Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Administrator of General Services from considering the legality or availability of abortion when making decisions about federal buildings. Specifically, it amends federal law to ban the GSA from factoring abortion laws into building acquisitions, construction projects, or lease agreements for government properties. The key provision adds explicit language to multiple sections of Title 40, stating the Administrator "shall not consider the legality or availability of abortion" in these decisions. It directly affects how the federal government manages its physical infrastructure, ensuring building-related decisions are not influenced by state abortion laws. The bill does not change abortion policy but restricts one specific federal agency's decision-making criteria.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act of 2023 allows parents to claim the child tax credit for unborn children in two specific scenarios: for the tax year immediately before a child's birth (if a Social Security number is provided on the return), or for the year of a miscarriage or stillbirth (if a government-issued certificate is submitted). It requires a new certificate of miscarriage or stillbirth, issued by the National Center for Health Statistics, which must include a health care provider's certification (excluding abortion centers) and a parent's sworn statement. The credit applies to the biological mother or her husband on a joint return and covers children born alive, stillborn, or miscarried after the bill's enactment. This change makes the credit accessible earlier in pregnancy and for pregnancy loss, without altering the standard credit amount for children born alive.
Maddy summaryThe American Innovation and Choice Online Act targets large online platforms (termed "covered platforms") with significant user bases or revenue, specifically those meeting thresholds like 50 million US monthly active users or $550 billion in annual sales. It prohibits covered platforms from favoring their own products/services over others, using business users' nonpublic data to compete with them, or restricting business users' access to data or platform features. The law would be enforced by the FTC and Department of Justice, with potential civil penalties up to 10% of a platform's US revenue for violations. The law would take effect one year after enactment, with agencies required to issue enforcement guidelines to clarify implementation. This legislation aims to promote competition by preventing anticompetitive conduct by dominant digital platforms.
Maddy summaryS 2010, the Competition in Professional Baseball Act, removes a decades-old legal exemption that previously shielded Major League Baseball (MLB) from federal antitrust laws. The bill directly affects MLB clubs by requiring them to operate under the same antitrust rules as other businesses, ending their special status established by a 1922 Supreme Court case. Key provisions repeal Section 27 of the Clayton Act (which granted the exemption) and explicitly state that MLB clubs are subject to all antitrust laws, including those prohibiting anti-competitive practices. This change would subject MLB’s business operations, such as team relocations or player contracts, to standard antitrust scrutiny. The bill does not alter baseball’s structure but changes its legal framework for competition.
Maddy summaryS 1993 removes legal immunity for internet platforms under Section 230 of the Communications Act when they use generative artificial intelligence (AI). It specifically eliminates Section 230 protections for civil or criminal claims related to AI-generated content, such as text, images, or videos created by platforms using AI systems. The bill defines "generative AI" as technology that creates new content based on user prompts. This change directly affects platforms that develop or deploy such AI tools, making them potentially liable for content generated through those systems under federal or state law.
Maddy summaryThis bill ends a specific tax rate used to fund hazardous waste cleanup under the Superfund program, effective January 1, 2023. It directly affects businesses and entities that paid this tax, as the rate will no longer apply after December 31, 2022. The bill also changes repayment rules for government advances from the Superfund, requiring quarterly repayments from unused funds until fully repaid. The title "Pay Less at the Pump" is misleading, as the bill does not address fuel costs or gas prices.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 31) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule implementing the "Federal Good Neighbor Plan" for ozone air quality standards established under the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. If approved, it would nullify the EPA rule (published June 5, 2023) that would have required certain states to address ozone pollution crossing state borders. The resolution uses a specific congressional disapproval process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code to prevent the rule from taking effect. This would directly affect states and industries subject to the ozone pollution regulations outlined in the EPA's submitted rule.
Maddy summaryS 1907, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023, increases penalties for crimes committed against licensed firearm businesses. It amends federal law to impose a maximum 20-year prison term for knowingly violating firearm licensing rules or attempting to do so. If a burglary or robbery occurs on a licensed dealer’s, manufacturer’s, or importer’s business premises, the law mandates minimum sentences of 3 years for burglary and 5 years for robbery. This bill directly affects federal firearms licensees by strengthening criminal penalties for attacks on their business locations.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the COPS on the Beat Grant Program to better support rural and low-income communities in hiring and retaining law enforcement officers. It increases federal funding coverage for qualifying jurisdictions (rural areas or those with median household income below 80% of national average) from 75% to 90% in the first year, gradually decreasing to 75% by year four. The bill also caps federal funding for officer compensation at $75,000 annually, with a higher limit of 80% of national median income for qualifying rural areas. Additionally, it requires a GAO report in 2027 and 2032 to assess police diversity, officer residency rates, and pay relative to local cost of living. The changes directly affect local law enforcement agencies in rural or economically disadvantaged areas seeking COPS funding for hiring or salary increases.
Maddy summaryThe Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (S 1838) requires major credit card companies (with over $100 billion in assets) to allow merchants to choose any payment network for processing credit card transactions, ending exclusive deals that limited merchants to one or two networks. It prohibits restrictions on routing transactions to different networks and mandates the Federal Reserve to create a public list of payment networks posing national security risks. The law directly affects large card issuers, payment networks, and merchants processing credit card payments across the U.S. The key change is enabling competition by removing contractual barriers that previously favored dominant networks.