Sen. Mark R. Warner

Maddy summaryThe NO BAN Act (S 4961) expands federal anti-discrimination protections in immigration law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on national origin or religion for nonimmigrant visa holders, refugees, and other temporary travelers. It reforms Section 212(f) of immigration law by requiring the President to provide specific, credible evidence to Congress within 48 hours before restricting entry, mandating narrow tailoring of such restrictions, and requiring waivers for family/humanitarian cases. The bill also creates detailed reporting requirements for all entry restrictions, including quarterly updates to Congress and public reports on visa denials, waivers, and refugee admissions. This directly affects travelers, visa applicants, and refugees impacted by presidential entry bans or restrictions, while adding new procedural checks on executive authority.

Maddy summaryThe Campus Accountability and Safety Act amends the Clery Act to improve transparency and support for survivors of campus violence. It requires colleges and universities receiving federal funds to collect and report detailed statistics on sexual assault, dating violence, and other offenses, including how many cases were reported to Title IX coordinators and how many proceeded through disciplinary processes. The bill mandates institutions to establish confidential "sexual and interpersonal violence specialists" who provide trauma-informed support, create uniform disciplinary procedures for violence cases, and maintain accessible websites with information about reporting options and campus resources. These provisions directly affect all colleges and universities receiving federal funding, requiring them to implement new policies and reporting requirements within specified timeframes.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor U.S. and Filipino military personnel who defended Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu during World War II, as well as the impacted Saskinax̂ people of Attu who were imprisoned by Japan. The medal, designed by the Secretary of the Treasury, would be presented by congressional leaders and permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover production costs, with proceeds returned to the U.S. Mint. The bill recognizes historical service through a commemorative medal without creating new benefits or entitlements.

Maddy summaryS 3849, the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024, requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help U.S. companies and federal agencies participate more effectively in global standards development for artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Key mechanisms include creating a public web portal listing international standards efforts and opportunities for U.S. involvement, and establishing a pilot program to host standards meetings in the U.S. through grants to eligible organizations. The bill directly affects U.S. technology companies, federal agencies, and standards bodies by providing tools to coordinate participation and reducing barriers to hosting international meetings. It aims to strengthen U.S. influence in setting global technical standards without changing existing laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts federal agencies from using federal funds to purchase or lease drones made by DJI Technologies and Autel Robotics by adding them to a list of prohibited equipment. It also creates a $15 million grant program for state and local law enforcement agencies to buy secure drones not made by these companies or other "foreign entities of concern," with federal funding covering up to 75% of costs. The program requires drones to meet security standards, safeguard civil liberties, and avoid critical components from restricted foreign entities. Grants are available for two years or until funds are exhausted, ending fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a tax exclusion allowing employers to pay employees' student loans tax-free under educational assistance programs. It directly affects employees who receive such employer assistance and employers offering these programs. The key provision removes the previous expiration date (January 1, 2026), ensuring the tax exclusion remains in effect indefinitely. The change applies to all payments made after the bill's enactment, eliminating future uncertainty for both employers and employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large and mid-sized banks (with over $10 billion in assets) to regularly test and prove they can quickly access short-term loans from the Federal Reserve's discount window during financial stress. It mandates quarterly testing for banks over $100 billion in assets and semiannual testing for those between $10-$100 billion, along with updated operational procedures like 24/7 access until 8 p.m. and an online platform for faster loan approvals. The law also simplifies how banks pledge collateral (including small business loans) and requires regulators to incorporate discount window readiness into routine bank examinations. Smaller institutions receive targeted technical assistance to improve their access to these critical liquidity tools.

Maddy summaryS 4737 designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia, as the "Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building." The bill changes official references to this location in all federal records, maps, and documents to reflect the new name. This is a purely commemorative measure with no policy changes, funding, or impact on residents or postal services. It directly affects the administrative naming of the building in federal records.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new above-the-line tax deduction for performing artists (actors, musicians, dancers) to deduct work-related expenses directly from gross income, rather than itemizing deductions. It establishes a phaseout starting at $100,000 gross income (or $200,000 for joint returns), reducing the deduction by 10% for every $2,000 earned above that threshold. The bill also clarifies that commissions paid to an artist’s manager or agent count as deductible expenses and raises the "nominal employer" threshold for certain deductions from $200 to $500. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023, with annual cost-of-living adjustments to the phaseout thresholds.

Maddy summarySRES 765 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma following his death on July 9, 2024. The resolution commemorates his 28-year Senate service (1994-2023) and 52 years in public office, highlighting his work on defense policy, aviation legislation, infrastructure projects, and support for military bases in Oklahoma. This procedural resolution expresses the Senate's condolences and formally recognizes his legacy, rather than enacting any policy changes.