Sen. Mark Kelly

Maddy summaryS 2928, the Water Infrastructure Subcontractor and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2023, requires federal water infrastructure projects funded through the WIFIA program to have payment and performance security to protect taxpayers. It mandates that contractors provide security covering at least 50% of the construction cost, either through state/local requirements or federal bond standards if no state rules apply. This directly affects contractors working on federally funded water projects and ensures taxpayer funds are safeguarded against project failures. The bill amends existing law to add these security requirements without altering project eligibility or environmental standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the private possession, sale, or transfer of rifles capable of firing .50 caliber ammunition, with exceptions for government use and rifles lawfully owned before the law's enactment. It requires owners of such rifles to register them with the National Firearms Registry within 12 months (without fees), and adds these rifles to existing federal firearm reporting requirements. The bill also expands restrictions to prevent firearms from reaching foreign narcotics traffickers designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act and modifies legal protections for gun sellers who knowingly supply prohibited weapons.

Maddy summarySRES 355 is a Senate resolution recognizing that Native American communities on federal reservations, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian communities face critical barriers to clean drinking water, with nearly half lacking reliable access. It affirms the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to address this issue and directly urges the executive branch to take concrete action. The resolution calls for creating an interagency task force to expedite water infrastructure projects, provide technical assistance to tribes for accessing federal funding, and ensure infrastructure development is not delayed by unresolved water rights disputes. It emphasizes that existing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act requires better support to be effectively implemented, without tying progress to water rights settlements. This resolution expresses the Senate’s policy stance but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summarySRES 208 is a Senate resolution designating November 12, 2023, as "National Warrior Call Day." It encourages U.S. citizens, particularly those connected to military service, to reach out to veterans through peer-to-peer conversations to support their mental health and transition from military life. The resolution highlights veteran suicide statistics (6,146 deaths in 2020) and emphasizes that isolation - exacerbated by the pandemic - increases risks for conditions like PTSD. It does not create new programs but urges public engagement to connect veterans with support systems. This is a symbolic, awareness-raising measure with no binding policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe End Diaper Need Act of 2023 increases funding for diaper assistance through the Social Services Block Grant Program, allocating $1.9 billion over four years (2024-2027) to help low-income families with infants, toddlers, medically complex children, and adults with disabilities. The bill requires states to distribute free diapers and incontinence supplies through community programs, integrate with existing assistance programs like Medicaid and WIC, and report on how funds are used while ensuring funds supplement rather than replace existing state funding. It also expands the definition of "medically necessary diapers" for tax purposes and requires Medicaid waivers for medically complex children to include 200 diapers per month, with additional amounts available if a healthcare provider specifies medical need. The law includes evaluation requirements to measure the program's impact on health outcomes related to diaper need, with reports to Congress and public availability of results.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires standardized presentations about Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits during preseparation counseling for service members transitioning from military to civilian life. It mandates that these presentations be reviewed by the VA and veterans service organizations before use, include information on how to file claims, and cannot promote specific organizations. The VA must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing which veterans service organizations participated, attendance numbers, and recommendations for improvement. The bill directly affects service members receiving transition assistance, ensuring they receive consistent, accurate information about VA benefits.

Maddy summaryS 2895, the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023, makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable. This change directly affects low-income adoptive parents who previously could not claim the credit if they owed no federal income tax. The bill restructures the credit in the tax code to allow families to receive it as a direct payment, even if their tax liability was zero. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and includes a transitional rule for credits carried forward from prior years. The law does not alter the credit amount or eligibility criteria, only its refundability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to include hazing incidents in their annual security reports and publish detailed public transparency reports. It defines hazing as intentional acts causing physical or mental harm during group initiation or membership, and mandates institutions to create annual Campus Hazing Transparency Reports. These reports must list verified hazing incidents, organizational involvement, investigation timelines, and sanctions - while protecting student privacy - starting 12 months after enactment. Reports must be updated twice yearly and remain publicly available for seven years. The law applies to all U.S. institutions participating in federal higher education programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the Food for Peace program after Peter O'Brien and makes key changes to how U.S. agricultural commodities are provided for international food aid. It prohibits using cash, vouchers, or food bought outside the U.S. for aid, limits non-commodity expenses to 50% of annual funds, and requires detailed annual reports on fund usage and program waivers. These changes directly affect U.S. agricultural exports and international food assistance programs administered by the U.S. government. The bill focuses on directing aid through U.S.-produced commodities while increasing transparency in how funds are spent.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hire the maximum number of new air traffic controllers each year from 2024 through 2028, based on the training capacity of the FAA Academy. It directly affects the FAA, which must set annual hiring targets aligned with its ability to train new controllers. The law does not change existing hiring rules but mandates that the FAA utilize its full training capacity each year for new controller hires during this period. It excludes certain individuals specified under federal law, but the core provision focuses on maximizing new controller recruitment within available training resources.