Sen. Jeff Merkley

Maddy summaryThe International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 establishes a permanent U.S. Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ rights at the Department of State, with the authority to coordinate all federal government efforts addressing discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the development of a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ individuals, along with annual briefings to Congress on progress. It mandates that the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices include detailed information about laws criminalizing or discriminating against LGBTQI+ people in all countries. The legislation also requires all U.S. government-funded programs to adopt inclusive nondiscrimination policies covering sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. These provisions aim to strengthen U.S. foreign policy efforts to protect LGBTQI+ rights worldwide through coordinated diplomatic, humanitarian, and development initiatives.

Maddy summaryThe REPAIR Infrastructure Act (S 3413) reauthorizes a federal program providing $3 billion annually (2027-2031) from the Highway Trust Fund to fund infrastructure projects that restore community connectivity and improve resilience. It allocates $750 million yearly for planning grants and $2.25 billion for capital construction grants, directly affecting state, local, and tribal governments applying for these funds. Key provisions require projects to avoid increasing highway travel lanes and prioritize affordable transportation access, community engagement, and preventing displacement in low-income areas - such as creating safe mobility options to jobs, healthcare, and housing. The program specifically targets "divisive roadway infrastructure" (e.g., highways separating neighborhoods) and mandates applicants demonstrate how projects address historic barriers and support underserved communities.

Maddy summaryS 3427, the Domestic Organic Investment Act of 2025, creates a new USDA grant program to strengthen the domestic organic supply chain. It provides federal funding for eligible entities - including organic farmers, cooperatives, and Tribal governments - to expand storage, processing, and distribution capacity, modernize tracking systems, and improve compliance with organic standards. Grants for facility projects (e.g., cold storage) can reach up to $2 million, requiring a 50% non-federal match, while equipment-only projects receive up to $100,000 with a 25% match. The program prioritizes projects addressing import reliance and supply chain bottlenecks, aiming to boost domestic organic markets and reduce dependence on imported products.

Maddy summaryS 3420, the Commitment to Aid Workers Act, creates a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Aid Workers within the State Department to address safety concerns for aid workers abroad. The Envoy investigates deaths or detentions of U.S.-supported aid workers, advocates for better security coordination with foreign governments, and reports annually to Congress on challenges faced by aid organizations. The bill also establishes a requirement that the U.S. Secretary of State may suspend security assistance to countries that unlawfully kill or fatally injure aid workers, unless the country demonstrates corrective actions and improved safety measures. This bill directly affects U.S. humanitarian aid workers operating internationally, foreign governments responsible for harm to aid workers, and U.S. agencies managing foreign assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThe HONEST Act (officially titled the PELOSI Act) prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses from holding, buying, or selling most stocks, bonds, and financial derivatives (like options or futures) during their term in office to prevent conflicts of interest from insider trading. It excludes diversified mutual funds, ETFs, U.S. Treasury securities, and income from a spouse’s primary job, with a 180-day grace period for current and new members to divest existing holdings. Lawmakers must annually certify compliance to ethics committees, which can impose fines (up to 10% of non-compliant holdings’ value per 30 days) and publish violations publicly. The law also mandates a government audit within two years to assess compliance.

Maddy summarySRES 483 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Dr. Jane Goodall, who passed away on October 1, 2025. It pays tribute to her lifelong work as a primatologist, conservationist, and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots program, which engages youth globally in environmental action. The resolution recognizes her scientific contributions - including groundbreaking chimpanzee research at Gombe - and her advocacy for wildlife protection, education, and community-based conservation efforts like Tanzania's TACARE program. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact policy changes but formally commemorates her legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes comprehensive labor protections for domestic workers, including house cleaners, nannies, personal care aides, and other employees working in private homes. It directly affects approximately 2.2 million domestic workers, predominantly women of color and immigrants who have historically been excluded from key labor protections. Key provisions include requiring written employment agreements outlining wages and hours, providing earned sick days for health and safety needs, establishing fair scheduling practices with advance notice requirements, protecting privacy rights, and prohibiting unfair wage deductions. The bill also extends civil rights protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to domestic workers and creates a Domestic Employee Standards Board to recommend workplace standards.

Maddy summaryThe AGRITOURISM Act (S 3392) creates a new Agritourism Advisor position within the USDA to support rural businesses. This role will directly assist farms and ranches offering agritourism activities - like farm stays, winery tours, u-pick operations, and farm-to-table dining - by connecting them to federal resources. The Advisor will coordinate USDA programs, provide technical assistance, share best practices, and help update farm enterprise development tools. The bill aims to strengthen rural economies by making it easier for small agricultural businesses to diversify through tourism. It applies to all states, tribal lands, and USDA programs nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. currency from featuring the likeness of any living or sitting U.S. president. It directly affects the U.S. Mint and currency design processes, requiring them to remove current or future presidential images from circulating coins and paper money. The provision would apply immediately to new currency designs and any existing designs featuring living presidents. This is a procedural change to currency policy with no other stated mechanisms or broader implications.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $74 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to restore U.S. funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), directly supporting its global reproductive health programs. It specifically funds UNFPA's work to end preventable maternal deaths, address unmet contraceptive needs, prevent gender-based violence, and combat harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage across 150+ countries. The funding applies to UNFPA's core operations in humanitarian crises (e.g., Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan) and excludes programs in China. This would reverse the 2025 funding halt that already caused health center closures and service disruptions for millions of women and girls.