Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968-1982) and the first African American to seek a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image and name, which will be presented to her family by congressional leaders. After presentation, the medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution for public viewing and research. The bill also authorizes the production and sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. This is a commemorative measure honoring Chisholm's historic contributions to American politics and civil rights.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 91) authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats who risked their careers and safety to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. These diplomats, representing countries including Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and others, issued visas and provided safe passage to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution despite strict orders from their home governments. The medal will be presented collectively to the next of kin of each diplomat, along with representatives from their home countries, and then permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The act recognizes these individuals' bravery without implying they represent all who performed similar humanitarian acts during the Holocaust. The medal serves as a permanent tribute to their sacrifice and will be available for public display and research.
Maddy summarySRES 925 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma, who died on November 23, 2024, at age 94. The resolution expresses the Senate’s sorrow at his passing, requests that his family be notified, and directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal expression of respect for a former senator’s legacy.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a centralized "Northern Border Mission Center" within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate operations along the U.S. northern border with Canada and the maritime border with Russia. The Center, located co-located with existing DHS facilities (like Border Patrol sectors and Coast Guard stations), will integrate personnel from CBP, Coast Guard, ICE-HSI, and other DHS components to enhance domain awareness, information sharing, training, and technology testing for border security. Key functions include supporting the DHS Northern Border Strategy, testing border security technology (including counter-drone systems), and addressing resource challenges, while requiring annual reports to Congress on operations and needs. The Center expires on October 1, 2027, and no new funding is authorized for its implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the process for applying for federal port infrastructure grants. It directly affects port authorities or companies seeking grants to purchase digital systems or software for port facilities. The key change requires applicants to either certify their facility has a security plan covering these digital risks or describe how they'll address those risks in their application. If they provide a description instead of a certified plan, they must later update their security plan to include those specific risks during the next required review.
Maddy summaryS 1868, the Secure Adjacent Federal Property Act of 2023, requires the General Services Administrator to lead a governmentwide study examining how federal agencies can assess security risks before leasing space adjacent to high-security federal buildings. The study will evaluate threat assessments through site visits and interviews, and may collect limited information about owners or beneficial owners of entities seeking to lease such adjacent space. It does not change current leasing practices but aims to develop a standardized security process for federal agencies. The study must be completed within two years, with a report to Congress detailing findings and how privacy rights will be protected during information collection. This bill affects federal agencies leasing space near high-security facilities but does not impose new requirements on private entities.
Maddy summaryThe Border Weather Resiliency Act of 2024 requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess how hazardous weather events - including hurricanes, extreme heat, winter storms, and flash floods - impacted border operations, personnel safety, and infrastructure over the past five years. Within 180 days of enactment, CBP must submit a report detailing these impacts to Congress. The bill further mandates the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy within one year to improve CBP’s resilience to such events, including a cost-benefit analysis and consultation with agencies like NOAA and tribal governments. This strategy must address protecting personnel, maintaining border security technology, and establishing new safety protocols for CBP operations and individuals inspected at the border.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4656) updates restrictions on federal employees participating in partisan political activity. It specifically expands the list of covered offices under existing law to include all Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) and Offices of Special Inspector General (OSIGs). The change adds these offices as explicit categories subject to the same restrictions on activities like campaigning or fundraising for political parties. This directly affects employees working in these inspector general roles nationwide. The bill makes no other policy changes, only clarifying which federal positions are included in the existing partisan activity rules.
Maddy summaryThe ACCESS Act (S 4631) changes federal contracting rules by allowing contractors to use work experience or alternative credentials instead of formal education to meet job requirements. It prohibits federal agencies from requiring minimum education levels for contractor roles without a written justification explaining why such a requirement is necessary. The law also mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue implementation guidance within 60 days, including instructions for agencies on justifying education requirements and recognizing industry credentials like apprenticeships. This affects federal contractors and executive agencies (e.g., departments like Defense or Health and Human Services) when issuing new contract solicitations starting 180 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 2-year pilot program to test new ways for federal agencies to measure contracting success. It requires at least three major agencies and one military department to develop and use specific, measurable goals focused on cost savings, on-time delivery, quality, and end-user satisfaction. The program mandates regular reporting to Congress on progress, data challenges, and successful practices. The pilot aims to create a standardized approach for evaluating how well contracts meet agency needs, with final results informing future federal procurement policies.