Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryThe Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act reauthorizes and enhances federal child welfare programs to better support children in foster care, their families, and tribal communities. Key provisions include expanding access to family preservation services, modernizing court processes to allow for remote hearings, increasing funding for programs addressing parental substance use disorder, and creating demonstration projects to improve relationships between incarcerated parents and children in foster care. The bill also streamlines funding for Indian tribes, strengthens support for youth aging out of foster care, and requires states to address poverty as a factor in neglect cases. These changes aim to improve child safety, permanency, and well-being while reducing administrative burdens on state agencies. The bill would take effect in October 2025, with funding authorized through 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $810 million in supplemental funding for the Small Business Administration's Disaster Loans Program (under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act) to assist small businesses recovering from disasters. It directly affects small businesses seeking low-interest disaster loans by increasing available funds for direct loans, with $10 million allocated for audits and $250 million for administrative costs (excluding indirect expenses). Key provisions require the SBA Inspector General to review past funding shortfalls and report findings within 181 days, and mandate the SBA Administrator to submit reports detailing improvements to forecasting and budgeting within 30 days and every 90 days until corrections are implemented. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement under federal budget law and remain available until expended.

Maddy summaryThe IDEA Act requires the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to collect voluntary demographic information (such as gender, race, and military status) from U.S. patent inventors during patent applications. This data must remain confidential, separate from patent reviews, and cannot influence patent examination. The USPTO must publish annual anonymized reports showing patent applications and grants disaggregated by demographic categories, technology fields, and state of residence. These reports will include data summaries and methodology, with biennial updates for Congress on the data collection process. The law aims to track patenting trends without affecting patent decisions or revealing individual inventors' identities.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $810 million in direct funding for the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program for fiscal year 2025, specifically to support small businesses affected by disasters. It allocates $10 million for Inspector General audits of the program and $250 million for administrative costs to manage the loan program, while prohibiting use of funds for indirect administrative expenses. The bill requires the SBA's Inspector General to review past funding shortfalls related to disaster loans and submit findings to Congress within 180 days, along with specific reports detailing how the SBA will improve forecasting and budget accuracy. These changes directly affect small businesses seeking disaster loans and the Small Business Administration's operational procedures.

Maddy summaryS 5303, the Stand with Israel Act, prohibits U.S. federal funds from being used to support the United Nations or its entities if those entities restrict Israel's full participation as a member state. Specifically, it blocks funding for UN contributions when the UN expels, downgrades, or suspends Israel's membership or limits its ability to engage equally with other member states. This bill directly affects how U.S. taxpayer money is allocated to the UN, requiring the Department of State and other agencies to withhold funds under these circumstances. The law amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to enforce this restriction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director to submit an annual budget estimate for Alzheimer's research initiatives to the President for transmission to Congress, starting in fiscal year 2024. It specifically mandates including estimates of personnel needs alongside funding projections, based on recommendations from the National Alzheimer's Project Act. The law directly affects NIH operations by establishing a formal, recurring reporting requirement for Alzheimer's-related funding. This is not a new funding measure but a procedural change to improve transparency and accountability in budget planning for these initiatives. The bill amends Section 2 of the National Alzheimer's Project Act to add this annual reporting obligation.

Maddy summaryThe NAPA Reauthorization Act (S 133) extends the National Alzheimer’s Project through 2035, replacing previous 2025 deadlines. It requires annual progress evaluations on research, risk reduction, and health equity, with new provisions to promote healthy aging, address Alzheimer’s risk factors, and expand focus to underserved groups - including people with Down syndrome and historically high-risk populations. The bill mandates updated advisory committee membership, including individuals with Alzheimer’s diagnoses and representatives from underserved communities. These changes directly affect federal health agencies, researchers, and healthcare planning efforts focused on Alzheimer’s prevention and care.

Maddy summarySRES 888 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the late James Ralph Sasser, a former U.S. Senator from Tennessee (served 1976-1993). It formally expresses the Senate’s "profound sorrow" over his death and requests the Secretary of the Senate transmit the resolution to his family. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or entities - it is solely a commemorative gesture. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War, recognizing their life-saving medical evacuations. The medal, to be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, will be displayed at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. The bill honors the approximately 900,000 wounded personnel these crews transported over the course of the Vietnam War, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, who relied on their rapid medical evacuation services.

Maddy summarySRES 868 is a Senate resolution honoring the women who served in the Navy's Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) during World War II. It commemorates their service, which included diverse roles from clerical work to aviation training, freeing over 400,000 men for combat duties as noted in the resolution. The resolution specifically recognizes how WAVES contributed to the U.S. victory while facing limitations in recognition and equal status post-war. This is a purely commemorative measure with no new policy or funding changes.