Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Maddy summarySJRES 84 is a joint resolution seeking to block a rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Affordable Care Act. The rule, published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2025, aimed to improve affordability and integrity in health insurance marketplaces. If approved, this resolution would invalidate the rule under a federal disapproval process, preventing its implementation. This directly affects how health insurance plans are structured and priced for consumers using ACA marketplaces.

Maddy summaryThe REAADI for Disasters Act requires federal, state, and local governments to ensure people with disabilities and older adults have equal access to disaster services through accessible communication (including American Sign Language, captions, and plain language), inclusive planning processes, and accessible shelters. It establishes a new Disaster Human Services Emergency Fund to provide rapid support during disasters, including accessible housing, transportation, case management, and community-based services. The bill mandates that people with disabilities and older adults be included as key decision-makers in all phases of disaster planning, response, recovery, and mitigation, and requires adherence to accessibility standards for rebuilding damaged housing. It also creates training centers to help emergency management agencies better serve these communities and ensures that all disaster-related communications and services meet accessibility requirements.

Maddy summarySRES 288 is a Senate resolution condemning recent ideologically motivated attacks on Jewish individuals, including a violent assault in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025, and other incidents like the attack on Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, D.C., and fires at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence. The resolution formally expresses the Senate’s condemnation of these acts as part of a growing pattern of antisemitism and politically motivated violence. It reaffirms the Senate’s commitment to protecting peaceful assembly and religious practice, while urging federal, state, and local law enforcement to thoroughly investigate such incidents and calling on community leaders to publicly oppose antisemitism. This resolution has no legal effect but serves as a formal statement of the Senate’s position.

Maddy summaryThe PROTECT Military Families Act (S 3592) creates a new immigration parole program for spouses, parents, children, and widows/widowers of current or former military members. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant temporary U.S. entry in one-year increments to eligible family members of active-duty service members, reservists, or honorably discharged veterans. Denials require a joint written justification from three cabinet secretaries (Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans Affairs) and must be publicly posted with detailed reasoning (excluding personal information). This bill directly affects military families seeking reunification by establishing a structured, transparent process for temporary immigration relief.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes fees for unaccompanied children in multiple immigration processes. It directly affects minors defined as "unaccompanied alien children" under the Homeland Security Act (those without parents or guardians in the U.S.), by exempting them from fees for asylum applications, employment authorization, immigration court filings, and other related services. Key provisions include repealing the special immigrant juvenile fee and adding explicit exemptions to 10 different fee sections in immigration law. The bill also requires the government to refund fees paid under repealed or amended provisions within 180 days. It further limits information sharing between health and immigration agencies to protect these children’s privacy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and honors the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and Capitol staff (including custodial, janitorial, and maintenance personnel) who protected the building during the assault. It recognizes their bravery in defending Congress during the attack, which injured over 100 officers and contributed to five officer deaths, and acknowledges their ongoing essential work in maintaining Capitol operations. The resolution expresses Senate gratitude for their service and reaffirms commitment to protecting democratic processes. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds to compensate individuals prosecuted for the January 6 Capitol attack, including those later pardoned. It bans using funds from the Judgment Fund, victim compensation programs, or creating new compensation funds for these individuals. Additionally, it prevents refunds of court-ordered restitution, fines, or special assessments paid by convicted rioters, directing any such funds to the Architect of the Capitol instead. The law directly affects people convicted (or pardoned) for involvement in the January 6 attack.

Maddy summaryS 3581, the "No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act," prohibits using federal funds (including the Judgment Fund) to settle claims by individuals convicted of assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach. It directly affects those convicted under federal or D.C. law for assaulting officers during the Capitol events, banning settlements for claims related to harm suffered during the events or prosecution for those acts. The bill's key mechanism blocks all federal financial obligations for such settlements, regardless of the claim's basis. This is a substantive policy change affecting legal settlements for specific convicted individuals, not a procedural measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a new project team within 180 days to overhaul how veterans schedule health care appointments. The team must develop a centralized system showing all available appointments across VA facilities and providers, a self-service online platform for veterans to book appointments (including referrals), and a phone-based scheduling option for veterans to book appointments directly. These changes must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment, with progress reports to Congress on costs, challenges, and metrics. The bill directly affects veterans seeking VA health care by aiming to make scheduling more efficient and accessible across all VA services.

Maddy summarySJRES 82 is a joint resolution seeking to block a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding how the agency should follow the text of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), a federal law governing how agencies create regulations. The rule, published in March 2025, was identified by the Government Accountability Office as a "rule" subject to the Congressional Review Act. If enacted, this resolution would void the HHS policy, preventing it from taking effect and requiring HHS to disregard this specific internal guideline. The bill directly affects HHS's rulemaking procedures by invalidating the policy statement on APA adherence.