Sen. Ruben Gallego

Maddy summarySRES 220 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution recognizes officers who have been killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty, including 234 officers honored for 2024 fatalities and 18 officers killed in 2025. It expresses the Senate’s support for law enforcement, acknowledges the need for adequate resources for officer safety, and encourages public observance to celebrate their service and sacrifices. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study the financial costs of extreme heat across multiple sectors. It requires quantifying impacts like health expenses (emergency visits, hospitalizations), property damage, insurance claims (health, workers' compensation, agriculture), labor productivity losses, infrastructure disruptions, and energy costs. The study must gather input from over 20 federal agencies and non-government partners, then produce public recommendations for tracking heat-related costs. NOAA must publish the final report on HEAT.gov within four years, using a $3.5 million federal appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines how conservation practice standards are developed and updated for U.S. agricultural programs. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a public, rolling review process for conservation standards every five years (replacing the previous annual requirement), prioritizing innovative technologies like precision agriculture and nutrient-efficient farming methods. Farmers, state agricultural agencies, and the public will gain clearer pathways to submit new conservation practices for consideration and provide input during reviews. The bill also mandates publishing all proposed changes, public comments, and final decisions online to improve transparency.

Maddy summaryThe STOP China Act prohibits federal funding for the procurement of certain vehicles (including buses) or related infrastructure from companies tied to China. It bans U.S. government contracts using "covered funding" for vehicles made by "covered entities" - defined as companies headquartered in China, controlled by China, or linked to Chinese state-owned entities, particularly those producing electric powertrains. The U.S. Trade Representative must publish and update a public list of these prohibited companies within 30 days of enactment, with quarterly updates initially. Exceptions allow funding for vehicle safety testing, investigations, and research, but the law directly affects federal transportation agencies, contractors, and companies with significant Chinese ownership or control.

Maddy summaryThe HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act requires the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Agriculture (USDA), and Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a formal agreement for sharing housing-related research and market data. Within 180 days of enactment, these agencies must jointly submit a report to Congress detailing opportunities for improved collaboration to enhance efficiency in housing programs, and publish the report for 30 days of public comment beforehand. This bill directly affects HUD, USDA, and VA by mandating new coordination procedures but does not change existing housing laws or funding. The focus is on streamlining data sharing and collaborative planning between the three agencies to support evidence-based policymaking.

Maddy summaryThis bill would adjust Social Security and Medicare tax provisions for high-income earners. It would raise the Social Security wage base to $400,000 (so income above this level would no longer be subject to Social Security tax) while adding a new 1.2% tax on wages exceeding $400,000 (or $500,000 for joint returns). It would similarly create a 1.2% tax on self-employment income above $400,000. Additionally, it would impose a 13.6% tax on investment income for individuals with modified adjusted gross income above $400,000. The revenue generated would be allocated to Social Security and Medicare trust funds, with 71.3% going to Old-Age and Survivors, 10.3% to Disability Insurance, and 28.7% to Hospital Insurance.

Maddy summaryThe LIHEAP Parity Act (S 1700) changes how states receive federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It removes a previous exception that allowed states to use different calculation methods, requiring instead that all states receive funding based on standardized, current data about poverty rates. The bill directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to issue regulations specifying exactly which data sources (like poverty statistics) will be used and how often they must be updated to ensure accurate funding allocations. This directly affects all 50 states and territories that administer LIHEAP, ensuring funds are distributed more uniformly based on up-to-date economic conditions.

Maddy summaryS 1668 prohibits senior U.S. government officials - including the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and Senate-confirmed appointees - from issuing, sponsoring, or endorsing cryptocurrencies, tokens, or stablecoins for profit. It also bans acquiring similar financial interests through derivatives or investment funds, while allowing normal public market trading. Violations face civil penalties of up to 10% of the financial interest's value or profits gained, and criminal charges if losses exceed $1 million or personal financial gain occurs. The law applies during official service and for one year after leaving office.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the commercial provision of conversion therapy - defined as paid attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - as it is deemed ineffective and harmful. It directly affects therapists, clinics, and any commercial entity offering such services, while exempting gender transition support and non-discriminatory counseling. Key mechanisms include prohibiting paid conversion therapy, banning deceptive advertising (e.g., claiming it’s harmless), and empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce penalties. The law focuses on preventing fraud by stopping profit-driven practices with no scientific basis, aligning with professional consensus on the risks.

Maddy summaryS 1635, the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act, requires appraisers working on mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to be certified or licensed by the state where the property is located (with exceptions for federal employees). It mandates that appraisers complete specific training on FHA requirements and meet competency standards before conducting FHA-related appraisals. The bill also creates a new "State credentialed trainee appraiser" category, allowing states to establish trainee programs, and adds a $20 annual fee for trainees on the national registry. These changes apply specifically to FHA-insured mortgages and affect appraisers, state licensing agencies, and appraisal management companies.