Sen. Elissa Slotkin

Maddy summarySJRES 43 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Congress and state governments to set reasonable limits on campaign contributions and expenditures intended to influence elections. It would permit distinctions between individuals and corporations, including the potential prohibition of corporate spending in political campaigns. The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of the press from being restricted by these regulations. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, this change would directly affect candidates, political committees, and organizations that spend money to influence elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Medicare calculates rebates for certain drugs to potentially lower costs for beneficiaries. It changes the reference year for rebate calculations from 2021 back to 2016 for both Medicare Part B (outpatient drugs) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) programs. The bill also adjusts how drug units are counted for rebates, excluding units paid for through state Medicaid programs or other existing rebate programs. These changes apply to Part B rebates starting January 2026 and Part D rebates starting October 2025. The policy directly affects drug manufacturers who pay Medicare rebates and impacts Medicare beneficiaries through potential cost reductions in covered drugs.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes SNAP (food stamp) eligibility rules for workers participating in strikes. It directly affects workers who are on strike by removing an exception that previously allowed them to keep SNAP benefits during labor actions. The key change removes language that let striking workers remain eligible, now making them ineligible to participate in SNAP solely because they are on strike. This is a concrete policy shift in the Food and Nutrition Act, changing who qualifies for food assistance during labor disputes.

Maddy summaryThe Paycheck Fairness Act strengthens equal pay protections by modifying the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to require employers to prove that non-sex factors used in pay decisions are job-related, consistent with business necessity, and account for the entire pay difference. It prohibits employers from relying on salary history when setting pay for new hires and enhances protections for workers who discuss wages or file pay discrimination claims. The bill requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect and publish compensation data disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity to better enforce pay discrimination laws. These provisions directly affect workers in the private and public sectors, particularly women and women of color who face the largest pay gaps. The act also establishes a National Award for Pay Equity to recognize employers making significant efforts to eliminate pay disparities.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses strong support for public K-12 schools and condemns any efforts to defund public education or dismantle the Department of Education. It highlights the federal government’s critical role in providing equitable funding - particularly for students in underserved communities, including those with disabilities, from low-income families, and in rural areas - and opposes diverting funds to private schools. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally states the Senate’s position on protecting public education funding and oversight.

Maddy summarySRES 127 is a symbolic Senate resolution honoring the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Michigan. It recognizes the base's historical significance (including its role in World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen and its 2024 selection for KC-46A tankers) and its ongoing contributions to national security, border protection, and the local economy. The resolution commends the base's personnel, reaffirms the military's commitment to the facility, and acknowledges Michigan's investments in the base and defense industry. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not enact new policy or affect any specific group.

Maddy summaryS 1021 establishes a new program within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to increase purchases of "naturally nutrient-rich dairy" (like fluid milk, yogurt, and cheese made from cow's milk) by SNAP households. It provides point-of-sale incentives at checkout, meaning SNAP users would receive immediate discounts when buying qualifying dairy products. The program allocates $10 million annually for grants to state/local governments or nonprofits to run projects, with priority given to initiatives maximizing direct incentives and using electronic systems. Projects must be evaluated for effectiveness, and results will be publicly reported, while transitioning existing dairy incentive programs to this new framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Major Richard Star Act (S 1032), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both their military retired pay and Veterans Affairs disability compensation simultaneously. It amends U.S. Code sections to remove the automatic reduction in retired pay that previously forced these veterans to choose between the two payments. The key change ensures veterans with combat-related disabilities qualify for full retired pay without offset against their VA disability benefits, effective for payments starting after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects veterans receiving military retired pay under Chapter 61 who also qualify for VA disability compensation for combat-related injuries.

Maddy summaryThe FIGHT China Act of 2025 restricts U.S. investments in Chinese companies with ties to China's military or surveillance sectors. It prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions involving "prohibited technologies" such as advanced semiconductors (with specific technical specifications), AI systems, quantum computing, and hypersonic weapons, while requiring notification for certain "notifiable technology" investments. The bill mandates that U.S. investors divest from companies on the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List within one year of enactment. It establishes a process for identifying Chinese entities subject to these restrictions, with annual reports to Congress required for seven years.

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2025 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and teachers, allowing them to purchase homes with no down payment. It defines "first responders" as full-time law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and K-12 teachers employed by government or accredited schools. The program requires applicants to be first-time homebuyers with 4 years of recent employment in their field, complete housing counseling, and intend to remain in their role for at least one year after closing. Mortgages under this program must be used for a primary residence, cover 100% of the home's appraised value, and exclude monthly insurance premiums.