Sen. Andy Kim

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.

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

Maddy summaryThe Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 modifies FDA regulations to improve pediatric cancer drug development and extends incentives for rare pediatric disease treatments. It requires drug developers seeking approval for molecularly targeted cancer drugs to include pediatric-focused studies (e.g., dosing, safety) for specific cancer types, with new FDA guidance due within 12 months. The bill also extends the rare pediatric disease priority review voucher program through 2029 and mandates a GAO study to evaluate how effectively these vouchers spur development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases, reporting findings by 2034. This directly affects pharmaceutical companies developing cancer drugs and the FDA’s approval process, aiming to accelerate treatments for children with cancer and rare diseases.

Maddy summaryThe American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 aims to increase housing affordability and accessibility through multiple provisions. It expands Fair Housing protections to include gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, source of income, and veteran status, making discrimination based on these characteristics illegal. The bill includes significant funding mechanisms for affordable housing infrastructure and requires twice as many accessible dwelling units in housing assisted under the Act. It also makes substantial changes to estate tax rules, including higher tax rates for large estates and elimination of certain exemptions. These provisions collectively seek to reduce housing discrimination, increase access to affordable housing, and generate revenue for housing programs.

Maddy summaryS 951, the "Stop Comstock Act," amends federal obscenity laws to remove outdated and restrictive language. It deletes terms like "indecent" and "immoral" from Title 18 (e.g., Sections 552, 1461, 1462) and the Tariff Act, which were historically used to block access to reproductive health materials. The bill directly affects how federal law defines "obscene" materials, eliminating references to abortion, contraception, or "immoral use" that could be misapplied to restrict lawful medical information. This is a technical legal update to clarify that federal obscenity laws do not cover protected reproductive health content.

Maddy summaryThe Tariff Transparency Act of 2025 requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate and report on the economic impacts of tariffs imposed on imports from Mexico and Canada, including the 25% duties on general goods and 10% duties on Canadian energy imports. The report must assess how these tariffs affected consumer prices for everyday items like food, energy, medical goods, and vehicles, as well as the consequences of retaliatory tariffs from Mexico and Canada on U.S. consumers, farmers, and small businesses. It also evaluates how ongoing tariff uncertainty impacts business investment, job creation, and operations across key sectors like manufacturing and agriculture. The Commission must submit this detailed report to Congress within one year of the bill’s enactment, excluding confidential business information.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases monthly payments to surviving spouses of veterans by changing how the amount is calculated. Instead of a fixed dollar amount ($1,154), payments will equal 55% of the current monthly compensation rate for veterans' disability benefits (section 1114(j)). It also includes a special provision ensuring survivors whose veterans died before January 1, 1993, receive the higher of the old payment amount or the new 55% calculation. The bill directly affects surviving spouses of veterans who qualify for dependency and indemnity compensation.

Maddy summaryS 916 prohibits the detention of pregnant, lactating, or postpartum noncitizens in immigration custody, requiring their immediate release except in rare cases involving credible safety threats. It bans all physical restraints during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery, with strict limits on exceptions. The bill mandates access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including prenatal care, labor services, and postpartum support, while requiring facilities to provide medical consent and maintain detailed reporting on detention practices. These provisions apply directly to noncitizens held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities.

Maddy summaryS 914, the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, allows veterans involuntarily removed from federal civil service positions without cause between January 20, 2025, and the bill’s enactment date to seek reinstatement to their former role or a similar qualified position. It directly affects eligible veteran federal employees and requires all executive agencies to submit detailed reports every 90 days to congressional committees, including the number of veteran removals and the reasons for each. The reports must cover the period from the bill’s enactment until January 20, 2029, and include specific data on veteran separations. This bill creates a formal process for veterans to regain federal employment and mandates transparency through regular agency reporting.