Maddy summaryThe Reforming Disaster Recovery Act establishes a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to provide grants for long-term recovery after major disasters, primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income households in communities most impacted by disasters. It creates a new Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program that requires grantees to allocate at least 70% of funds to help low- and moderate-income people, with funds distributed based on unmet needs for housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure. The bill mandates detailed planning with public input before funds are distributed, requires grantees to prioritize mitigation activities in hazard-prone areas, and includes provisions for preliminary funding to speed up recovery before final assessments are complete. It also requires annual reporting on fund usage to ensure transparency and accountability, while coordinating with FEMA and other agencies to prevent duplication of benefits.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 215 is a Senate resolution designating May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. It supports raising public awareness about the dangers of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills, which are often disguised as legitimate medications and contribute to overdose deaths. The resolution encourages existing law enforcement efforts to combat counterfeit pill distribution and acknowledges the severe impact of fentanyl on young people, citing statistics on rising overdose deaths. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the issue through congressional support.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 14-20, 2023, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. It recognizes 444 officers killed in 2022 (including specific names listed in the resolution) and acknowledges 32 officers killed in 2023, while expressing support for law enforcement personnel. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement officers and promoting awareness of their essential service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing laws.
Maddy summaryThe Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act amends the law governing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), allowing the federal government to use grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for its operation instead of only contracts. It clarifies that the OPTN’s management must be separate from the entity supporting its board of directors. The bill also mandates a two-year review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the OPTN’s historical financing - including how registration fees were used - and requires a report to Congress with recommendations. These changes directly affect the OPTN, its operating entities, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and governments that provide significant financial or material support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or their affiliates. It requires the President to block transactions with those supporting these groups and to suspend U.S. aid to governments providing material support for their terrorist activities. The bill also mandates regular reports on foreign countries' efforts to disrupt Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fundraising, financing, and money laundering networks. Specific exceptions include military use and humanitarian aid for medicine and food. The bill includes a sunset provision, terminating either after 3 years or when Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are no longer designated as terrorist organizations.
Maddy summaryThe Employee Equity Investment Act of 2023 creates a new program to provide financial leverage to companies that invest in small businesses through employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) or worker-owned cooperatives. The bill sets specific requirements including minimum investment percentages (75% in covered investments, 50% in ESOP-related investments), the need for independent trustees to evaluate transactions, and detailed demographic reporting on plan participants. It also establishes a Protege EEIC program to help new investment companies with guidance from experienced managers, creates an Office of Employee Ownership for education and technical assistance, and modifies procurement rules to help employee-owned businesses access government contracts. The program has a sunset provision, ending 20 years after the first license is approved.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates new authorities for the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to detect, identify, monitor, and mitigate drone threats to designated high-risk facilities including critical infrastructure, government buildings, airports, and other security-sensitive locations. It establishes a 5-year pilot program allowing select state and local law enforcement agencies to use specific drone detection technologies, with strict requirements for privacy protections, training, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill limits the use of technologies that disrupt radio or electronic signals, requires intercepted communications to be maintained for no more than 180 days, and mandates annual congressional reporting on the use of these authorities. It also includes detailed provisions for risk-based assessments, privacy safeguards, and coordination with transportation authorities to ensure national airspace safety.
Maddy summarySRES 195 is a ceremonial Senate resolution congratulating students, parents, teachers, and leaders of charter schools nationwide for their contributions to education. It formally supports the 24th annual National Charter Schools Week (May 7-13, 2023), encouraging public recognition of charter schools' role in providing diverse educational options. The resolution does not create new policies, funding, or obligations - it solely expresses legislative support for charter schools as part of a symbolic observance. It directly affects the charter school community by acknowledging their work during a designated national week.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows states to retain 25% of funds recovered from fraudulent unemployment claims (particularly pandemic-era claims) to strengthen fraud prevention systems. States can use these funds for modernizing unemployment systems, hiring fraud investigators, covering administrative costs for fraud detection, and other program integrity activities. The bill requires states to implement specific data-matching systems to prevent fraud, including cross-checking claims against employment records, databases of incarcerated individuals, and deceased individuals. It also extends emergency staffing flexibility for fraud detection through 2030 and establishes a 10-year window for prosecuting unemployment fraud.
Maddy summaryS 1574, the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act, creates a federal program to expand the school-based mental health workforce by subsidizing graduate education costs. It provides matching federal funds (up to 50% of tuition) for students enrolled in approved school psychology, counseling, or social work programs at participating graduate institutions, prioritizing those who received Federal Pell Grants as undergraduates. Institutions must report annually on participant demographics, program costs, and outcomes, with the Department of Education conducting a national evaluation within four years. The program authorizes $20 million in 2024, increasing to $50 million annually through 2028.