Sen. Bill Hagerty

This resolution celebrates the 246th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. flag, recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable part of life for the people of the United States for generations, and defends the constitutionality of the pledge.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends two existing federal grant programs to support individuals recovering from substance use disorders. It increases annual funding for treatment and workforce grants from $5 million to $36 million (2024-2028), with allocations based on a state's overdose death rate, unemployment rate, and labor force participation rate compared to national averages using 2018-2022 data. States with higher overdose deaths, unemployment, or lower workforce participation receive more funding. The bill also allows grant funds to cover transportation for participants traveling to work, job training, or recovery services, and extends the Recovery Housing Program through 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new controls on the export of sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens and individuals in the U.S. to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting it for national security threats. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to identify categories of personal data that could harm national security if transferred abroad, and to establish thresholds (ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000 covered individuals) for when data exports require licensing. Companies would need licenses to transfer data to "restricted countries" above these thresholds, with exceptions for encrypted data, journalism, personal data of the individual themselves, and data transfers necessary for services. The bill also establishes a process for determining which countries are considered "restricted" based on their data protection laws and potential for exploitation by foreign governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to use its influence at the United Nations to extend the mandate of the UN Human Rights Council’s fact-finding mission on Venezuela. It requires the State Department to advocate for the mission’s continuation until Venezuela holds free elections, ends Nicolás Maduro’s rule, restores democracy, frees political prisoners, and delivers humanitarian aid. The bill also mandates annual U.S. reports to Congress on these efforts and urges UN action to address human rights violations, support humanitarian aid, and assist detained individuals. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela and the UN mission’s ability to investigate human rights abuses since 2014.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to prioritize classical or traditional architectural styles for new or renovated federal buildings costing over $50 million, including courthouses, agency headquarters, and District of Columbia buildings. It defines "preferred architecture" as classical styles (like Neoclassical or Georgian) that "uplift public spaces" and "command respect," while limiting approvals of modern styles like Brutalism or Deconstructivism. The GSA must notify Congress and justify any deviation from preferred designs, including cost comparisons and public input, and submit annual reports on building styles. The bill creates a 5-year advisory council to recommend design policy updates and ensure compliance with these standards.

Maddy summaryS 1926 would expand US-Uruguay economic ties by adding Uruguay to a trade program offering tariff benefits, enabling US businesses to access Uruguay under specific visa programs (E-1/E-2), and requiring a review of Uruguay's eligibility for the US visa waiver program. It directly affects US businesses seeking to operate in Uruguay and Uruguayan citizens seeking US business visas. Key provisions include updating trade designations, treating Uruguay as a qualifying country for business visas, and mandating a 90-day report on visa waiver eligibility. The visa waiver review is a procedural requirement, not an immediate policy change.

Maddy summaryS 1907, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023, increases penalties for crimes committed against licensed firearm businesses. It amends federal law to impose a maximum 20-year prison term for knowingly violating firearm licensing rules or attempting to do so. If a burglary or robbery occurs on a licensed dealer’s, manufacturer’s, or importer’s business premises, the law mandates minimum sentences of 3 years for burglary and 5 years for robbery. This bill directly affects federal firearms licensees by strengthening criminal penalties for attacks on their business locations.

Maddy summarySRES 242 is a Senate resolution commending the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on the 90th anniversary of the 1933 TVA Act. It recognizes the TVA’s historic role in improving river navigation, controlling floods, providing affordable electricity, and promoting economic development across seven states (Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia). The resolution honors the TVA’s mission since its founding during the Great Depression and requests that a copy be delivered to its leadership for display. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryS 1843 (End Child Trafficking Now Act) requires adults (18+) entering the U.S. with minors under 18 to prove a family relationship through documents or a witness, with DNA testing as a last resort if proof is insufficient. If an adult refuses DNA testing or fails to provide valid proof, they may be denied entry and the minor treated as an unaccompanied child. The bill also creates a new federal crime ("recycling of minors") for adults who repeatedly use a minor they aren’t related to for illegal entry, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This directly affects adults traveling with minors, immigration officers, and law enforcement handling entry-related trafficking cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires proxy advisory firms (companies that provide voting recommendations to investors) to register with the SEC and disclose their methodologies, conflicts of interest, and staff qualifications. It mandates these firms to ensure recommendations are based on accurate information, correct errors promptly, and avoid using recommendations influenced by clients' other business with the firm. The bill also requires large investment advisors and pension funds to report how they use proxy advice and provide customers with mechanisms to indicate their voting preferences. Additionally, it prohibits automatic "robovoting" based on proxy firm recommendations and requires ESG funds to disclose performance comparisons with non-ESG index funds.