Maddy summarySRES 363 is a non-binding Senate resolution supporting the U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative, which promotes educational exchanges focused on Mandarin language learning and cultural cooperation. It encourages colleges, universities, and K-12 schools to partner with Taiwan for Mandarin instruction, host teacher exchange programs (like the Department of State’s Teachers of Critical Language Program), and support U.S. educators teaching English in Taiwan through programs such as the Fulbright Exchange. The resolution highlights the demand for Mandarin education in a "censorship and coercion-free environment" amid declining Confucius Institutes. It does not create new laws or funding but formally urges continued collaboration between U.S. educational institutions and Taiwan.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2913, the "Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act of 2023," denies federal retirement benefits (annuities) to current or former federal employees convicted of specific child molestation crimes under U.S. law (e.g., sexual abuse of a minor). It directly affects federal workers and their survivors/beneficiaries who receive retirement pay, blocking payments if convicted of qualifying offenses committed after the bill’s enactment. Key provisions include requiring the Attorney General to notify agencies of convictions, allowing foreign convictions to trigger denial if certified as meeting U.S. due process standards, and directing denied pension funds to victims via court-ordered restitution. The bill makes concrete policy changes by cutting retirement benefits for these offenders and redirecting funds to victims, without speculation about broader impacts.
Maddy summaryThe Advancing Research for Chronic Pain Act of 2023 directs federal health agencies to establish a national system for studying chronic pain, defined as pain lasting longer than three months. It requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect and standardize anonymous health data - including demographics, treatment costs, and risk factors - using medical claims and surveys to fill research gaps. The CDC must also create a public website (the Chronic Pain Information Hub) to share aggregated research, clinical tools, and annual updates on data collection efforts. This law affects federal agencies like the CDC and NIH, aiming to improve understanding of chronic pain conditions that impact millions of Americans, with funding authorized through 2028.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires standardized presentations about Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits during preseparation counseling for service members transitioning from military to civilian life. It mandates that these presentations be reviewed by the VA and veterans service organizations before use, include information on how to file claims, and cannot promote specific organizations. The VA must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing which veterans service organizations participated, attendance numbers, and recommendations for improvement. The bill directly affects service members receiving transition assistance, ensuring they receive consistent, accurate information about VA benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill denies asylum to individuals who were members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or other totalitarian parties under U.S. immigration law. It amends asylum rules to bar such applicants unless they publicly renounce their party membership during the application process and prove their affiliation was involuntary (e.g., due to age, law, or basic survival needs). Exceptions allow asylum if the applicant provides significant national security information, after renouncing membership and being deemed non-threatening by immigration and intelligence officials. The policy directly affects asylum seekers with ties to the CCP or similar parties, altering their eligibility under existing immigration statutes.
Maddy summaryS 2895, the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023, makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable. This change directly affects low-income adoptive parents who previously could not claim the credit if they owed no federal income tax. The bill restructures the credit in the tax code to allow families to receive it as a direct payment, even if their tax liability was zero. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and includes a transitional rule for credits carried forward from prior years. The law does not alter the credit amount or eligibility criteria, only its refundability.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Department of Veterans Affairs' small business procurement rules to explicitly include women-owned small businesses as a preferred category. It adds Section 8(m) of the Small Business Act - which governs women-owned business programs - to the VA's existing preference hierarchy for small business contracting. The key provision requires that all preferences under this new category (including those for women-owned businesses) receive equal priority alongside other established categories like veteran-owned businesses. This change directly affects women-owned small businesses seeking to bid on VA contracts, ensuring their status is treated equally in the procurement process. The bill does not alter contract amounts or create new funding, only adjusting how small business preferences are ranked.
Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution expresses Congress's support for Israel by declaring it is not a racist or apartheid state, rejecting antisemitism and xenophobia, and affirming the U.S. as a steadfast partner. It serves as a symbolic statement of bipartisan backing without creating new laws, funding, or obligations. Introduced by Senators Cotton, Cruz, and others in July 2023, it reflects congressional sentiment rather than policy change.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hire the maximum number of new air traffic controllers each year from 2024 through 2028, based on the training capacity of the FAA Academy. It directly affects the FAA, which must set annual hiring targets aligned with its ability to train new controllers. The law does not change existing hiring rules but mandates that the FAA utilize its full training capacity each year for new controller hires during this period. It excludes certain individuals specified under federal law, but the core provision focuses on maximizing new controller recruitment within available training resources.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week beginning September 11, 2023, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week" to recognize institutions that enroll at least 25% Hispanic students. It directly affects Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which serve over 5 million students across 28 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The resolution calls for public observance through ceremonies and activities during that week to honor HSIs' role in advancing educational access, economic mobility, and Hispanic Heritage Month. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no binding policy impact but formally acknowledges these institutions' contributions.