Sen. Jeff Merkley

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 670) expresses support for the goals of the 2026 Day of Silence, an event designed to highlight anti-LGBTQI+ bullying, harassment, and discrimination faced by individuals in K-12 schools. It focuses on improving the educational environment for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ young people, by drawing attention to issues like unequal educational opportunity and a lack of civil rights protections. The resolution encourages states, cities, and local school districts to adopt laws and policies that explicitly prohibit bullying and discrimination against students, teachers, and other school staff based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.

Maddy summaryThe Millionaires Surtax Act introduces a new 10% tax on the portion of an individual's income that exceeds $2 million. This surcharge applies to high-income taxpayers starting with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, but the threshold is lowered to $1 million for those filing separately. The law includes specific adjustments for nonresident aliens, citizens living abroad, and charitable trusts, while explicitly excluding this new tax from calculations for other federal credits.

Maddy summaryThe Stop CHEATERS Act directs the Internal Revenue Service to increase its enforcement efforts against high-income individuals and large corporations while also expanding taxpayer support services. To achieve this, the bill appropriates billions of dollars over several years to fund IRS investigations, hire additional staff, purchase vehicles, and modernize outdated technology systems. Additionally, the legislation requires the IRS Commissioner to submit regular reports to Congress detailing plans to shift auditing resources toward wealthy taxpayers and analyzing collection gaps across different income levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act," repeals two sections of the Internal Revenue Code. It eliminates Section 25F, which provides a tax credit for contributions made to scholarship granting organizations. Additionally, the bill repeals Section 139K, which allows certain educational assistance to be excluded from an individual's gross income. These changes primarily affect taxpayers who currently claim these credits or exclusions, and organizations involved in scholarship grants or providing educational assistance. The amendments generally take effect for taxable years ending after December 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to prohibit a specific foreign military sale of defense articles and services to Israel. The bill directly affects the proposed transaction involving 12,000 BLU-110A/B bomb bodies and related support services. It uses the congressional review process under the Arms Export Control Act to disapprove the sale without requiring new legislation. The measure would prevent the sale if passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 32) prohibits a specific foreign military sale to Israel of defense articles and services, including D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers, spare parts, technical support, and logistics services. It directly blocks the sale described in Transmittal No. 24-38, which was submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act and published in the Congressional Record on March 3, 2025. The resolution uses Congress's statutory authority to disapprove the sale, preventing the U.S. government from proceeding with this transaction. The bill does not create new policy but stops a specific proposed transfer of military equipment.

Maddy summaryThe Combating Illicit Xylazine Act places xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, subjecting it to federal regulation as a controlled substance. It specifically allows veterinary use without requiring registration of the ultimate user (e.g., pet owners or veterinarians) if xylazine is dispensed by a registered veterinarian or pharmacy with a vet prescription and used for animals owned by the user, under their care, or in authorized animal programs. The bill provides a one-year delay for labeling and packaging requirements and a 60-day delay for registration and recordkeeping for veterinary use to ease implementation. Additionally, it adds xylazine to the Arcos tracking system for controlled substances and mandates two congressional reports on illicit use prevalence within 18 months and 4 years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally honors Oregon athletes who competed in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics. It specifically recognizes six named athletes - Jacqueline Wiles, Hunter Hess, Sean FitzSimons, Alessandro Barbieri, Anna Soens, and Ravi Drugan - for their participation in skiing and snowboarding events. The measure also acknowledges the support provided by the athletes' families, coaches, and staff members. This symbolic gesture serves to celebrate the accomplishments of these Oregonians without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThe Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026 aims to improve food access for older adults, adults with disabilities, and kinship families by expanding and streamlining several federal nutrition programs. The bill extends SNAP certification periods, creates a standard medical expense deduction, and establishes simplified application processes for eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities. It also funds a new program to reimburse retail food stores for delivering groceries to these vulnerable populations and provides grants for outreach and application assistance. Additionally, the Act expands eligibility and increases funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, including grants for market modernization and infrastructure development to support local food access.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Iran that occurred without a formal declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. The bill is based on Congress's constitutional authority to declare war and cites statements from current administration officials who have referred to the conflict as a war. While ordering troop withdrawal, the resolution allows the U.S. to continue defending against attacks, sharing intelligence, assisting allies, and evacuating American citizens. The measure applies expedited legislative procedures and does not prevent future military action if Congress provides explicit authorization.