Sen. Bernie Moreno

Maddy summarySRES 391 is a symbolic Senate resolution condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative campus advocate and founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. The resolution expresses the Senate’s strongest condemnation of the killing, extends condolences to his family (including his wife Erika and two children), and honors his work promoting civil discourse on college campuses. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create policy changes or affect any individuals through legislative action.

Maddy summaryS 2821, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2025, directly affects U.S. tech companies and foreign workers in H-1B visa and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs. It terminates the OPT program (ending work authorization for international students after graduation) and raises the H-1B wage floor to $150,000 annually (adjusted for inflation), requiring employers to pay at least the wage of comparable U.S. workers. The bill also prohibits H-1B visas for work at third-party client sites unless the assignment is specific and continuous, and mandates prioritizing higher-paying H-1B petitions. These changes aim to reduce reliance on foreign labor at below-market wages in the tech sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to strengthen federal efforts addressing harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia across marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. It establishes a new Task Force required to develop a comprehensive Action Strategy every five years, examining causes, ecological impacts, and economic consequences of HABs in diverse environments including the Great Lakes, coastal waters, and freshwater systems. The bill authorizes $19.5 million annually for NOAA and $8 million annually for the EPA (fiscal years 2026-2030) to implement these provisions, creates a national monitoring network for HABs, and establishes an incubator program to develop innovative prevention strategies. It mandates consultation with states, tribes, local governments, and affected industries like fisheries and agriculture to address HABs impacts on public health, ecosystems, and communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to change how banks count "reciprocal deposits" (deposits from other banks) when calculating brokered funds. It sets tiered percentage limits: banks with under $1 billion in total deposits can count up to 50% of reciprocal deposits as local, while larger banks face lower percentages (40% for $1B-$10B, 30% for $10B-$250B, etc.). The rule directly affects banks that use deposit brokers, particularly medium and large institutions, by allowing them to count more reciprocal deposits toward local deposit requirements. This reduces the portion of deposits classified as "brokered," potentially easing compliance for banks seeking to maintain local deposit ratios.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the District of Columbia from implementing policies that prevent cash bail for defendants posing a clear threat to public safety. It specifically requires cash bail as a condition for pretrial release for defendants charged with offenses like violent crimes (e.g., assault, sexual abuse, robbery), repeat offenders, or those who failed to appear in court. The bill also bans automatic pretrial detention for all defendants charged with violent offenses such as murder, rape, or burglary. These provisions directly affect individuals in DC criminal cases who would otherwise face cashless release or automatic detention. The law aims to ensure public safety by mandating cash bail for specific high-risk cases while preventing blanket detention policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal grants for states or local governments that maintain policies limiting cash bail for individuals charged with specific violent or disorderly crimes. It defines "covered offenses" as violent acts (murder, rape, robbery) or crimes promoting public disorder (looting, rioting, fleeing police). Starting October 1 after enactment, the Attorney General cannot award or renew such grants to jurisdictions with bail policies that substantially limit cash bail for these offenses. The bill directly affects state and local governments whose bail laws for these crimes conflict with the federal grant eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryS 2714 (CHAT Act) requires companies operating AI chatbots designed to simulate friendship or emotional interaction (like companion AI chatbots) to verify user ages and implement protections for minors. It mandates age verification for all users, parental account linkage and consent for minors, blocking access to sexually explicit content for minors, and monitoring for suicidal ideation with resource links. Companies must also display clear notifications every 60 minutes stating users are interacting with AI, not humans. The bill directly affects minors under 18 and the companies providing these chatbot services, with enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.

Maddy summaryS 2687, the CLEAN DC Act, repeals the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-345). This bill directly affects Washington, D.C.'s policing laws and regulations by restoring all prior legal provisions that were amended or repealed by the 2022 law. The key mechanism is a straightforward repeal, returning the District's policing framework to its pre-2022 state without creating new policies. The bill does not introduce new provisions but reverses specific changes enacted in 2022.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the one-year anniversary of the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. It condemns the attack and other threats against political officials, honors victims Corey D. Comperatore (who died shielding his family), David Dutch, and James Copenhaver (who were injured), and expresses gratitude to first responders. The resolution also condemns incitement of violence against elected officials and calls for unity against political violence. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but formally states the Senate’s position.

Maddy summarySRES 347 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the chamber's view that the Federal Reserve should lower interest rates. It urges the Board of Governors and Federal Open Market Committee to take "immediate steps" to reduce rates, arguing high rates increase borrowing costs for families (mortgages, loans) and businesses (equipment, expansion), while also raising prices for goods and services. The resolution states that lower rates would support economic growth, job creation, and affordability, though it explicitly acknowledges the Federal Reserve's independence. It does not change policy or require the Fed to act, as resolutions like this only reflect congressional sentiment. The resolution was introduced on July 30, 2025, and referred to the Banking Committee.