Sen. Jim Banks

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the one-year anniversary of the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. It condemns the attack and other threats against political officials, honors victims Corey D. Comperatore (who died shielding his family), David Dutch, and James Copenhaver (who were injured), and expresses gratitude to first responders. The resolution also condemns incitement of violence against elected officials and calls for unity against political violence. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but formally states the Senate’s position.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Bank Holding Company Act to require a minimum 15-year holding period for merchant banking investments. Banks would need to hold these investments - where they make equity stakes in non-financial companies - for at least 15 years before selling, applying to both new investments and existing ones held on the bill's enactment date. The change directly affects banks engaged in merchant banking activities by altering the regulatory timeframe for holding such investments. It modifies specific provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act without creating new programs or altering eligibility.

Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 This bill expands the Scott Hannon Initiative for Precision Mental Health, a program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill expands the scope of the initiative by requiring the identification and validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans for repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and other such brain conditions. Currently, the initiative addresses several other conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA must work with the Department of Defense to establish a data-sharing partnership under the initiative. The bill requires the VA to conduct various research studies about repetitive low-level blast exposure under the initiative. The VA must seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to work in tandem with the initiative on validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans and report on the findings at least once every two years. The VA must assess all in progress and planned translational research studies under the initiative and report to Congress on the assessment. Additionally, the VA must report to Congress on the initiative at least once every two years and include recommendations for immediate administrative and legislative action to improve the initiative. The bill authorizes the initiative through FY2034.

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

Maddy summaryThe Modular Housing Production Act requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to review Federal Housing Administration (FHA) construction financing programs and identify barriers preventing modular home developers from using these programs, such as restrictive payment schedules for construction. Within one year, the Secretary must publish a report with recommendations to remove these barriers, followed by a rulemaking process to establish an alternative payment schedule for modular home financing, including public input. The bill also authorizes a grant to study a standardized code for modular homes to improve design coordination and financing alignment. This legislation aims to streamline access to FHA financing for modular home developers without changing existing housing standards.

Maddy summaryThe RESIDE Act creates a federal grant program to convert vacant commercial or industrial buildings (like empty malls or factories) into affordable housing. It allocates up to $100 million annually from excess HOME Program funds (2027-2031) to award competitive grants to local governments and community groups. These grants fund property acquisition, renovation, and health hazard remediation to create "attainable housing" for households earning up to 100% of local median income. Priority is given to projects in economically distressed areas, qualified opportunity zones, or communities with local housing plans addressing affordability needs. The program requires converted housing to comply with HOME Program standards for affordability and accessibility, targeting residents like seniors, veterans, and low-income households.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) construction, leasing, and procurement operations to reduce duplication. It requires consolidating all real estate planning, facility construction, leasing, and related acquisition functions under the Director of Construction and Facilities Management, and merging procurement/logistics activities under the Chief Acquisition Officer. The bill also mandates expanding entry-level acquisition internships to at least double 2025 participation levels and establishes regional leadership roles for these functions. These changes directly affect VA staff in the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration, streamlining their oversight structure. The bill does not alter VA benefits or services but aims to improve operational efficiency within the VA's internal management systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to include rioting as a form of "racketeering activity" under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. It does so by adding a reference to section 2101 (which defines rioting as a federal crime) into the existing list of racketeering activities. This change would allow federal prosecutors to pursue RICO charges against individuals or groups who engage in rioting as part of a larger pattern of organized criminal conduct. The bill directly affects those whose rioting activities are linked to organized criminal enterprises, potentially subjecting them to enhanced penalties under RICO.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for small tax-exempt nonprofits (like charities, schools, and religious organizations) to help them start or maintain retirement plans for their employees. It provides two specific credits: one for covering initial setup costs of a pension plan and another for automatically enrolling employees in retirement savings. The credits reduce the employer’s payroll tax liability, capped at the amount of payroll tax paid during the year. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies federal transit funding rules to encourage housing development near transit hubs. It defines "pro-housing policies" (like removing parking minimums or streamlining approvals for multi-family housing) and allows projects demonstrating such policies to earn an extra point in funding evaluations. Transit projects applying for capital grants can receive higher funding priority if they show evidence of these policies in areas near transit. The policy directly affects cities, transit agencies, and developers seeking federal transit funding, without mandating new state or local laws. The bill focuses on incentivizing existing housing-friendly practices through grant scoring, not direct housing construction.