Sen. Bernie Moreno

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to mandate a minimum 20-year prison sentence for anyone who assaults, resists, or impedes a U.S. federal officer or employee while they are performing official duties, causing any bodily harm. It directly affects individuals convicted of such assaults on federal personnel, replacing previous sentencing options with this fixed minimum term. Key provisions include making federal law exclusively applicable to these offenses and overriding any conflicting state laws that might govern similar acts. The bill applies to offenses occurring after its enactment date.

Maddy summarySRES 220 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution recognizes officers who have been killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty, including 234 officers honored for 2024 fatalities and 18 officers killed in 2025. It expresses the Senate’s support for law enforcement, acknowledges the need for adequate resources for officer safety, and encourages public observance to celebrate their service and sacrifices. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits payment card networks and covered entities (like payment processors) from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that distinguish firearm retailers from general merchandise or sporting goods stores. It directly affects firearm retailers (those selling guns or ammunition) and payment networks (such as Visa or Mastercard), ensuring their transactions are processed without special classification. Key provisions ban the use of discriminatory codes, establish an enforcement process through the Attorney General with complaint mechanisms, and preempt state or local laws on this issue. The bill does not change gun sales laws but alters how payment systems categorize firearm-related transactions. It explicitly states no private lawsuits can be filed under this law.

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions and published on December 30, 2024. The rule revises provisions regarding charges for insufficient funds in a customer’s bank account (i.e., overdrafts) at very large financial institutions. Under the rule, these institutions must (1) cap overdraft charges at $5; (2) with justification, cap charges at a higher amount; or (3) handle overdrafts as credit and comply with applicable Truth in Lending Act disclosure requirements.

Maddy summaryS 1696, the DRIVE Act, prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from creating rules requiring speed limiting devices on commercial trucks. It directly affects trucking companies, drivers, and manufacturers of commercial motor vehicles (like 18-wheelers) by blocking a specific regulation. The bill prevents the FMCSA from mandating that these vehicles be equipped with devices that limit their maximum speed. This is a procedural change that stops a potential future rule, not a current requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Small Business Disaster Coordination Act (S 1698), amends the Small Business Act to improve disaster recovery support for small businesses. It allows SBA resource partners (like local service centers) to provide advice and assistance to small businesses in disaster areas outside their usual service zone, provided they coordinate with a local partner serving that area. The assistance period is limited to two years (with possible extension) and requires resource partners to share information with the SBA to better inform businesses about disaster loan options. This change directly affects small businesses in disaster-impacted communities and their access to coordinated recovery resources.

Maddy summaryThe USA CAR Act (S 1653) creates a new tax deduction for interest paid on auto loans for vehicles assembled in the U.S. It allows taxpayers to deduct interest on loans taken out after January 1, 2025, for purchasing a "qualified automobile" (defined as a vehicle manufactured by a company with final assembly occurring within the United States). This deduction applies above-the-line, reducing adjusted gross income, and directly affects individual taxpayers buying qualifying U.S.-made vehicles. The bill does not change existing tax rules but adds this specific deduction for eligible auto loans.

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 summaryS 1589, the Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025, updates U.S. immigration parole rules to allow temporary entry for specific groups under strict criteria. It permits parole for urgent humanitarian reasons (like life-threatening medical emergencies or family reunification) or significant public benefit (such as assisting law enforcement), but only on a case-by-case basis - not for entire groups. The bill specifically expands eligibility for military family members, Cuban nationals under historical migration agreements, and those needing urgent medical care or organ transplants. Parole lasts up to one year (with possible one-year extensions) and does not grant work authorization except for military families and Cuban nationals, while requiring detailed annual reporting to Congress.

This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.