Maddy summaryThis bill allows border states (adjacent to the U.S. northern or southern borders) to place temporary, movable structures on federal land for border security without needing a special use permit, provided they give the relevant federal agency 45 days' notice. The structures can be placed for up to one year, with possible 90-day extensions if the Secretary concerned approves based on input from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which must determine that "operational control" of the border hasn't been achieved. It directly affects border states (like Texas, California, Arizona, Montana, Washington) and federal land agencies managing borderlands (such as the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service). The key change removes a permitting barrier for temporary border security measures, tying extensions to CBP's assessment of border security status.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to modernize its Weather Radio All Hazards network (NWR). It directs NOAA to upgrade existing systems to expand coverage - especially in rural, underserved, and National Park areas - while improving reliability and maintenance. Key provisions include transitioning from outdated copper infrastructure to more reliable telecom systems, enhancing software for county-level weather alerts, and developing backup plans for service outages. The modernization aims to ensure NWR remains a dependable emergency alert source for the public during weather events.
Maddy summaryS 1414, the National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act, requires the National Weather Service (NWS) to replace its internal messaging system (NWSChat) with a commercial cloud-based solution by October 1, 2027. The new system must be publicly hosted, scalable for future growth, user-friendly, and similar to widely used commercial platforms. The bill specifies that implementation must use existing NOAA funding, with no new appropriations authorized. This change directly affects NWS personnel who rely on internal communications for weather forecasting and public safety operations.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution condemns attacks by Iran-backed militia groups on U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria, which have injured over 60 service members and damaged infrastructure. It urges the Biden administration to increase pressure on Iran to stop supporting such attacks and to take steps to deter future incidents, including maintaining U.S. military presence in the region. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria for regional stability and counterterrorism efforts, while commending military actions taken in self-defense.
Maddy summarySRES 453 is a ceremonial Senate resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. It honors TCU's founding in 1873, historical milestones (including its relocation after a 1910 fire), academic programs, athletic achievements (like Big 12 titles and NCAA appearances), and its role in educating over 100,000 alumni. The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any policies - it solely expresses the Senate’s recognition of TCU’s contributions to education and the community. This is a symbolic gesture with no direct impact on constituents or legislation.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from providing health care or processing health care claims for individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are not already eligible for VA benefits under existing law. It directly affects non-citizens without legal immigration status who would otherwise seek VA health services. The key mechanism bans VA health care services and claims processing for this group, while preserving eligibility for veterans and others legally residing in the U.S. The bill does not alter current VA eligibility rules for citizens or lawfully present individuals.
Maddy summaryS 3493, the UNRWA Reform Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to certify specific conditions before any U.S. funds can be obligated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). These conditions include verifying UNRWA employee vetting for terrorism risks, confirming UNRWA schools have no antisemitic content through an independent audit, ensuring refugee registrations stem from the 1948 displacement, and requiring UNRWA to recognize designated terrorist groups like Hamas. The bill directly affects U.S. funding for UNRWA, which provides aid to Palestinian refugees. It sets concrete procedural requirements that must be met before funds are released, without altering UNRWA's operational structure.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal grant rules for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells (orphan wells). It removes a requirement for states to measure methane emissions or conduct specific monitoring activities to qualify for these grants, giving states flexibility to choose whether to collect such data. Additionally, it directs the Interior Department to commission a National Academies study within 180 days to examine how plugging these wells affects local economies, housing, and water quality in communities where many wells were cleaned up. The study must include input from all five U.S. regions and report to Congress within 18 months of the last grant being awarded, using existing funding.
Maddy summaryThe Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (S 1418) strengthens privacy protections for children under 13 and teens aged 12-17 online. It requires websites, apps, and connected devices that target children or teens, or are reasonably likely to be used by them, to obtain verifiable consent from parents for children and from teens themselves for those aged 12-17 before collecting personal information. The bill prohibits targeted marketing to children and teens, establishes a "Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Teens," and creates a Youth Privacy and Marketing Division within the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these rules. It also sets out specific Fair Information Practices Principles requiring transparency, data accuracy, security, and proper data disposal for children's and teens' personal information.
Maddy summaryThe Kids Online Safety Act requires social media platforms and other online services used by minors to implement safety features protecting children under 17. It mandates default privacy controls, limits addictive features like automatic media playback, restricts advertising of harmful products (tobacco, gambling, alcohol) to minors, and requires annual transparency reports about online risks. Platforms with over 10 million monthly U.S. users must provide parental tools, conduct independent audits, and make de-identified data available for research on online harms. The bill focuses on preventing mental health disorders, bullying, sexual exploitation, and addictive behaviors through platform design changes.