Maddy summaryThe GRACE Act establishes a minimum annual refugee admission level of 125,000, requiring the U.S. to admit at least that many refugees each fiscal year unless the President sets a higher number (with 125,000 automatically applying if no determination is made). It mandates that the President consider the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' global resettlement needs when setting annual numbers and allocate refugees regionally, including an unallocated reserve for unexpected regional needs after notifying Congress. The bill also requires quarterly reports to Congress on refugee admissions, including regional breakdowns, security clearance rates, processing times, and plans to meet annual goals, enhancing transparency in the refugee admissions process.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National Voter Registration Act to allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices to serve as official voter registration agencies for new naturalized citizens. It requires USCIS offices to facilitate voter registration applications during naturalization processes and mandates that courts conducting naturalization ceremonies permit USCIS to provide registration assistance. The bill directly affects newly naturalized citizens who complete their citizenship process at USCIS offices or through court ceremonies. Key provisions establish joint procedures between states and USCIS for registration and clarify that existing immigration fees and grant programs may fund these voter registration services.
Maddy summaryThis bill excludes certain wildfire relief payments from taxable income for individuals affected by federally declared wildfires. It applies to payments covering uninsured losses like property damage, additional living expenses, or emotional distress resulting from qualified wildfires (declared after 2014). The exclusion prevents double tax benefits by disallowing deductions for expenses already covered by these payments. The policy change applies only to payments received between 2020 and 2025.
Maddy summaryThe Invest in Child Safety Act of 2024 establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to coordinate federal efforts against child sexual exploitation, led by a Director with specific qualifications in managing organizations and prosecuting child exploitation cases. It creates a $5 billion fund to support prevention, treatment, and enforcement activities, with specific allocations including $100 million for U.S. attorneys' child exploitation prosecutions, $20 million to the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and $60 million for Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces. The bill requires annual reporting on key metrics such as investigations, arrests, and prosecutions related to child sexual exploitation, and includes provisions to modernize the CyberTipline system used to report such crimes. This legislation directly affects federal agencies, law enforcement units, victim support services, and organizations working to prevent and respond to child sexual exploitation.
Maddy summaryS 3694 (SWIMS Act of 2024) bans the public display of orcas, beluga whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales by prohibiting their export, import, taking, and breeding for such purposes under federal law. It directly affects marine parks, aquariums, and facilities that currently display these species, requiring any movement to be for sanctuary placement (non-profit, natural-environment settings) or wild release. The bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Animal Welfare Act to make it unlawful to permit these whales for public display or breeding for display, while allowing limited exceptions for individual animal well-being in designated sanctuaries.
Maddy summaryS 3688, the FAIR Act, sets pay adjustments for federal employees in 2025. It increases base pay by 4% for most federal workers covered under statutory pay systems and prevailing rate employees (those paid according to local market rates). Additionally, it raises locality pay adjustments by 3.4% for 2025. The bill directly affects all federal employees whose pay is determined under these specific pay systems. These changes are mandated by statute and apply to calendar year 2025.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 534) designates January as "Muslim-American Heritage Month" to officially recognize and celebrate the contributions of Muslim Americans to U.S. society. It directly affects Muslim Americans by formally acknowledging their cultural, historical, and economic impacts, including their roles in fields like architecture, business, military service, and the arts. The resolution supports the designation, honors Muslim Americans' integral role in the nation's economy and identity, and urges public observance through ceremonies and activities. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it does not create new laws but serves as a symbolic gesture of recognition.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of Energy to study and publicly report on greenhouse gas emissions intensity (emissions per unit of product) for 22 specific product categories, including aluminum, cement, lithium-ion batteries, and solar panels. It mandates comparing U.S. production emissions with those of "covered countries" (like G7 nations, U.S. trade partners, and major exporters). The study must create a public database of findings every five years, detailing methodology, data sources, and gaps in emissions data for both U.S. and foreign production. This is a data-gathering measure only - it does not impose new emissions regulations or affect current policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for eligible taxpayers. It raises the maximum credit rate from 35% to 50% (with income phaseouts), doubles the annual dollar limits from $3,000/$6,000 to $8,000/$16,000 for one/two or more dependents, and makes the credit refundable for qualifying taxpayers. The credit becomes refundable, meaning families can receive payments even if they owe no income tax. The bill also includes automatic annual inflation adjustments starting in 2025 to maintain the credit's value. It directly benefits working families with childcare costs, particularly those earning between $125,000 and $400,000 in adjusted gross income.
Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.