Sen. John Fetterman

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time for same-sex couples legally married before September 16, 2013, to file for tax refunds they missed because they filed separately instead of jointly. It applies to couples who filed individual returns for tax years ending before that date but could have filed joint returns if same-sex marriage recognition had been in effect. The bill extends the deadline for claiming refunds on those returns until the standard tax filing deadline for the year the bill becomes law. It specifically covers changes to marital status under tax law and does not affect other tax filings or claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Internal Revenue Code to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with neutral language such as "married couple" or "spouse" across 31 tax code sections. It directly affects all married taxpayers filing federal income taxes, as it modernizes terminology in provisions covering joint returns, deductions, estate taxes, and other tax filings. The key mechanism is a comprehensive linguistic revision - amending phrases like "his spouse" to "the individual's spouse" - to ensure the tax code reflects all married couples equally without specifying gender. This is a procedural update to language only, with no changes to tax rates, benefits, or eligibility.

Maddy summaryThe STOP CSAM Act of 2025 strengthens protections for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by expanding definitions of abuse to include psychological abuse and kidnapping, and by imposing new reporting requirements on internet service providers. The bill requires providers with over 1 million monthly users to report apparent child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline within 60 days, with penalties for noncompliance including fines up to $1 million for large providers. It creates new civil remedies allowing victims to sue providers who host or promote child pornography, and establishes protections for "covered persons" (children under 18 who are victims or witnesses) by limiting public disclosure of their personal information. The bill also enhances law enforcement's ability to investigate online child exploitation while maintaining privacy safeguards for victims.

Maddy summarySRES 296 is a Senate resolution condemning antisemitism and recent antisemitic attacks, specifically referencing the May 21, 2025, murders of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky at a Washington, DC, event and the June 1, 2025, Boulder, Colorado, Molotov cocktail attack. It cites data showing a record 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024 (a 63% rise in hate crimes since 2022) and notes Jewish Americans face disproportionate harm, including 68% of religious hate crimes despite being 2.4% of the U.S. population. The resolution does not create new laws but formally expresses the Senate’s condemnation, mourns the victims, and encourages society to combat antisemitism and support Jewish communities. It also recognizes the importance of existing federal resources, like the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, for community safety.

Maddy summaryThe Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 (S 2150) prohibits state laws that impose unnecessary restrictions on abortion access before fetal viability. It directly affects patients seeking abortion care and health care providers (including clinics, hospitals, and medical professionals), banning requirements like mandatory in-person visits, location-based travel barriers, or restrictions on telemedicine that don’t apply to comparable medical procedures. The bill overrides conflicting state laws, requires courts to consider factors like cost and travel burden when evaluating restrictions, and establishes federal enforcement through lawsuits to stop violations. It focuses on ensuring access to abortion services without burdens that hinder care, while allowing post-viability abortions only when necessary to protect a patient’s life or health.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic concurrent resolution (not a law), expressing congressional support for U.S. law enforcement officers. It highlights statistics on officer safety risks, traumatic incidents, and line-of-duty deaths, then calls for increased safety measures, resources, and mental health support - without mandating specific actions or funding. The resolution does not change policy or affect any individuals directly; it serves only to publicly affirm support. It was passed unanimously by the Senate on June 18, 2025.

Maddy summarySRES 287 is a non-binding Senate resolution reaffirming U.S. commitment to protecting refugees and displaced persons globally. It highlights the record 123 million forcibly displaced people worldwide (as of 2024) and specifically addresses the current suspension of U.S. refugee admissions, which has left over 100,000 refugees stranded in conditional approval status. The resolution calls for restoring the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and urges federal agencies to uphold international refugee protections, including due process and resettlement for vulnerable groups like women, children, and refugees from conflict zones like Sudan and Gaza. It emphasizes that refugee resettlement supports U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests, citing data showing refugees contributed $581 billion in government revenue between 2005-2019.

Maddy summaryS 2129 (SAFE Tax Filing Act of 2025) allows certain victims of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment to file taxes as "single" instead of married. It applies to individuals living apart from their spouse at year-end, who are survivors of domestic abuse (defined broadly to include physical, psychological, or economic abuse) or spousal abandonment (where reasonable efforts to locate the spouse fail), and who indicate this on their tax return. Tax preparers must verify eligibility for this election under new requirements. The change only affects the individual’s filing status, not their spouse’s, and applies to taxable years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Wall Street Tax Act of 2025 imposes a new transaction tax on securities trading in the U.S. It applies to purchases on U.S. exchanges or involving U.S. persons, and to derivative contracts meeting specific criteria. The tax rate starts at 0.02% for transactions in 2026-2027, gradually rising to 0.1% after 2029, based on the fair market value of the security or derivative payment. Excluded are initial security issuances and short-term debt (under 100 days). The tax is paid by exchanges, brokers, or directly by U.S. traders depending on the transaction type, effective after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes annual federal funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), which helps expand access to healthy food in underserved communities. It directs $25 million for fiscal year 2025, increasing to $50 million annually starting in 2029, to support projects like grocery stores and farmers' markets in food deserts. The funds, sourced from the Commodity Credit Corporation, directly support low-income neighborhoods lacking affordable fresh food options. This is a procedural funding extension for an existing program, not a new policy change.