Maddy summaryS 629, the UNITED Act, authorizes the President to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers within 180 days of enactment, with the authority expiring March 1, 2025. It requires the President to consult Congress throughout negotiations and submit implementing bills to Congress before March 1, 2025, for approval. The bill includes specific limits on modifying tariffs (e.g., no duty reductions below 50% of current rates for most goods, and no cuts below Uruguay Round levels for sensitive agricultural products). It directly affects U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers by aiming to expand market access and align trade terms with U.S. economic priorities. The agreement must also comply with the Good Friday Agreement regarding Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the federal tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings, specifically boosting the credit rate from 20% to 30% for small projects (defined as those with qualified rehabilitation costs under $3.75 million and no prior credit). The total credit for any single project is capped at $750,000. It also expands eligibility by changing how building basis is calculated and adjusts rules for tax-exempt properties to simplify compliance. These changes directly benefit small-scale developers and owners rehabilitating certified historic structures.
Maddy summaryThis bill would remove longstanding U.S. restrictions on exports to Cuba by amending key laws including the Cuban Democracy Act and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act. It specifically eliminates prohibitions on exporting goods and services to Cuba that were in place under the Foreign Assistance Act, the Cuban Democracy Act, and the Trade Sanctions Reform Act. The bill allows U.S. businesses to export to Cuba without prior government approval, directly affecting American exporters and Cuban importers. However, it preserves the President's authority to impose new export controls under specific circumstances, such as declaring a new national emergency related to Cuba.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to allow employers to claim a work opportunity tax credit for hiring spouses of active-duty military members. It adds "qualified military spouse" as a new category for the credit, defined as an individual certified by a local agency as married to a military service member at the time of hire. Employers who hire such individuals after the bill's enactment date can claim this credit for their wages. The change directly affects employers seeking tax incentives and military spouses seeking employment opportunities. The provision applies to hiring that occurs after the bill becomes law.
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for certain public-sector retirees. It eliminates the government pension offset (GPO), which currently cuts Social Security checks for people with government pensions, and removes the windfall elimination provision (WEP), which reduces benefits for those with pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. The changes directly affect public employees (like teachers, firefighters, and state/local government workers) who have pensions from jobs that didn't pay into Social Security. The bill takes effect for Social Security benefits paid after December 2023, restoring full benefits for eligible retirees.
Maddy summaryThis resolution establishes a procedural requirement for the U.S. Senate to review international pandemic agreements negotiated under the World Health Organization (WHO). It mandates that any WHO agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, or response - where the U.S. would make significant commitments - must be submitted to the Senate as a treaty requiring approval before implementation. The resolution requires the President to submit such agreements to the Senate within 60 days of signing, with the Senate declaring it "not in order" to fund or implement any such agreement without prior Senate ratification. This affects how the executive branch handles WHO pandemic agreements, ensuring Senate consultation and approval aligns with constitutional treaty procedures.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 to clarify that the Secretary of the Interior may take land into trust for **any federally recognized Indian tribe**, updating the original language that referenced tribes "under Federal jurisdiction." It specifically **ratifies and confirms past land trust actions** taken for tribes recognized by the federal government at the time of those actions, preventing legal challenges based on recognition status. The bill explicitly states it **does not change other federal laws** or the Secretary's authority under them, and references to the Indian Reorganization Act in other laws will now include this amendment. This directly affects federally recognized tribes seeking land trust status and the Department of the Interior's administrative processes.
Maddy summaryS 566, the "Charitable Act," modifies tax deductions for charitable contributions for individuals who do not itemize their deductions on federal income taxes. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for 2023 and 2024 tax years, instead of the usual itemized deduction. The bill also removes references to a repealed penalty provision (Section 6662(b)(10)) and adjusts related penalty language in the tax code. This directly affects non-itemizing taxpayers who make charitable contributions, providing a new deduction option for those years only. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022.
Maddy summaryThe PASS Act of 2023 expands CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment) review to specifically cover foreign investments in U.S. agriculture businesses and agricultural real estate. It prohibits transactions involving "covered foreign persons" (defined as entities linked to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea) that would result in foreign control of U.S. agricultural operations or farmland. The President must block such transactions unless a national security waiver is granted after 30 days. The Secretary of Agriculture must also submit biannual reports to Congress on risks posed by foreign ownership in U.S. agriculture.
Maddy summarySRES 71 is a non-binding Senate resolution formally congratulating the Kansas City Chiefs on winning Super Bowl LVII. It directs the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to Chiefs leadership, including owner Clark Hunt, president Mark Donovan, general manager Brett Veach, and head coach Andy Reid. The resolution serves as a ceremonial gesture recognizing the team's victory in the 2022 NFL season, with no policy changes or financial impact. This is purely a symbolic acknowledgment with no legislative effect.