Maddy summaryThe Women's Retirement Protection Act (S 988) requires spousal consent for certain distributions from defined contribution retirement plans (like 401(k)s), addressing a gap where these common plans currently lack protections for spouses that traditional pension plans provide. It aims to protect women's retirement savings during divorce, when retirement accounts are often the largest asset divided. The bill also authorizes $100 million annually for grants to improve financial literacy among women and assist low-income women and domestic violence survivors in obtaining retirement benefits through divorce. These provisions directly affect millions of women who face retirement income gaps due to the gender pay gap and caregiving responsibilities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill transitions Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from TSA-specific personnel systems to the standard federal system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, requiring completion by December 31, 2025. It prohibits changes to current TSA personnel policies during transition, ensures no reduction in pay or benefits for employees, and preserves collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The bill mandates annual reports on workforce satisfaction, retention rates, and actions to improve morale, as well as reports on recruitment, diversity, and workplace safety to Congress. It includes specific protections for Federal Air Marshals regarding mental health, suicide rates, and workplace conditions. The TSA must submit detailed implementation plans to Congress within 7 days of the bill's enactment.
Maddy summaryS 935 prohibits the U.S. President from selling or licensing the export of specific military equipment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or its agencies. The bill blocks these defense exports under the Arms Export Control Act until the President certifies to Congress that the UAE is not providing military support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. Covered items include weapons and defense articles listed in specific categories of the U.S. Munitions List (e.g., Category I-VIII, XIV, XVI-XVIII). This directly affects U.S. defense contractors and the UAE government by halting certain arms sales until the certification condition is met. The law imposes a concrete restriction on defense exports based on a defined foreign policy condition.
Maddy summaryS 951, the "Stop Comstock Act," amends federal obscenity laws to remove outdated and restrictive language. It deletes terms like "indecent" and "immoral" from Title 18 (e.g., Sections 552, 1461, 1462) and the Tariff Act, which were historically used to block access to reproductive health materials. The bill directly affects how federal law defines "obscene" materials, eliminating references to abortion, contraception, or "immoral use" that could be misapplied to restrict lawful medical information. This is a technical legal update to clarify that federal obscenity laws do not cover protected reproductive health content.
Maddy summaryThe Tariff Transparency Act of 2025 requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate and report on the economic impacts of tariffs imposed on imports from Mexico and Canada, including the 25% duties on general goods and 10% duties on Canadian energy imports. The report must assess how these tariffs affected consumer prices for everyday items like food, energy, medical goods, and vehicles, as well as the consequences of retaliatory tariffs from Mexico and Canada on U.S. consumers, farmers, and small businesses. It also evaluates how ongoing tariff uncertainty impacts business investment, job creation, and operations across key sectors like manufacturing and agriculture. The Commission must submit this detailed report to Congress within one year of the bill’s enactment, excluding confidential business information.
Maddy summaryThe Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025 would create a federal program providing downpayment assistance to first-generation homebuyers purchasing primary residences. The program would allocate $100 billion to states and eligible organizations to cover downpayment, closing costs, and mortgage rate reductions, with assistance capped at $20,000 or 10% of the home's purchase price. To qualify, applicants must be first-generation homebuyers (neither they nor their parents previously owned a home), meet income limits, and complete homeownership counseling. The program includes reporting requirements to track demographic data and ensure fair housing outcomes, with funds available until expended.
Maddy summaryThe Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act of 2025 establishes a new initiative to help agricultural producers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (encompassing parts of six states and the District of Columbia) implement conservation practices that improve water quality and soil health. The bill provides funding for erosion control, nutrient reduction, and habitat restoration, including a new pilot program that allows landowners to install riparian buffers with no cost to them and with technical assistance provided by third-party providers. A new task force will develop better methods for measuring the environmental benefits of conservation activities in the watershed. The legislation also modifies existing conservation programs to prioritize Chesapeake Bay watershed conservation efforts and includes workforce development provisions for agricultural education.
Maddy summaryS 914, the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, allows veterans involuntarily removed from federal civil service positions without cause between January 20, 2025, and the bill’s enactment date to seek reinstatement to their former role or a similar qualified position. It directly affects eligible veteran federal employees and requires all executive agencies to submit detailed reports every 90 days to congressional committees, including the number of veteran removals and the reasons for each. The reports must cover the period from the bill’s enactment until January 20, 2029, and include specific data on veteran separations. This bill creates a formal process for veterans to regain federal employment and mandates transparency through regular agency reporting.
Maddy summaryThis bill protects certain federal employees who were involuntarily separated between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2029, and later rehired by their former agency. It requires that if a rehired employee is placed in a position similar to their previous role, their new probationary period is shortened by the amount of probation they already completed in their prior position. For example, if their original probation was 1 year and they served 6 months before separation, their new probation would be 6 months. The law expires on January 20, 2029, and applies only to Executive agencies.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed to pose a danger to themselves or others. To qualify for grants, states and tribes must enact legislation meeting specific requirements, including petition processes, notice and hearing procedures, and standards for issuing ERPOs. The bill requires states to notify federal authorities about ERPOs and update the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, ensuring ERPOs are recognized across state lines. It also mandates training for law enforcement on the safe, impartial use of ERPOs and includes provisions for reporting demographic data on petitioners and respondents. The legislation directly affects states, tribes, law enforcement officers, and individuals subject to ERPOs.