Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1612) prevents U.S. funding for United Nations agencies if Palestine gains any status beyond observer status. It amends existing laws to replace "full membership" with "any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status" in U.S. funding rules for UN agencies. This would block U.S. financial support for UN bodies if Palestine achieves full membership or equivalent standing. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign aid policy toward UN agencies and Palestine's potential UN representation.

Maddy summaryThe MOMS Act establishes a federal website called pregnancy.gov that will connect pregnant and postpartum women with local resources for healthcare, housing, childcare, and other support services. It creates grant programs for nonprofits that assist women in carrying pregnancies to term, with restrictions prohibiting these organizations from providing or referring for abortion services. The bill also amends child support laws to allow for child support obligations to begin at conception for unborn children, with payment amounts determined by courts based on the best interests of the mother and child. Additionally, it provides grants for telehealth equipment to improve prenatal and postnatal care access in rural and medically underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThe International Competition for American Jobs Act (S 1605) modifies U.S. tax rules for multinational corporations, primarily affecting U.S. shareholders of foreign corporations and foreign corporations themselves. Key provisions include extending the "look-thru rule" for controlled foreign corporations, changing how deductions for foreign-derived income are calculated, and modifying the base erosion minimum tax. The bill also alters how foreign tax credits are applied, eliminates certain inclusions of foreign income, and creates special rules for Virgin Islands services income. Most provisions apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryS 1611 expands a federal grant program to fund research-based public service announcement (PSA) campaigns targeting youth substance use prevention. The bill adds a new grant category allowing funding for TV, radio, digital, and youth-submitted PSA contests using age-appropriate materials. Grantees (like schools or community groups) must report annually on campaign details, research used, regional messaging, alignment with other prevention efforts, and campaign effectiveness in reducing youth drug use. The Attorney General oversees this program and publishes annual reports on all funded campaigns.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes Federal Pell Grants tax-free for students. It amends the tax code to exclude Pell Grants used for tuition and related expenses from taxable income, directly affecting undergraduate and graduate students receiving these grants. The key provision ensures Pell Grants are treated like other scholarships for tax purposes, preventing them from being counted as income. The change applies to tax returns filed for 2026 and later.

Maddy summarySRES 201 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating the week of May 4-10, 2025, as "National Small Business Week." It honors small businesses and entrepreneurs across all U.S. communities for their economic contributions, citing that small businesses support over 59 million jobs. The resolution recognizes their resilience and celebrates their role in strengthening local economies. This symbolic gesture, consistent with annual presidential proclamations since 1963, does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 204) symbolically recognizes global threats to press freedom, including violence against journalists in conflict zones and under authoritarian regimes. It reaffirms the U.S. government’s commitment to press freedom as a priority for promoting democracy and human rights, specifically commemorating World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2025. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but expresses support for journalists worldwide and calls on the President and Secretary of State to advance press freedom efforts. It highlights documented risks like journalist killings (124 globally in 2024) and imprisonment (361 in 2024), emphasizing press freedom’s role in accountability and informed societies. As a non-binding resolution, it focuses on diplomatic reaffirmation rather than concrete legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses formal support and appreciation for Romania and Moldova's efforts to defend democracy and counter Russian interference in eastern Europe. It specifically recognizes Romania's NATO leadership, defense spending, and aid to Ukraine, as well as Moldova's EU accession progress and humanitarian support for Ukraine. The resolution condemns Russian tactics like cyber operations, energy weaponization, and election interference, and urges the U.S. and international community to strengthen security and election integrity support ahead of Romania's May 2025 presidential and Moldova's September 2025 parliamentary elections. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but reinforces diplomatic backing for these nations' democratic resilience.

Maddy summaryThe Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025 clarifies patent eligibility under U.S. law by eliminating judicial exceptions to Section 101 of the Patent Code. It makes most inventions eligible for patents unless they fall into specific excluded categories: mathematical formulas not tied to a practical invention, mental processes, unmodified human genes or natural materials, or purely economic/business processes (unless requiring machine use). This directly affects inventors, patent applicants, and courts by restoring clear eligibility rules after years of judicial confusion. The bill ensures business method patents remain eligible if they require practical machine implementation, while maintaining existing requirements for novelty and non-obviousness under Sections 102, 103, and 112.

Maddy summaryThe PREVAIL Act (S 1553) aims to improve the U.S. patent system by making patent review processes more efficient and fair. It requires 3-member panels for patent reviews at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, establishes a code of conduct for board members, and prevents repetitive patent challenges by creating a "single forum" for patent validity disputes. The bill also clarifies who counts as a "real party in interest" to stop strategic filings, changes the burden of proof in patent reviews to require "clear and convincing evidence" for unpatentability, and ensures patent fees are properly used for patent-related activities through a new Innovation Promotion Fund. These changes directly affect patent owners, patent challengers, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).