Sen. Elissa Slotkin

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of technology needs for securing U.S. maritime borders within two years of enactment, with biannual updates for four years. The analysis must evaluate current and emerging technologies to address threats like drug trafficking, human smuggling, cybersecurity risks, and gaps in surveillance, while considering operational impacts and coordination with agencies. DHS must report findings to Congress, focusing on how technology can enhance border security, improve resource deployment, and support legal trade without mandating specific technology purchases or funding.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically supports designating September 30, 2023, as "National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day." It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the need to raise awareness about veteran suicide and support families affected by it, referencing statistics showing an average of 17 veteran suicides daily. The resolution aims to highlight this issue and encourage community engagement, though it has no direct policy impact.

Maddy summaryHR 5641, the Pay Our Troops Act, ensures military personnel and their support staff continue receiving pay during fiscal year 2024 if Congress fails to pass regular budget appropriations. It appropriates existing Treasury funds to cover pay and allowances for active-duty troops, reserve components, and civilian employees or contractors supporting military operations. The bill automatically terminates on January 1, 2025, or earlier if Congress enacts a regular budget or continuing resolution. This provision directly affects service members, Department of Defense staff, and Coast Guard personnel (when not under the Navy) during budget implementation gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to review all veteran suicides occurring between 2018-2023 (the five years before enactment) for veterans who received VA care. The review must analyze demographics, medications (including those with strong safety warnings like "black box" labels), prescribing patterns, mental health diagnoses, and facility-level data. The VA must complete the review within 18 months and publicly submit a detailed report to Congress and the public within 30 days of completion. This law directly affects veterans' families, VA healthcare providers, and policymakers by mandating transparency around suicide risk factors and prescribing practices.

Maddy summaryHR 5733 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to increase affordable workforce housing. It provides funds to eligible entities like state/local governments, nonprofits, and housing agencies for constructing, preserving, or rehabilitating workforce housing units. These units must be affordable (costing no more than 30% of a buyer’s income) and remain affordable for at least five years after sale to households earning up to 100% of the local median income. Grants prioritize areas with rising housing costs, decreasing supply, or employer recruitment challenges due to housing shortages, with annual reports required detailing recipients, units created, and buyer demographics.

Maddy summaryThis bill would grant federal recognition to the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan, a tribe that has been awaiting formal recognition since filing a petition in 2000. The legislation affirms the tribe's status as a federally recognized tribe, making it eligible for all federal services and benefits (like healthcare, education, and housing programs) without requiring reservation land or specific residence locations. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land in specific Michigan counties (Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana) for the tribe in trust status, and requires the tribe to establish a membership roll within 18 months. The bill addresses decades of delayed recognition, ensuring the tribe gains access to resources and rights it has been denied since its petition was filed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to mandate that auto manufacturers bidding on vehicle assembly contracts disclose detailed workforce information for each plant involved. Specifically, contractors must provide average and range of hourly wages, temporary worker counts, and any OSHA or National Labor Relations Act violations at each manufacturing location. It also requires written agency permission - and additional disclosures - if a contractor seeks to shift production to a new plant, with notification to affected labor unions. The law directly affects auto manufacturers competing for federal vehicle assembly contracts and aims to increase transparency around labor practices.

Maddy summaryHR 5199 reauthorizes the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, providing mandatory annual funding of $130 million from 2024 through 2028 - up from $80 million previously - to support research on specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries. It also allocates an additional $50 million annually for Inter-Regional Research Project No. 4, focusing on collaborative crop research. These funds, sourced from the Commodity Credit Corporation, directly support agricultural researchers and growers working on specialty crop development and sustainability. The bill ensures sustained federal investment in this sector without altering existing program structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to require all U.S. colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to create detailed anti-harassment policies covering physical, online, and institution-sponsored settings. It mandates policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, religion, and other protected characteristics, including harassment via institutional email, computers, or electronic messaging. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund colleges developing prevention programs, victim support services, and training for students and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. These policies and grants must comply with existing civil rights laws like Title IX but add specific requirements for reporting and prevention.

Maddy summaryHR 5604, the Agricultural Right to Repair Act, requires farm equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide farmers and independent repair shops with necessary repair materials - including documentation, parts, software, tools, and farm equipment data - on "fair and reasonable terms." This directly affects farmers who own equipment and independent repair providers who fix it, ensuring they can access the same resources as authorized repair shops without restrictive conditions like mandatory registration or exclusive partnerships. Key provisions mandate that manufacturers cannot impose unreasonable costs, restrict how materials are used, or hinder access to diagnostic tools, while also allowing limited circumvention of security features for repair purposes under copyright law. The bill is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and explicitly protects safety systems and emissions compliance, prohibiting modifications that would deactivate safety features or violate environmental laws.