Sen. Ted Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific water transfers between public water supplies in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the Lacey Act, which typically prohibits moving invasive species. The exemption applies only if prohibited species are present in both the sending and receiving water sources, and approved mitigation measures (like chemical treatment, filtration, or timing restrictions) are used. Before each transfer, the water supplier must notify the receiving supplier about species present, transfer details, and mitigation plans. The entity selling the water for profit bears the cost of these mitigation measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 771, the SAVES Act) would amend the Endangered Species Act to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from listing any living nonnative species as threatened or endangered. It directly affects the Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the Endangered Species Act, by preventing them from adding nonnative species (species introduced outside their natural range, like invasive animals or plants) to the threatened or endangered species list. The key mechanism is adding a new section to the Endangered Species Act that explicitly blocks this listing authority under Section 4(c) of the law. This change would prevent the legal process of designating nonnative species as protected under the Act, though it does not affect existing listings or other protections for native species.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a 1999 appropriations law to prevent U.S. government entities from honoring trademarks tied to confiscated foreign assets. It directly affects businesses or individuals claiming trademark rights over marks previously used in connection with assets seized by foreign governments, unless the original owner or their legal successor consented. The key change requires that anyone asserting trademark rights must have known or had reason to know the mark was linked to confiscated assets. The bill also adds a new requirement that such rights can only be enforced if the claimant had actual knowledge of the confiscation at the time of acquisition.

Maddy summaryS 741, the Traveler's Gun Rights Act, amends federal gun law definitions to clarify where individuals are considered "residents" for background check purposes. It specifies that active-duty military members can use their duty station state or daily commute location as their "state of residence," and people without a physical home may use a mailbox address. The bill also requires background checks to include either a physical address or mailbox address for the buyer, ensuring consistent application across state lines. This directly affects travelers, military personnel, and individuals using mailboxes when purchasing firearms.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 requires the U.S. government to address forced organ harvesting by mandating annual reports on the issue in foreign countries and allowing passport denial or revocation for individuals convicted of organ trafficking. It directs the President to impose sanctions - including asset blocking and visa bans - on individuals or entities involved in forced organ harvesting, with exceptions for humanitarian aid. The bill defines "forced organ harvesting" as organ removal by coercion, deception, or abuse of power, and "trafficking" as recruiting or transporting people for organ removal through similar means. These provisions aim to hold accountable those exploiting vulnerable individuals for organ removal.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts federal funding for community health centers that provide abortion services, except when necessary to save the mother's life. It amends a federal health law to prohibit funds from being used for abortions, barring health centers receiving such grants from offering abortion care under any other circumstances. The law defines "abortion" as intentionally ending a pregnancy, excluding cases where the procedure is needed to preserve the mother's life or address a non-viable pregnancy. This directly affects federally funded health centers that currently provide abortion services, requiring them to separate funding for abortion care from their federal grants. The policy change applies specifically to health centers receiving funds under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal and state prisons to house inmates based on biological sex (defined by reproductive anatomy and chromosomes at birth), prohibiting co-location of inmates of different biological sexes except for temporary, non-overnight arrangements. It directly affects all federal prisons and state correctional facilities receiving federal funding under the Omnibus Crime Control Act. The law mandates that housing decisions use biological sex and requires states to certify compliance to receive federal correctional funding. It does not address violence prevention measures but focuses solely on housing separation policies.

Maddy summarySRES 97 is a Senate resolution expressing concern about Mexico's economic policies and security challenges, while reaffirming U.S. interests in strengthening bilateral relations. It specifically highlights issues like restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports, energy sector disruptions, and Mexico's deteriorating security environment - including cartel violence, fentanyl trafficking, and weak border management. The resolution calls on the U.S. President to defend American economic interests, address border security, and partner with Mexico to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking. It also urges Mexico to uphold regulatory independence, protect U.S. investments under USMCA, and reduce foreign influence from China and Russia. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally states congressional priorities for U.S.-Mexico cooperation.

This bill repeals provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with respect to the definition of broker and reporting requirements for digital assets.