Sen. Ted Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the existing prohibition on reducing B-1 bomber aircraft squadrons through fiscal year 2026, instead of ending on September 30, 2023 as previously scheduled. It amends Section 133(c)(1) of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 117-81) to change the termination date. The provision directly affects the U.S. Air Force's planning for B-1 bomber fleet levels by preventing reductions during the extended period. This is a procedural adjustment to maintain current squadron levels without altering the underlying policy.

Maddy summaryS 2338 authorizes $30 million in additional funding for the Department of Defense to test hypersonic weapon systems using the B-1 bomber during fiscal year 2024. This funding supplements existing appropriations and cannot replace other authorized funding for the same testing purpose. The bill directly affects the DoD's weapons testing program by providing specific resources for hypersonic system development and evaluation on the B-1 bomber platform.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from using the term "Latinx" in official communications or forms. It directly affects all federal departments and agencies that produce government documents, such as forms, websites, or public notices. The law requires agencies to use alternative terminology instead of "Latinx" in all official written or electronic communications. This is a procedural change to federal language standards, not a policy affecting individuals or communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to immediately revert to the previous mortgage pricing structure (effective April 30, 2023) by eliminating the "recalibrated" fee system for single-family mortgages. It directly affects lenders and borrowers by banning fees based on debt-to-income ratios and mandating that future fee adjustments must align with risk-based pricing principles. The bill also mandates a 14-month GAO study to analyze the previous pricing changes' methodology, economic impacts on borrowers and lenders, and effects on affordable housing. This reverses recent FHFA policy changes without altering the underlying regulatory framework for mortgage enterprises.

Maddy summaryS 928, the "Not Just a Number Act," requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to publish an annual report on veteran suicide rates starting 18 months after enactment. The report must include detailed data broken down by age, gender, and race/ethnicity, plus comparisons between veterans who used VA health services (like Vet Centers or mental health care) versus those who did not, and veterans engaged with VA benefits programs (such as education assistance, disability compensation, or housing loans). The bill also mandates a toolkit for state/local coroners to better identify and report veteran suicides, and a study on creating a dedicated VA suicide prevention office. These requirements aim to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting on veteran suicide trends to inform prevention strategies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the second anniversary of Cuba's July 11, 2021, peaceful protests, condemning the Cuban government's ongoing repression and human rights violations against protesters. It specifically calls for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens, including minors, and urges the U.S. State Department to advocate for their release and support Cuban civil society. The resolution also requests that the U.S. work with international partners to deny Cuba a second term on the UN Human Rights Council, though it has no binding legal effect. As a symbolic gesture, it expresses solidarity with Cuban protesters but does not enact new policies or directly affect any individuals.

Maddy summaryS 2234, the Deterring Egregious State Infiltration of Schools’ Training Act, prohibits the establishment or maintenance of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) units at educational institutions owned, operated, or controlled by specific Chinese government entities. It directly affects JROTC programs at schools under the control of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, the People’s Liberation Army, or designated Chinese military-linked companies. The bill amends U.S. Code to ban JROTC units at such institutions, listing specific categories including entities on the Treasury’s Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex List or identified under the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. This is a policy change restricting military training programs at foreign-controlled educational facilities.

Maddy summaryThe CADETS Act (S. 467) modifies the Student Incentive Payment Program at State maritime academies by requiring students to meet the Navy Reserve's age requirement for enlistment or commission at the time of graduation, rather than at the time of enrollment. This change directly affects students enrolled in State maritime academies who seek financial incentives to support their education. The bill updates the eligibility criteria in 46 U.S.C. § 51509 to align graduation-age requirements with Navy Reserve standards. It ensures students qualify for payments only if they are eligible to join the Navy Reserve immediately after completing their studies.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 36) seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule (88 Fed. Reg. 12842, March 1, 2023) that would have removed religious exemption provisions from the Equal Opportunity Clause requirements for federal contractors. If approved, it would prevent the rule from taking effect, meaning federal contractors would continue to be required to comply with the Equal Opportunity Clause without the religious exemption previously allowed. The bill directly affects federal contractors subject to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) regulations. It is a procedural disapproval measure under Title 5, U.S. Code, not a new policy change.

Maddy summarySJRES 11 is a joint resolution seeking to cancel an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that set new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses. The rule, published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2023, would have required manufacturers to meet specific pollution control measures for new vehicles. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under the Congressional Review Act to nullify the EPA rule, meaning it would have no legal effect if enacted. If passed, the EPA's emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles would be voided, removing requirements for manufacturers to comply with those specific pollution controls.