Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 205th anniversary of Greece's independence and celebrates the shared democratic values of Greece and the United States. The bill formally congratulates the Greek people on their independence day, acknowledges historical ties between the two nations including American support during Greece's independence struggle and World War II, and recognizes Greece's ongoing role as a NATO ally and strategic partner. It also commends the Greek-American community for its contributions to American society and highlights current bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy security and regional stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase estate and gift taxes for individuals with significant wealth while directing the additional revenue to the Social Security Trust Fund. It raises the estate tax exemption to $3.5 million and adjusts tax rates for estates valued over $1 million, with changes taking effect after December 31, 2026. The legislation also consolidates the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund into a single Social Security Trust Fund, which would receive 100% of certain payroll and income taxes. These structural changes aim to strengthen Social Security funding through higher taxes on dynastic wealth and administrative consolidation of existing trust funds.

Maddy summarySJRES 103 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule on reproductive health services for veterans. The resolution, if passed, would block the VA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code), meaning the rule published in the Federal Register (December 31, 2025) would have no legal force. This directly affects the VA’s ability to implement new guidelines for reproductive health services at its facilities, preserving existing policies instead. The resolution does not create new policy but halts a specific administrative rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, directs the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the discharge of pre-production plastic pellets and related materials into wastewater and runoff from specific industrial facilities. It requires the EPA to issue new rules within 60 days that prohibit these discharges from factories that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets, as well as from facilities regulated under existing federal water pollution regulations. The law mandates that these new restrictions be included in all wastewater and stormwater permits issued by the EPA and state programs, as well as in performance standards for affected industrial point sources. This legislation directly impacts manufacturers and distributors of plastic pellets and aims to prevent plastic pollution from entering water systems during the production and packaging stages.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Transit Workforce Center to help improve training and support for frontline public transportation workers across the United States. The Federal Transit Administration would establish this center by awarding grants to a qualified nonprofit organization that operates nationally and has experience in workforce development. The center would develop training programs, provide technical assistance, share educational resources, and analyze workforce data to help transit agencies recruit, hire, train, and retain skilled workers. It would also focus on emerging technology areas and work in partnership with labor groups, industry associations, and transit providers to address workforce needs in urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to create new provisions specifically for sea turtles. It establishes a dedicated $5 million annual grant program (2025-2030) for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, funded through a new "Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund" with $500,000 yearly. Eligible applicants include coastal organizations with Endangered Species Act authorizations or cooperative agreements, required to follow specific care standards and data reporting. The law directly affects wildlife rehabilitation groups and coastal communities handling stranded sea turtles by providing targeted federal funding and clear grant eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates Taiwan's 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election in 1996 and expresses support for Taiwan's democratic institutions. The bill formally acknowledges Taiwan's democratic milestones, including peaceful transfers of power and the protection of civil liberties, while referencing existing U.S. policy frameworks like the Taiwan Relations Act. It states that the Senate regards Taiwan's democracy as a strategic strength and commits to supporting Taiwan's self-defense and the liberty of its people. The resolution clarifies that it does not authorize the use of military force.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to prohibit a specific foreign military sale of defense articles and services to the Government of Israel. It directly affects the proposed transaction by invoking the Congressional Review Act to disapprove the sale of 10,000 BLU-111 500-pound general purpose bombs and related logistics support. The bill uses the statutory authority under the Arms Export Control Act to block the sale without requiring new legislation. If passed, it would prevent the transfer of these specific weapons and associated services to Israel.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to prohibit the licensing of specific defense articles and services to Israel, including 5,000 Small Diameter Bomb Weapon Systems. The bill directly affects the proposed arms sales notification submitted to Congress on March 12, 2026, under the Arms Export Control Act. By passing this resolution, Congress would exercise its authority to disapprove the licensing of these particular defense items. The measure is currently referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations for consideration.

Maddy summaryThe Family Vaccine Protection Act establishes formal procedures for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) within the Public Health Service Act. It requires the CDC Director to adopt ACIP vaccine recommendations unless they lack scientific support, in which case the Director must publish the rationale and notify Congress within 48 hours. The bill specifies the committee's composition, including required expertise for members and ex-officio members from key health agencies like the FDA and CMS. These provisions affect vaccine recommendations that determine coverage for health insurance plans and the Vaccines for Children Program, ensuring all recommendations are based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence.