Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas to have state and local law enforcement officers enforce federal laws prohibiting unlawful entry into the U.S. (specifically sections 271-280 of the Immigration and Nationality Act). It also allows these states to build barriers on federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border, provided the barriers don't hinder border patrol operations or block lawful commerce. State prosecutors gain authority to file federal immigration cases in U.S. District Court for violations covered under the bill. The bill explicitly states it overrides the 2012 Supreme Court ruling in *Arizona v. United States* regarding similar state laws. It directly affects law enforcement in those four border states and federal immigration enforcement procedures.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act aims to strengthen drug interdiction efforts by the Department of Homeland Security. It requires DHS to develop public-private partnerships with shipping, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries for early drug detection, assess counterdrug task forces for improved coordination, and establish danger pay for personnel in foreign areas with security threats. The bill also improves drug seizure data collection systems, develops performance measures for drug interdiction, and creates penalties for obstructing border controls. These provisions primarily affect DHS personnel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and foreign governments with whom DHS partners. The bill seeks to enhance drug interdiction effectiveness through better data, training, and international cooperation.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address suicide prevention and mental health support for DHS law enforcement personnel. It directly affects all DHS components with law enforcement officers (including Customs and Border Protection, ICE, Coast Guard, Secret Service, and TSA), requiring them to improve mental health programs, reduce stigma, and provide confidential counseling options without fear of adverse action. Key provisions include creating a confidential data collection system on mental health and suicides, mandating annual surveys, requiring annual suicide prevention training for officers, establishing a peer support network, and offering family support services. The program must track trends, evaluate existing initiatives, and report annually to Congress through 2027.
Maddy summarySRES 380 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating October 1-7, 2023, as "Religious Education Week" to recognize the role of religious education in U.S. schools. It calls on all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate students attending religious classes during school hours through "released time" programs. The resolution affirms that religious education contributes to students' moral, ethical, and civic development, referencing existing programs where approximately 540,000 public school students participate annually. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or alter funding, focusing instead on celebrating current religious education practices.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public elementary, secondary schools, and colleges from receiving federal funding if they use their facilities to house non-citizens under federal immigration orders (excluding those already admitted to the U.S.). It amends existing law to block federal financial assistance for schools that provide shelter for these individuals, while exempting short-term disaster shelters (under 72 hours) or facilities used during declared disasters. The policy directly affects public educational institutions receiving federal programs, requiring them to avoid hosting such non-citizens to maintain funding eligibility. It does not restrict schools from housing other groups or affect private institutions.
Maddy summaryS 2953 requires the federal government to annually identify and review significant regulations that are duplicative (overlapping with other rules), burdensome (imposing excessive costs or unfunded mandates), or outdated (not updated in 10 years). The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator must compile a list of such regulations, consult with agencies, and submit it to Congress for review. Congress then has 30 days to propose joint resolutions for repeal, which would move through expedited procedures in both chambers with limited debate and no amendments. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for creating regulations and businesses/individuals subject to those regulations, but does not automatically repeal any rules - only establishes a process for Congress to act on identified regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to rebuild or reopen rural post offices that have closed due to damage (e.g., natural disasters) or lease termination, prioritizing communities without alternative postal access. It mandates reconstruction within 90 days of inoperability for new closures or within 90 days of enactment for closures within the past two years, with exceptions for safety risks. The Postal Service must also secure new lease agreements for suspended offices within the same timeframe, and report delays to Congress with detailed reasons and remediation plans. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment and specifies no new funding is authorized for implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill denies asylum to individuals who were members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or other totalitarian parties under U.S. immigration law. It amends asylum rules to bar such applicants unless they publicly renounce their party membership during the application process and prove their affiliation was involuntary (e.g., due to age, law, or basic survival needs). Exceptions allow asylum if the applicant provides significant national security information, after renouncing membership and being deemed non-threatening by immigration and intelligence officials. The policy directly affects asylum seekers with ties to the CCP or similar parties, altering their eligibility under existing immigration statutes.
Maddy summaryS 2895, the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023, makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable. This change directly affects low-income adoptive parents who previously could not claim the credit if they owed no federal income tax. The bill restructures the credit in the tax code to allow families to receive it as a direct payment, even if their tax liability was zero. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and includes a transitional rule for credits carried forward from prior years. The law does not alter the credit amount or eligibility criteria, only its refundability.
Maddy summaryS 2911, the "Protecting the Right To Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2023," prevents federal officials from using emergency declarations to impose gun control. It bans the President from declaring emergencies under the National Emergencies Act or the Stafford Act for gun control purposes, and stops the Health and Human Services Secretary from declaring public health emergencies for the same reason. The bill also amends the Stafford Act to explicitly prohibit emergency declarations that would restrict firearm possession, sale, or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or related accessories. This directly affects how federal emergency powers can be used during crises, limiting actions that could impact gun rights under the Second Amendment.