Sen. Michael F. Bennet

Maddy summaryThe STABLE GENIUS Act (S 1803) prohibits federal elected officials (including the President, Vice President, Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners) and candidates for these offices from owning, buying, selling, or holding digital assets (such as cryptocurrencies) during their term in office, the election period, and for one year after leaving office. To comply, officials must place any existing digital assets into a "qualified blind trust" approved by their ethics office, which must sell the assets within six months and certify annually that it shares no trust details with the official. The bill requires ethics offices to publicly post trust agreements and imposes civil penalties of up to $250,000 for violations, with criminal penalties including fines and up to 18 years in prison for knowingly causing significant financial harm or profiting from prohibited transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new pre-charter planning subgrants (up to $100,000 each) for charter school developers led by educators with at least 54 months of school-based experience and proven leadership. It directly affects educator-led groups seeking to open new charter schools, requiring them to have completed a community needs plan. Key provisions include reserving 5% of grant funds for these educator-led subgrants and adjusting funding percentages for other charter school support activities. The bill modifies existing grant programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to prioritize educator involvement in charter school development.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal agencies from recognizing Russia's claim of sovereignty over Crimea or any other Ukrainian territory seized by force. It requires all federal departments and agencies to avoid any actions, nonhumanitarian aid, or spending that implies such recognition, unless Ukraine's democratically elected government formally approves it. The policy explicitly bans U.S. government actions that could signal acceptance of Russia's territorial claims in Ukraine. This applies directly to all U.S. federal agencies and their spending decisions related to Ukraine.

Maddy summarySRES 218 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning the acceptance of presidential aircraft or other substantial gifts from foreign governments. It states such acceptance poses national security risks (citing Air Force One’s sensitive technology) and violates the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which requires congressional consent for presidential gifts from foreign states. The resolution demands that any such gift must have explicit congressional approval and urges rejecting foreign aircraft that don’t meet U.S. defense security standards. It applies to the President and sets a procedural expectation, not a new law, emphasizing constitutional compliance and public trust.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 224) calls for urgent U.S. diplomatic action to address the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where approximately 2.2 million civilians face acute hunger and malnutrition, including 10,000 children identified with acute malnutrition since January 2025. It highlights that Gaza’s borders have been blocked since March 2, 2025, preventing entry of food, medicine, and other lifesaving aid, leading to closed bakeries and exhausted food rations. The Senate resolution specifically urges the White House and State Department to use all available diplomatic tools to end the blockade, secure hostage releases, and achieve a durable conflict resolution. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact law but formally expresses the Senate’s concern and directs executive branch action.

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 summaryS 1723, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, provides federal funding to help states create or improve programs that support charter schools' access to facilities. It authorizes $100 million annually (2026-2030) for competitive grants to state education agencies, prioritizing states that expand charter school access to public buildings, provide tax-exempt financing, or grant charter schools first rights to purchase surplus public property. States using these funds must focus on reducing facility funding gaps between charter schools and traditional public schools, particularly in low-income and rural communities, while supplementing (not replacing) existing state funding. The bill also includes provisions for technical assistance and grants to help charter schools meet building codes and secure facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Small Business Disaster Coordination Act (S 1698), amends the Small Business Act to improve disaster recovery support for small businesses. It allows SBA resource partners (like local service centers) to provide advice and assistance to small businesses in disaster areas outside their usual service zone, provided they coordinate with a local partner serving that area. The assistance period is limited to two years (with possible extension) and requires resource partners to share information with the SBA to better inform businesses about disaster loan options. This change directly affects small businesses in disaster-impacted communities and their access to coordinated recovery resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and updates the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program through 2034, extending its current authorization period. It increases the annual funding cap for proposals from $4 million to $8 million and adds new requirements for projects addressing wildfire risk, watershed health, and ecological restoration across public, tribal, state, and private lands. The bill also expands the program's focus to include monitoring for species or pathogens and requires federal staffing plans for collaborative groups. It directly affects federal agencies like the Forest Service and collaborative groups managing forest restoration projects nationwide. The changes aim to strengthen existing partnerships and address evolving forest management challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to provide emergency financial assistance to farmworkers affected by disasters. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to fund eligible farmworker organizations (like community groups or nonprofits with farmworker experience) to deliver immediate relief - such as food, shelter, or cash assistance - during covered disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics, or extreme weather. Funds can also support building long-term community resilience against future disasters. The program applies to migrant or seasonal farmworkers who earned half their income from farm work in the past two years, with grants available until fully spent.