Sen. Mazie K. Hirono

Maddy summarySRES 800 is a symbolic Senate resolution introduced on August 1, 2024, by a bipartisan group of senators. It condemns the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally and honors three individuals affected: Corey D. Comperatore (who died shielding his family), David Dutch (critically injured), and James Copenhaver (critically injured). The resolution calls for national unity and civility following the violent incident. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but expresses the Senate's stance on the event.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 1983 of federal law (42 U.S.C. 1983), which currently allows lawsuits against state and local officials for violating constitutional rights. The amendment adds "of the United States" before "of any State," explicitly extending this legal right to sue to federal officials acting under federal authority. It directly affects individuals who believe federal employees or agencies violated their constitutional rights, such as through unlawful searches or denials of due process. The key change enables civil lawsuits against federal actors under the same legal standard previously only applicable to state and local government actions.

Maddy summaryThe NO BAN Act (S 4961) expands federal anti-discrimination protections in immigration law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on national origin or religion for nonimmigrant visa holders, refugees, and other temporary travelers. It reforms Section 212(f) of immigration law by requiring the President to provide specific, credible evidence to Congress within 48 hours before restricting entry, mandating narrow tailoring of such restrictions, and requiring waivers for family/humanitarian cases. The bill also creates detailed reporting requirements for all entry restrictions, including quarterly updates to Congress and public reports on visa denials, waivers, and refugee admissions. This directly affects travelers, visa applicants, and refugees impacted by presidential entry bans or restrictions, while adding new procedural checks on executive authority.

Maddy summaryThe Digital Integrity in Democracy Act (S 4977) amends Section 230 of the Communications Act to create a new exception: social media platforms with at least 25 million U.S. monthly users must remove *objectively false information* about election timing, location, voter eligibility, or penalties if notified. Platforms must delete such content within 24 hours on election days or 48 hours otherwise, and provide written confirmation of removal. Violations allow the Attorney General, state officials, or candidates to sue for $50,000 per item of unremoved false information. The law explicitly excludes political speech about candidates, officeholders, or parties from this definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor U.S. and Filipino military personnel who defended Bataan, Corregidor, and Attu during World War II, as well as the impacted Saskinax̂ people of Attu who were imprisoned by Japan. The medal, designed by the Secretary of the Treasury, would be presented by congressional leaders and permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover production costs, with proceeds returned to the U.S. Mint. The bill recognizes historical service through a commemorative medal without creating new benefits or entitlements.

Maddy summaryThe George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2024 establishes new accountability measures for law enforcement by requiring data collection on use of force, stops, and racial profiling; creating a national misconduct registry; banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases; and mandating body cameras for officers. The bill would affect all Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies receiving federal funding, particularly those participating in Byrne or COPS grant programs. It includes requirements for agencies to collect and report data on stops and searches disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender, and to implement training on racial bias and de-escalation techniques. The legislation also creates new reporting requirements for use of force incidents and establishes penalties for agencies failing to comply with these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 39) expresses Congress's view that individuals wrongfully or unjustly deported after establishing long-term ties in the U.S. (e.g., raising families, working, or serving as veterans) should have a fair chance to return. It urges the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a centralized, dedicated unit - modeled after DHS’s existing ImmVets program for veterans - to review requests for reentry. The resolution notes current pathways are fragmented, slow, and hard to access, disproportionately harming families and communities, and emphasizes this approach would align with existing DHS authority. (Note: As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal force but aims to guide DHS policy.)

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates July 30, 2024, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day" to honor individuals who report government misconduct. It directs federal agencies to inform employees, contractors, and the public about their legal right to report waste, fraud, or misconduct through honest and good-faith disclosures. Agencies must also acknowledge whistleblowers' contributions to combating fraud and protecting public funds. The resolution is ceremonial and does not create new legal protections or alter existing whistleblower laws. It focuses on raising awareness and recognizing the role of whistleblowers in safeguarding taxpayer resources.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act introduces a new Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) to better reflect cost-of-living changes for seniors aged 62 and older, replacing the current index for calculating Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. It modifies how Social Security benefits are calculated by gradually reducing the percentage of high-income earners' wages above the contribution base that count toward benefits, from 86% in 2025 to 0% after 2030. The bill also changes the benefit formula to include "surplus earnings" (income above the Social Security contribution base) in determining benefits for individuals becoming eligible after 2024. These changes ensure cost-of-living adjustments don't affect eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. The bill applies to individuals initially becoming eligible for benefits or dying before eligibility in 2025 or later.

Maddy summaryS 4886, the Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act, amends the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Culture and Art Development Act to change governance requirements for Native Hawaiian art grants. It removes the word "private" from existing provisions and modifies Section 1521(c) to require governing boards for Native Hawaiian grants to include Native Hawaiians and recognized cultural experts, with members serving fixed terms. This change directly affects the administration of current federal grants supporting Native Hawaiian art and culture programs. The bill makes no new funding provisions but adjusts how grant oversight boards are structured. It is a procedural amendment to an existing law, not a new policy initiative.