on using containment devices to prevent accidental exposure to fentanyl and other dangerous substances. It mandates the purchase of these containment devices for first responder use. The bill amends existing law (34 U.S.C. 10701(a)) by adding a new provision (paragraph (4)) that specifically addresses this safety measure. This directly affects police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who may encounter fentanyl during their duties. The key mechanism is the federal funding and requirement for both training and procurement of protective equipment.