Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Maddy summarySRES 142 is a Senate resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women. It highlights specific achievements, including over 4,400 women serving in the military as of 2025, more than 11,600 women owning businesses as of 2024, and historical roles in fields like science, medicine, and cultural preservation. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but publicly honors these women’s contributions to communities, tribal sovereignty, and U.S. history without mandating policy changes.

Maddy summarySRES 120 is a ceremonial Senate resolution recognizing the 113th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the United States of America (March 12, 2025). It celebrates the organization’s founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and honors Girl Scouts’ mission of building girls’ courage, confidence, and leadership skills through programs like STEM, outdoor activities, and civic engagement. The resolution has no policy or funding changes - it simply acknowledges the group’s history and impact on over 50 million alumnae. It does not directly affect any individuals or require new government action.

Maddy summaryS. Res. 136 is a Senate resolution affirming the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review, referencing the Constitution's Article III and the landmark 1803 *Marbury v. Madison* decision. It states that the executive branch must comply with federal court rulings and may appeal such rulings when authorized by law. The resolution serves as a formal statement of the Senate's support for the judiciary's role in interpreting the Constitution, without creating new legal requirements or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryThe SHARE Act of 2025 updates federal rules for sharing criminal background check data used in professional licensing. It requires the FBI to provide criminal history record information to state licensing authorities for background checks when states are part of an interstate compact. States must use this data solely for licensing decisions and cannot share the full records with other states, commissions, or the public. Instead, they may only share a binary result (e.g., "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory") regarding the background check. This directly affects state licensing boards and professionals seeking licenses across participating states.

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 summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to develop a strategy within 120 days to prevent the trafficking of machinegun conversion devices - parts that convert regular firearms into machineguns. The strategy must improve detection, coordination between federal and local law enforcement, tracing of devices used in crimes, and address emerging threats like 3D-printed devices. It mandates annual reports to Congress on implementation progress and requires the Attorney General to include specific data on these devices in annual firearms trafficking reports. The bill directly affects federal agencies (ATF, FBI, Homeland Security), state/local law enforcement, and aims to disrupt trafficking networks.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to support K-12 schools in preparing for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It provides $34.5 million (2026-2030) for states to fund local schools to train staff on seizure awareness, develop personalized emergency care plans, and ensure proper medical accommodations. Schools must train all staff every two years, provide bus drivers with student-specific care information, and create detailed health plans covering symptoms, activity accommodations, and communication protocols. The program supplements existing funding and protects school staff from liability for good-faith actions related to implementing these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses. It adds "qualified military spouse" as a new category eligible for the credit, meaning employers who hire spouses of active-duty service members can claim the tax benefit. To qualify, a spouse must be certified by a local agency as married to an Armed Forces member at the time of hire. The change applies to hires occurring after the law's effective date, directly affecting military spouses seeking employment and employers who hire them.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) existing snow survey and water supply forecasting program to cover the Northeastern United States. It defines the Northeast as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and any other states the Secretary of Agriculture designates. The key provision directs the NRCS Chief to extend this program's geographic scope to serve these states. This change directly affects water resource managers and communities in the covered northeastern states by improving regional snowpack and water supply data collection.