Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthi group in Yemen) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment, reversing a 2021 Biden administration decision that removed the designation. It mandates the President to impose existing sanctions under two executive orders: blocking assets of designated terrorists (E.O. 13224) and restricting travel for Yemeni nationals linked to terrorism (E.O. 13780). The sanctions directly target Ansarallah, its members, agents, affiliates, and any foreign entities owned or controlled by the group. This would restrict U.S. financial transactions with the Houthis and their networks, while also affecting Yemeni nationals subject to travel bans under the applicable sanctions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $13.5 billion in supplemental funding for Israel to support military and diplomatic assistance in response to the situation in Israel. It provides $4.4 billion for defense operations, $4 billion for Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems, $1.2 billion for Iron Beam system development, and $3.5 billion for foreign military financing. The bill authorizes $7 billion in drawdown authority from Defense Department stockpiles for defense articles and services, with specific limitations preventing funds from being used for Ukraine assistance or for entities in Gaza controlled by Hamas. All funding must be designated as an emergency requirement by the President and is available for specific defense and diplomatic purposes. The bill includes provisions for transfer authority between accounts and notification requirements for congressional committees.
Maddy summaryS 3167, the MEWA Act, clarifies how groups of small businesses or self-employed individuals can form multi-employer health plans under federal law. It defines specific requirements for these groups (e.g., at least 51 aggregated employees, 2+ years of operation, no health-based discrimination in membership) and allows them to operate as single entities for coverage purposes. The bill permits these plans to set premiums using actuarial methods that consider overall group claims but adjust individual employer contributions based on their specific risk, while prohibiting discrimination based on health status or pre-existing conditions. It directly affects small business associations and self-employed individuals who organize to provide group health coverage, ensuring their plans comply with ERISA and anti-discrimination rules. The law does not create new insurance but provides a clear framework for existing multi-employer health arrangements.
Maddy summarySJRES 42 is a resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) rule that updated how discrimination complaints are processed in federal food assistance programs (like SNAP). The rule applied the Supreme Court's Bostock v. Clayton County decision - which prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity - to the handling of program discrimination complaints. If passed, this resolution would block the FNS rule from taking effect, preventing it from changing existing complaint procedures. The measure uses the Congressional Review Act process to overturn the rule without altering program benefits or eligibility.
Maddy summarySRES 436 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing support for designating the week of October 24-31, 2023, as "BatWeek." It acknowledges bats' ecological and economic importance - such as controlling pests, pollinating crops, and saving U.S. farmers over $3 billion annually in pest control - and highlights efforts to combat white-nose syndrome, a disease threatening bat populations. The resolution encourages public events during BatWeek to raise awareness about bats' role in ecosystems and agriculture. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic endorsement of bat conservation.
This resolution recognizes October 2023 as National Women's Small Business Month, honoring the role of women small business owners and entrepreneurs and encouraging the support and creation of women-owned small businesses.
Maddy summaryThe REO Act of 2023 establishes a federal Reentry Employment Opportunities Program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It creates grant programs to fund job training, apprenticeships, behavioral health services, and other support for three groups: eligible adults (25+), eligible young adults (18-24), and eligible youth (16-17) who have interacted with the criminal justice system or are school dropouts. Grants are awarded to qualified organizations (like nonprofits, tribes, or state agencies) to deliver services in specific geographic areas, with strict eligibility requirements tied to justice system involvement or education status. The bill also mandates a 5-year evaluation to measure the program’s impact on employment, recidivism, and participant outcomes, requiring grantees to collect and report data.
Maddy summaryS 3061 revokes a waiver determination submitted to Congress on September 11, 2023, related to certain U.S. sanctions against Iran. The bill directs that this waiver, which had allowed exemptions under specific sanctions laws, no longer has effect after the bill is enacted. It specifically targets waivers issued under provisions from the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act or the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act. This change would directly affect how those Iran sanctions are applied, reinstating the original restrictions without the temporary exemption.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses Congress's support for the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a 2020 agreement signed by 32 countries (now 36) that promotes women's health while emphasizing family protection and affirming no international right to abortion. It urges the U.S. to rejoin the declaration, which reaffirms principles like the inherent dignity of life, the family as society's foundation, and national sovereignty over health policies. The resolution does not change existing law but calls for oversight to ensure U.S. foreign funding avoids abortion-related activities, consistent with current federal prohibitions. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy posture and diplomatic engagement with the declaration's signatory nations.
Maddy summarySRES 425 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating October 25, 2023, as "Public Radio Music Day" to honor public radio music stations. It expresses the Senate's appreciation for these stations' role in serving over 25 million weekly listeners, supporting local musicians, and preserving diverse music genres across all 50 states and territories. The resolution highlights how these noncommercial stations foster community engagement through local programming, artist discovery, and cultural enrichment without creating new laws or affecting specific groups. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect but recognizes public radio's community impact.