Maddy summaryThe REPAIR Act requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide consumers and repair facilities with access to vehicle data, repair information, tools, and parts necessary for maintenance and repairs. It prohibits manufacturers from using technological or contractual barriers that restrict consumers' ability to choose repair facilities or use alternative parts, including aftermarket, recycled, or remanufactured components. The law mandates that manufacturers make critical repair information available to repair shops and alternative parts manufacturers at fair, reasonable costs, and ensures owners can access vehicle data without restrictions. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these requirements, with penalties for violations, and an advisory committee will monitor implementation and identify barriers to competition. This legislation directly affects car owners, independent repair shops, parts manufacturers, and vehicle manufacturers by promoting competition and consumer choice in vehicle repair.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe American Family Act creates a new monthly child tax credit that would provide $300 per month for each child under age 6 and $300 per month for each child age 6 and older, with income-based eligibility limits. The credit would be refundable, meaning it could be paid even if a family owes no income tax, and would replace the current annual child tax credit. The bill establishes income thresholds ($150,000 for joint filers) above which the credit begins to phase out, with full phase-out at $400,000 for joint filers. It also includes provisions for "presumptive eligibility" to allow for advance payments based on previous tax returns or government program data. The bill would terminate the existing annual child tax credit after 2024, replacing it with this monthly payment system.
Maddy summaryThe BRAIN Act creates new research initiatives to improve brain tumor treatment and care. It establishes a searchable database of NIH-funded brain tumor biospecimens, funds a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network with $50 million annually, and supports cellular immunotherapy research with $10 million annually. The bill also mandates a national awareness campaign about clinical trials and biomarker testing, and funds pilot programs to improve care coordination for brain tumor survivors. These provisions directly affect over 1 million Americans living with brain tumors and aim to improve research coordination, treatment options, and quality of life through concrete funding and policy changes.
Maddy summaryThe Raise the Wage Act of 2025 gradually increases the federal minimum wage from $9.50 to $17.00 per hour over six years, with future annual increases tied to median wage growth. It eliminates the separate lower minimum wage for tipped workers (currently $2.13/hour base), requiring employers to pay the full minimum wage to all tipped employees starting in 2031. The bill also ends the special $4.25/hour starting wage for workers under 20, phasing it out by 2030. Additionally, it prohibits new special wage certificates for disabled workers under Section 14(c) and requires their phaseout by 2030, while providing transition support for affected employers and workers.
Maddy summaryThe Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. The Federal Labor Relations Authority will determine if states' laws "substantially provide" these rights, and if not, the federal standards will apply to affected workers. The bill guarantees rights like forming labor organizations, negotiating wages and working conditions, and resolving disputes through mediation or arbitration, while prohibiting strikes that would disrupt emergency services. Existing collective bargaining agreements and units are protected from the bill's implementation.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 159) is a ceremonial Senate measure honoring the late Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr. (1932-2024), who represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate from 1972 to 1997. It commemorates his career, including his work on energy policy, flood control, and Louisiana conservation efforts, and requests the Senate adjourn in his memory while sending condolences to his family. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1308, VETS Opportunity Act of 2025) changes how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) counts independent study programs toward education benefits for veterans. It requires these programs to include regular, substantive interaction between students and instructors to qualify for VA funding. The bill also specifies that only institutions participating in federal student aid programs (Title IV of the Higher Education Act) can offer qualifying independent study courses. These changes apply to education terms starting August 1, 2025, directly affecting veterans pursuing VA-covered independent study courses.
Maddy summaryS 1310, the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act, denies tax deductions for employer spending aimed at influencing workers' decisions about union organizing or collective bargaining. It amends the tax code to block deductions for expenses like anti-union consultant fees, captive audience meetings, and other tactics that interfere with labor rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Employers must report such spending on tax returns with specific details, including dates, amounts, and whether activities relate to unfair labor practice charges. This directly affects businesses that engage in anti-union organizing tactics, removing a tax incentive for these activities while preserving deductions for standard union negotiations.
Maddy summaryS 1275, the Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act, provides federal funding to help schools on federal lands improve their aging facilities. It targets federally impacted local educational agencies (those serving schools on federal property like Indian reservations or military bases) that struggle with poor building conditions and limited local funding capacity. The bill authorizes $250 million annually for four years to fund competitive emergency repairs for schools with health/safety hazards and formula grants for agencies with limited bonding capacity. Local matching requirements vary based on financial capacity, with some agencies required to contribute 10-25% of project costs depending on their ability to pay.
Maddy summaryThe IDEA Full Funding Act (S 1277) mandates specific annual funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) starting in fiscal year 2026. It sets fixed dollar amounts or percentage-based funding (ranging from 11.6% to 40% of a calculated base) for states providing special education services to children with disabilities aged 3-21. Funding becomes available on July 1 each year and remains accessible through September 30 of the following year, with amounts increasing annually through 2035. This directly affects all states receiving IDEA grants by guaranteeing minimum federal funding tied to the number of eligible students and national per-pupil spending averages.