Maddy summaryThe SECURE Act would allow certain foreign nationals to adjust their immigration status to lawful permanent residence. It specifically targets individuals who are nationals of countries designated under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or who were in TPS, and who have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least three years. The bill includes provisions for work authorization while applications are pending, fee exemptions for vulnerable applicants (such as minors, low-income individuals, and those in foster care), and a "stay of removal" for those with pending applications. It also contains confidentiality protections for application information and requires detailed reporting when countries lose TPS status. The bill aims to streamline the process for eligible TPS holders to obtain permanent residency without having to file motions to reopen prior removal orders.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 243 is a Senate resolution designating June 2023 as "Immigrant Heritage Month" to honor the contributions of immigrants and their children to the United States. It highlights their roles in key areas like health care (e.g., 27% of physicians), economic growth, and cultural diversity, without creating new laws or altering policies. As a non-binding resolution, it encourages public recognition through community events but does not affect any legal status or rights.
Maddy summaryThe BUMP Act of 2023 (S 1909) prohibits the sale, possession, and transfer of devices that increase the rate of fire on semiautomatic firearms, including "bump stocks" and similar modifications. It directly affects owners of semiautomatic firearms modified to speed up firing or mimic machineguns, requiring them to register such weapons within 120 days of enactment. Key provisions ban devices designed to eliminate the need for separate trigger pulls per shot and define "semiautomatic firearm" to exclude machinegun-like modifications. The bill exempts government entities and pre-existing legal modifications from the ban, provided they are registered.
Maddy summaryThe Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2023 would authorize $300 million annually for five years to expand school-based mental health services. It requires schools to partner with community mental health providers to implement comprehensive programs that include universal mental health screenings, trauma-informed training for staff, and family engagement initiatives. The law mandates that programs be culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and track specific outcomes like improved academic performance, reduced disciplinary actions, and increased access to mental health care. This legislation directly affects public schools, students with mental health needs, and community mental health providers nationwide.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence, which will identify and organize resources for individuals affected by gun violence. It directly impacts victims (including those wounded, threatened, witnessing incidents, or connected to victims) and their families, as defined by the bill to cover suicide, homicide, domestic violence, mass shootings, and other firearm-related incidents. The council will assess victim needs, compile best practices for medical, financial, mental health, and legal support, and publish accessible resources online and to government offices. The council must report to Congress and state agencies within 180 days of enactment, with a follow-up report two years later, but requires no new federal funding and expires after five years.
Maddy summaryThe Care for COFA Veterans Act expands health care access for veterans living in the Freely Associated States (Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia) by allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide both service-connected and non-service-connected medical care in those regions. It authorizes VA to cover travel costs for veterans seeking treatment for service-connected conditions within these nations and requires the VA to collaborate with local governments to address legal barriers like health care provider licensing and medical supply delivery. The bill also mandates the VA to conduct outreach with these nations and submit a detailed report within one year on implementation, including options for using local clinics, telehealth, and facility construction.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to request financial institutions to provide data on how individuals involved in domestic terrorism or gun violence acquire firearms and accessories. Within one year of enactment, FinCEN must consult with law enforcement agencies and analyze the data to develop an advisory identifying suspicious financial patterns linked to gun violence. If sufficient data isn't collected, FinCEN must report to Congress detailing gaps and barriers. The bill also requires defining key terms like "lone wolf" and "firearm accessory" to guide this process.
Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens oversight of licensed gun dealers by increasing compliance inspections from once to three times annually (Section 2) and raising criminal penalties for violations from one to five years (Section 3). It introduces new requirements, including mandatory physical inventory checks when dealers unlawfully transfer firearms or 10+ crime guns are traced to them (Section 8), and allows the ATF to suspend licenses or impose $10,000 civil penalties per violation for safety failures or trafficking-related offenses (Section 5). The bill also expands license denial grounds to include public safety risks or unsuitability (Section 9) and mandates biennial reports on implementation to Congress (Section 12). These changes directly affect licensed firearms dealers, importers, manufacturers, and collectors under federal law.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the online distribution of digital instructions (like 3D printer files) that can automatically create firearms or complete firearm frames/receivers. It directly affects individuals or entities sharing such code online, not those using 3D printers to make guns. The key mechanism bans sharing this code via the internet or World Wide Web, aiming to prevent untraceable firearms that lack serial numbers. This addresses a safety concern where 3D-printed guns evade detection and background checks, undermining firearm tracing used in crime investigations.
Maddy summaryS 1831, the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2023, protects designated roadless areas within the National Forest System by prohibiting road construction, reconstruction, and logging in those areas, as defined by the existing Roadless Rule. This directly affects National Forest visitors, communities relying on clean water from protected watersheds, Native American tribes with sacred sites in these areas, and forest managers. The bill codifies current protections under the Roadless Rule, ensuring these areas remain undisturbed to maintain water quality, biodiversity, recreation opportunities, and habitat for wildlife. It does not restrict access to National Forests outside these designated areas or impose new limitations on land use beyond the existing rule.