Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Back the Blue Act of 2023," strengthens federal protections for law enforcement officers by creating new criminal penalties for killing or assaulting them while on duty. It makes it a federal crime to kill or attempt to kill law enforcement officers, federal judges, or federally funded public safety officers (including firefighters and first responders) during official duties, with penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison or death if the victim dies. The bill also establishes a new federal offense for fleeing interstate to avoid prosecution for killing law enforcement officers and adds a new aggravating factor for death penalty cases involving officers. Additionally, it expands law enforcement officers' rights to carry firearms in certain circumstances and limits federal habeas corpus relief for murder convictions involving law enforcement officers.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 1498, the Finish It Act, requires the Department of Defense to transfer existing border wall construction materials to border states within 15 days of enactment for the sole purpose of building physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. States receiving materials must certify they will use them exclusively for border barriers and face financial penalties if unused after two years. The bill mandates a report to Congress detailing storage costs, landowner contracts, and any internal investigations into the decision to store materials instead of using them. This directly affects the Department of Defense (which holds the materials), border states (as recipients), and private landowners (who currently store materials). The policy change focuses on redirecting existing resources toward border construction rather than ongoing storage costs.
Maddy summaryS 1494, the BUILD IT Act, requires the federal government to deliver unused border barrier construction materials to Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas within 90 days of enactment. The materials include items held by federal agencies (like DHS or Defense) or contractors, with no fees charged to the states. States receiving these materials must use them exclusively to build, repair, or reinforce border barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill also mandates termination of existing federal contracts related to these materials to facilitate the transfer.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a National Task Force to comprehensively review the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, and federal, state, and local actions under both the Trump and Biden administrations. The 12-member Task Force, appointed by congressional leaders from both parties (with no more than 6 from the same party), will examine preparedness, response efforts, health disparities, and identify gaps in public health systems to improve future pandemic responses. It must submit an interim report within 180 days and a final report within 18 months, with recommendations for addressing vulnerabilities in public health systems and supporting at-risk populations. The Task Force will have authority to hold hearings, request documents, and access government information to carry out its review while maintaining political balance and independence from current government employees.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 200) expresses support for designating April 30-May 6, 2023, as "National Small Business Week" to honor small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States. It recognizes that small businesses (over 33 million nationwide supporting 62 million jobs) are vital to the U.S. economy and highlights their resilience. The resolution specifically calls for celebrating their contributions, acknowledging challenges they face, and supporting efforts to improve access for underserved small businesses. As a symbolic gesture - not a law - it does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes small business impact.
Maddy summaryThe RESTART Act (S 1449) streamlines environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act by setting page limits (150 pages for standard environmental impact statements, 300 for complex projects) and strict timelines (2 years for final environmental impact statements, 1 year for environmental assessments). It limits judicial review by requiring lawsuits to be filed within 60 days of publication and setting 180-day deadlines for courts to resolve cases. The bill also modifies Clean Water Act permitting requirements and includes specific provisions expediting approval for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. These changes primarily affect federal agencies conducting environmental reviews, project sponsors seeking permits, and states involved in environmental permitting processes.
Maddy summaryS 1470, the Accountability in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act, changes how women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) qualify for federal contracts. It eliminates self-certification, requiring all WOSBs seeking to count toward federal contracting goals to obtain formal certification from the Small Business Administration (SBA) instead of claiming eligibility themselves. The bill gives currently self-certified businesses one year to apply for SBA certification, after which they lose eligibility if they don’t apply. Additionally, it mandates federal agencies that miss WOSB participation goals to report to Congress and testify on their remediation plans, while requiring an interagency report on barriers and recommendations to improve WOSB access to contracts and capital.
Maddy summaryThe TORPEDO Act of 2023 streamlines defense technology sharing between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom by modifying export control regulations. It creates an open general license for defense exports to these countries under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and establishes a license exception for Commerce Control List items. The bill requires the State Department to appoint a senior advisor for AUKUS implementation and mandates regular reports on the partnership's progress. These changes aim to reduce bureaucratic delays in sharing defense technologies with key allies as part of the AUKUS security partnership.
Maddy summaryThe Access Technology Affordability Act of 2023 creates a new federal tax credit for individuals who purchase qualifying access technology for blind family members. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation after 2024) for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, such as screen readers or braille displays. The credit applies to the taxpayer, their spouse, or dependent blind family members, with a lifetime limit of $2,000 over any three consecutive years. The credit expires after 2028 and cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a strategy for building an integrated maritime security capability in the Middle East, focusing on protecting allies from Iranian naval threats, piracy, and extremist groups. It mandates a 60-day strategy report to Congress detailing threat assessments, existing partnerships (like Combined Maritime Forces), efforts to integrate Israel, and intelligence coordination gaps. The bill also directs a 90-day feasibility study on funding this capability through contributions from Middle Eastern allies. The strategy and study directly affect U.S. military operations in the region and partner nations' security cooperation with the U.S. Navy.