Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2023 requires organizations making campaign-related disbursements over $10,000 to disclose detailed information about their funding sources, including the names and addresses of major donors and the top 5 or 2 funders for political communications. It closes loopholes allowing foreign nationals to influence U.S. elections by prohibiting foreign contributions to ballot initiatives and requiring disclosure of foreign money in campaigns. The bill also mandates "stand by every ad" requirements, requiring political communications to include disclaimers identifying who paid for them and listing major funders. These provisions apply to corporations, labor organizations, and other groups making political expenditures, with the goal of increasing transparency in campaign finance.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 503 establishes a new Space National Guard as a reserve component of the U.S. Space Force, composed of state-level units in areas where the Space Force operates. It directly affects National Guard members in participating states, territories, Puerto Rico, and D.C., who would join this new space-focused reserve force. The bill requires implementation within 18 months and mandates annual congressional briefings on its progress, including missions, personnel, and funding. It also clarifies definitions in military law and explicitly states the bill won’t require relocating existing military installations.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act by changing the geographic criteria to include all land in certain counties near nuclear test sites. It directly affects people who lived in those counties and were previously excluded from benefits due to outdated land descriptions. The key change removes specific township references and broadens coverage to "all acreage in any county" where part of the county was previously covered. The bill requires the Attorney General to submit a report on outreach efforts to newly eligible individuals within 180 days of enactment.
Maddy summaryThis symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 69) designates February 18-25, 2023, as "National FFA Week" to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the National FFA Organization. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing future agricultural leaders through its educational programs, which serve over 850,000 students across all 50 states and territories. The resolution has no legal effect - it is a ceremonial expression of support, not a policy change. It directly affects the FFA organization and its members by highlighting their educational mission during a designated week.
Maddy summaryThe COMFORT Act (S 456) allows mental health professionals to provide emotional support counseling to military families anywhere in the U.S. (including states, D.C., and territories) without location restrictions for the provider or family. It specifically covers licensed mental health providers recognized by the Defense Secretary, or Department of Defense personnel/contractors working under authorized programs. The law removes barriers that previously required counseling to occur at specific locations, enabling services to be provided on-base, remotely, or at other locations within the U.S. This directly affects military families seeking non-medical counseling and the providers authorized to deliver it under Defense programs.
Maddy summaryS 334, the Retain Skilled Veterans Act, limits the appointment of retired military members to senior-level positions within the Department of Defense. The bill amends a law to restrict appointments to roles at or above GS-14 (senior-level) in the Department of Defense's competitive or excepted service. This directly affects retired members of the Armed Forces seeking such high-level positions in defense-related government work. The change modifies existing hiring rules but does not create new benefits or programs for veterans.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans with combat-related disabilities and less than 20 years of service to receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation simultaneously. Previously, such veterans had their retired pay reduced to avoid "concurrent receipt" of both benefits. The bill removes the 20-year service requirement for this group, applying specifically to those retired under Chapter 61 of Title 10 with a combat-related disability as defined in existing law. It does not change eligibility for veterans with non-combat disabilities or those with 20+ years of service.
Maddy summaryThis bill excludes certain federal broadband grants from recipients' taxable income, directly affecting internet service providers, local governments, tribes, and other entities receiving qualifying grants under specific programs. Key provisions clarify that grant money from programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (Section 60102) or State Digital Equity Grants (Section 60304) is not counted as income. It also prevents double tax benefits by disallowing deductions for expenses covered by these grants and reducing the adjusted basis of related property. The rule applies to grants received after March 11, 2021, and covers grants funded through federal broadband initiatives or state/local programs using specific federal funds.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 317 (Reproductive Freedom for All Act), guarantees Americans the right to make reproductive decisions - including access to contraceptives and abortion care - without undue government interference, directly affecting all individuals and state governments. It prohibits states from banning contraceptives or imposing barriers to abortion before fetal viability (when a fetus can survive outside the womb), while allowing reasonable health-related regulations and permitting post-viability abortions when medically necessary to protect a patient’s life or health. The law explicitly bases these protections on established Supreme Court precedents (like *Griswold* and *Roe*) and responds to the *Dobbs* decision by creating federal safeguards. States violating these provisions could face legal challenges seeking court-enforced remedies.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new visitor category for Canadian citizens aged 50 or older who maintain a primary residence in Canada. It allows them to enter the U.S. for up to 240 days per year (within a 365-day period) if they own or rent property in the U.S., meet immigration requirements, and agree not to work for U.S. employers or access certain public benefits. The bill also clarifies that these visitors remain classified as nonresident aliens for U.S. tax purposes. It directly affects Canadian retirees seeking extended stays in the U.S. without changing their primary residence or employment status in Canada.