Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 168) expresses the U.S. Senate's support for the "Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative," which calls on communities to demand equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and inclusion for LGBTQI+ students in K-12 schools. It specifically highlights the need to address anti-LGBTQI+ policies in states - including restrictions on sports participation, bathroom access, and classroom curricula - and cites research showing these policies harm students' mental health, academic performance, and sense of safety. The resolution urges states and localities to adopt inclusive policies like anti-bullying protections and gender-neutral dress codes to create affirming school environments. It does not create new laws but serves as a symbolic endorsement of efforts to combat discrimination against LGBTQI+ youth, particularly transgender, nonbinary, and students of color.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe BUMP Act (S 1374) bans devices that increase the firing rate of semiautomatic firearms to mimic machineguns, directly affecting owners of modified firearms. It prohibits importing, selling, or possessing devices (like "bump stocks") that speed up firing or eliminate the need for separate trigger pulls, and requires registration of existing modified semiautomatics within 120 days. The law exempts government agencies and pre-enactment modifications that are registered. This targets specific firearm modifications, not all semiautomatic weapons.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025, expands the Earned Income Credit (EIC) to make it more accessible and generous for low-income workers without children. It lowers the minimum age for the credit from 25 to 19 (with exceptions for students, former foster youth, and homeless youth), removes the maximum age limit, and increases the credit amount and income thresholds. The bill also adjusts these amounts for inflation and allows taxpayers to use their prior year’s earned income if it was higher, applying to taxable years starting after 2025. These changes extend the credit to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa without prior time limits.
Maddy summaryS.1391, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2025, amends the 2009 Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act to improve collaboration on ocean acidification issues. It requires the federal advisory board to include two tribal representatives and mandates ongoing input mechanisms - like liaisons or online platforms - from coastal stakeholders, fishery councils, Indigenous knowledge groups, and non-Federal experts. The bill specifically directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize collaboration with Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and underserved coastal communities in research planning, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation efforts. These changes aim to integrate diverse community knowledge into federal ocean acidification monitoring and response strategies.
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 summaryS 1394, the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, provides federal funding to support clinics offering family planning services under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. It allocates $512 million annually (2026-2035) for grants to clinics and $50 million for clinic infrastructure like construction and equipment. The bill requires clinics receiving this funding to provide nondirective pregnancy counseling, ensuring patients receive neutral information about all options - including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination - with referrals upon request. This directly affects Title X clinics and their patients by increasing financial support and mandating specific counseling standards.
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.