Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Housing Tariff Exclusion Act, creates a formal process for U.S. companies to request that certain building materials used in home construction be exempt from specific tariffs. The legislation requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish a system where entities can apply for duty exclusions on products classified as critical homebuilding materials or other items whose tariffs would increase home construction costs. The bill mandates that exclusion requests for critical products be decided within 15 days and other requests within 60 days, with results published online and quarterly reports submitted to Congress. Additionally, it allows for retroactive refunds on duties paid for entries made before exclusions were issued, provided requests are filed within 180 days of the exclusion decision.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Treasury Secretary to testify annually before Congress about the Fund's operations. It also strengthens the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program by adjusting guarantee limits and extending the program's authorization period. Additionally, the bill expands capital assistance options for community development financial institutions and creates a new lending program specifically for Native community development financial institutions to support homeownership in Tribal and Native communities.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the TAP Promotion Act, would allow representatives from recognized veterans service organizations to join presentations that inform service members about benefits they can access after leaving the military. These presentations are part of the Transition Assistance Program, which helps veterans prepare for civilian life, and the law requires that they be standardized and approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs before being used. The bill also mandates that the presentations include information on how veterans service organizations can help with filing benefit claims, while prohibiting any effort to encourage members to join a specific organization. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs must submit an annual report to Congress detailing which organizations participated in these sessions and how many service members attended.
Maddy summarySRES 615 is a Senate resolution celebrating Black History Month, acknowledging the historical contributions of African Americans to U.S. society across fields like civil rights, arts, science, and leadership. The resolution encourages all citizens to reflect on this history as part of the nation's ongoing journey toward equality, without creating new laws or policies. It specifically recognizes figures such as Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks, and emphasizes the importance of Black History Month in February as a time for communal learning and inspiration. This ceremonial resolution was introduced by multiple senators and passed unanimously by the Senate in 2026.
Maddy summarySRES 612 is a non-binding Senate resolution acknowledging the fourth anniversary of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its 1991 borders, condemns Russia’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure, and emphasizes the need for sustained U.S. and transatlantic security guarantees. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but expresses congressional support for Ukraine’s defense and calls for continued international cooperation. It specifically highlights Russia’s targeting of Ukrainian children and U.S. companies as part of its aggression. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect on policy or funding.
Maddy summaryS 3905, the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refund all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to importers within 180 days of the bill's enactment, including interest. It mandates CBP to reliquidate previously processed imports to calculate refunds and prioritizes small businesses for faster processing, with coordinated outreach to them via the Small Business Administration. The bill also requires CBP to submit regular reports to Congress detailing refund progress and timelines. This directly affects importers who paid IEEPA duties, with specific provisions to streamline refunds for small business importers.
Maddy summaryThe SAVES Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans with specific disabilities, such as blindness, mobility issues, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury. Nonprofits must apply competitively, meet training and animal welfare standards (including ADA compliance), and provide service dogs at no cost to veterans, with the VA covering all program expenses. The VA will also provide ongoing veterinary insurance for the dogs, which continues even after the pilot ends. This program is funded with $10 million annually for five years, targeting veterans as defined by VA medical criteria.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 25) commemorates the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured 13, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. It honors the victims (such as Judge John Roll, Gabriel Zimmerman, and 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green), survivors like Giffords and Ron Barber (who later became a U.S. Representative), and the community's response. The resolution expresses support for survivors, recognizes Giffords’ advocacy against gun violence, and reaffirms commitment to respectful dialogue and opposing political violence. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or policy changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits grocery stores from charging unreasonably high prices (defined as 120% or more of a product’s average price over the prior six months) unless they prove the increase stems from uncontrollable costs like supply chain issues. It bans using personal data - such as facial recognition or purchase history - to set different prices for individual shoppers and requires clear signage about facial recognition use at store entrances. Large grocery stores (over 10,000 sq ft) must replace electronic shelf labels with physical price tags. The Federal Trade Commission enforces these rules, allowing states and consumers to seek $3,000 per violation in court for price gouging or data misuse.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities. The 12-member council, appointed by the President with Senate approval, must include equal numbers of Democratic and Republican members, prioritize diverse representation (women, people of color, individuals with disabilities), and feature experts in African American history and culture. The council’s duties include evaluating National Endowment programs, gathering information on African American cultural preservation, and making recommendations to improve policies supporting this history and culture. The council will operate for 10 years and requires 9 members to meet.