Maddy summaryThe Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act allocates $6.3 billion in federal funding for border security operations focused on intercepting fentanyl and related drug trafficking. It directs $3.4 billion to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for hiring additional personnel (including border agents and processing coordinators), mental health support, and infrastructure upgrades. An additional $1.09 billion funds advanced scanning technology at ports of entry to detect drugs, while $285 million enhances outbound inspections for firearms and currency. The bill also allocates $511 million to ICE, DEA, and DOJ to expand fentanyl interdiction efforts and disrupt transnational criminal networks along the border. These provisions directly affect CBP, ICE, DEA, and DOJ personnel responsible for border enforcement and drug interdiction operations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3583 (A bill to address patent thickets) limits patent holders from asserting multiple patents against generic drug and biosimilar manufacturers in infringement lawsuits. It restricts a plaintiff to one patent per "Patent Group" (defined as commonly owned patents that avoid double patenting) when suing companies developing generic drugs under FDA's 505(b)(2)/505(j) pathways or biosimilars under PHS Act 351(k). The bill prohibits filing additional lawsuits for the same Patent Group against the same generic or biosimilar company. This directly affects pharmaceutical companies developing affordable alternatives and patent holders seeking to enforce patents against them.
Maddy summaryS 1507, the POWER Act, authorizes $20 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2023 to provide grants to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. The grants allow agencies to purchase chemical screening devices and train personnel to identify substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other narcotics. Agencies must certify that at least one employee will be trained to operate the devices and interpret results, and must share devices with neighboring agencies when applicable. Recipients must submit annual reports on how funds were used to meet identified needs, such as improving substance identification speed and officer safety.
Maddy summaryS 993, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, makes the illicit distribution and use of xylazine illegal under federal drug laws. The bill defines xylazine broadly (including multiple chemical variants) and prohibits all human use or non-lici distribution, while allowing only veterinary and pharmaceutical uses approved under existing regulations. It requires the DEA and FDA to report to Congress within a year on xylazine's spread and impacts, with a follow-up report four years later. This directly affects drug traffickers and distributors adding xylazine to illicit drugs like fentanyl, aiming to address a public health threat linked to severe health consequences including necrosis.
Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in federal funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024. The ACP provides internet subsidies to help low-income households afford service, directly supporting millions of qualifying families. This funding ensures the program can continue operating throughout 2024, with the money remaining available until fully spent.
Maddy summaryThe HOME Act of 2024 would temporarily prohibit "unconscionably excessive" rental and sales prices for single-family housing during periods when HUD determines the United States is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. HUD would define a crisis based on factors like mortgage rates, median home prices, household income, and disaster declarations, with price restrictions applying for no more than 30 consecutive days at a time. The law would establish a new Housing Monitoring and Enforcement Unit within HUD to track housing market data and investigate price manipulation, while allowing both HUD and state attorneys general to enforce the price limits through civil penalties. Penalty funds collected would go into a Housing Trust Fund to increase affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income families. The bill also requires annual reporting on unfair housing screening practices and investigations into excessive housing purchases by institutional investors.
Maddy summaryThis bill retroactively restores pay, benefits, and seniority for senior military officers (O-7 rank or higher) whose promotions were delayed due to a Senate confirmation suspension starting in February 2023. It applies specifically to officers confirmed between December 5-31, 2023, who faced delays because the Senate paused its advice-and-consent process for such appointments. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to pay retroactive compensation from a defined date (the later of 30 days after Senate calendar placement or the original appointment date) and use that date for determining the officer's seniority in their new rank. It directly affects military personnel whose career progression was impacted by the confirmation delay, without creating new policy or changing appointment procedures.
Maddy summaryS. 2747 extends the Federal Election Campaign Act's Administrative Fine Program for certain campaign finance reporting violations until December 31, 2033. This bill directly affects political committees, candidates, and other entities required to file campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The key provision amends Section 309(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Act to replace the 2023 expiration date with a 2033 deadline, ensuring fines can still be assessed for late filings of specific reports. The extension applies only to certain violations, not all campaign finance non-compliance, and maintains the existing fine structure without new requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue detailed reports after major disasters when its Disaster Information Reporting System activates for at least 7 days. The reports must document outages in broadband, mobile services, and 911 systems, include public hearings with affected communities and providers, and recommend improvements to network resilience. It also directs the Office of Management and Budget to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as "protective service occupations" in federal job statistics. Additionally, the FCC must report on compliance with Kari’s Law, which mandates direct 911 access in multi-line phone systems. These provisions aim to improve disaster communications transparency and response coordination without creating new funding or regulatory requirements.
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.