Maddy summaryThis bill resolves long-standing land claims by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community regarding 2,743 acres of "Reservation Swamp Lands" and 1,333-2,720 acres of "Reservation Canal Lands" within their L’Anse Reservation in Michigan. It provides $33.9 million in compensation to the Tribe for the federal government’s uncompensated taking of these lands (without just compensation under the Fifth Amendment), while extinguishing all tribal claims to the land. Current non-Indian landowners gain clear title to these parcels, and the Tribe may use the funds for government services, economic development, or land acquisition (but not for gaming). The settlement ends all legal disputes over these lands without litigation, as confirmed by the Department of the Interior in 2021.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 507 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 25, 2023, as "National Ataxia Awareness Day." It aims to increase public and medical awareness of ataxia - a rare neurological condition affecting movement coordination, with symptoms including balance issues, speech difficulties, and swallowing problems. The resolution highlights the need for better diagnosis, access to care, and accelerated research toward treatments for the estimated 200,000 Americans affected by ataxia. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but encourages nationwide awareness efforts.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 510) expresses the Senate's support for respecting the FDA's scientific determination that mifepristone - a medication used for early pregnancy termination - is safe and effective. It calls for abortion care policies to be "equitable and based on science," emphasizing the FDA's authority to regulate the drug without interference, including its 2023 update allowing mail-order access. The resolution directly addresses the impact of state restrictions on medication abortion, noting that such policies disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous people, people of color, low-income individuals, rural communities, and other marginalized groups. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but urges alignment with FDA science to protect access to this time-sensitive care.
Maddy summaryThe Predatory Lending Elimination Act (S 3549) would extend the military lending rate cap - currently protecting service members and their families - to most consumer credit products, including credit cards, while exempting residential mortgages, car loans used solely for vehicle purchases, and Federal credit union loans. It sets a maximum interest rate and restricts certain fees on credit cards, such as those for credit insurance and ancillary products, to prevent hidden costs. States may enforce these rules through their attorneys general or regulators within three years of a violation, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must issue implementing rules within one year that align with existing military lending protections. This bill directly affects creditors offering consumer credit and aims to limit predatory lending practices across most credit markets.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tag hatchery-raised fish stocked in the Great Lakes. It requires tagging 9-11 million fish annually using automated technology, with data shared to help state, tribal, and federal agencies manage fisheries. The program supports decisions on fish stocking rates, habitat restoration, and balancing predator-prey relationships to sustain recreational, commercial, and Tribal fisheries. The bill authorizes $5 million yearly (2025-2029) for equipment, personnel, and data sharing to improve Great Lakes fishery management.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 492) honoring the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It expresses the Senate's condolences for her passing and recognizes her lifetime of humanitarian work, including her advocacy for mental health care, founding of caregiver support programs, and service with The Carter Center. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is purely a commemorative statement. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2023.
Maddy summaryThe SAFER Banking Act provides legal protections for banks and financial institutions that serve state-legal marijuana businesses and related service providers. It creates a "safe harbor" preventing federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for offering services to these businesses, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The bill also allows income from state-legal marijuana businesses to be considered "legal income" for mortgage qualification purposes and establishes guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. Similar protections are extended to hemp-related businesses and service providers, without requiring banks to serve these businesses.
Maddy summaryThe Rural Forest Markets Act of 2023 establishes a program to guarantee bonds, loans, or investment vehicles for rural private forest landowners and eligible entities (like nonprofits or state agencies) to participate in voluntary environmental credit markets. It requires projects to use approved, high-integrity methodologies for sustainable forestry, prohibits artificial demand for credits, and mandates annual audits to ensure compliance. The program is capped at $150 million total funding and must minimize disruptions to traditional timber markets by analyzing timber supply data. It specifically aims to help landowners not previously engaged in forest products markets, including those with small forest parcels, through activities like reforestation and conservation easements.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Social Security disability benefit applicants to receive payments during their initial waiting period (typically the first few months after applying) instead of waiting for the full period. Individuals can elect this option in writing during specific timeframes, such as within 45 days after the bill's enactment or during key application stages like filing an initial claim or requesting reconsideration. To maintain program funding stability, the Social Security Administration must calculate a percentage (starting at 96%) every five years to ensure the fiscal impact of early payments remains neutral over 75 years. The bill also requires updating application forms to include the election option, effective 180 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryThe Billionaires Income Tax Act requires individuals with annual income over $100 million or assets over $1 billion to pay taxes annually on their wealth gains, rather than deferring taxes through strategies like "buy, borrow, die." It eliminates tax deferral by implementing mark-to-market taxation, requiring billionaires to pay tax on asset appreciation each year as if they had sold the assets. The bill closes loopholes that allow the ultra-wealthy to transfer assets tax-free to heirs, requiring heirs to pay tax on gains when they sell assets. This means billionaires would pay taxes on their income as it's earned, just like working people pay taxes on wages.