Sen. Bernard Sanders

Maddy summarySJRES 10, introduced by Senators Kaine and Heinrich, would terminate the national emergency related to energy declared by the President on January 20, 2025, under Executive Order 14156. This resolution ends the emergency as authorized by the National Emergencies Act, removing the special legal authorities granted during the emergency period. Upon passage, federal agencies would no longer operate under the emergency framework for energy-related policies, reverting to standard regulatory processes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Senate's disapproval of the U.S. delegation's February 24, 2025, vote at the United Nations General Assembly against a Ukraine peace resolution (A/ES-11/L.10). It condemns the vote as the first U.S. alignment with Russia on Ukraine since 2014, criticizing the refusal to identify Russia as an aggressor or demand its withdrawal from Ukraine. The resolution has no binding effect but formally urges future UN cooperation with Ukraine and allies while reaffirming support for Ukraine's sovereignty.

Maddy summarySJRES 25 is a joint resolution that would block a specific proposed U.S. military sale to Israel. It targets defense articles and services listed in Transmittal No. 24-16, including 10,000 additional M107/M795 155mm artillery shells and related support services like technical documentation and engineering assistance. If passed, this resolution would prohibit the U.S. government from proceeding with this sale, directly affecting the defense transaction between the U.S. and Israel. The bill does not create new policy but seeks to halt a specific foreign military sale under the Arms Export Control Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 27) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific proposed U.S. military sale to Israel. It directly prohibits the sale of 10,000 M107/M795 155mm artillery projectiles and related support services, as detailed in Transmittal No. 24-0U submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)(1)) and published in the Congressional Record on February 10, 2025. The resolution blocks this particular foreign military sale by declaring it "prohibited" under the specified legal framework. As a procedural disapproval measure, it does not alter the underlying sale but aims to halt its implementation through congressional action.

Maddy summarySRES 96 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating February 24-28, 2025, as "Public Schools Week" to honor public education. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any specific group - it is a non-binding recognition of public schools' role in U.S. communities. The resolution includes supportive statements about public education's importance but contains no policy mechanisms or requirements. This designation is intended to raise awareness and appreciation for public schools nationwide. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect beyond the symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThe Helping Heroes Act (S 701) establishes the Veteran Family Resource Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to directly support veterans and their families - including caregivers and survivors - with basic needs like housing, childcare, and mental health. It requires the VA to appoint family coordinators at each Veterans Integrated Service Network within five years to help families navigate VA benefits and community resources, using evidence-based assessments to connect them to services addressing health, emotional support, and career readiness. The bill mandates annual surveys of disabled veterans and their families to identify unmet needs, particularly for children, and requires the VA to report program outcomes - including demographic data, service costs, and participant satisfaction - to Congress within two years. This focuses on improving family wellness through coordinated care, not on new funding or policy changes beyond existing VA structures.

Maddy summaryThe Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 establishes a new Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice to address environmental disparities in low-income, Tribal, and Indigenous communities. It creates a grant program to fund State, local, and Tribal governments for training staff, hiring personnel, and developing community engagement initiatives related to environmental enforcement. The Office will develop a 5-year strategy, coordinate federal and local enforcement efforts, and define "environmental justice" as ensuring equitable protection from environmental harms and access to a healthy environment for affected communities.

Maddy summaryS 726, titled "Ethan's Law," requires gun owners to store firearms securely in homes where minors (under 18) or individuals ineligible to own guns (per federal/state law) reside. It makes unsecured storage unlawful if a person "knows or reasonably should know" access is possible, with exceptions for gun safes, secure locations, or carrying firearms on one's person. Violations incur $500 fines per offense, and enhanced penalties apply if injury or death occurs. The bill also creates a federal grant program to support states with similar secure-storage laws and states that non-compliance constitutes negligence. This law directly affects households with minors or prohibited individuals, aiming to reduce accidental shootings, youth access, and firearm thefts.

Maddy summaryS.J. Res. 23 is a joint resolution that would prohibit the U.S. government from issuing a license amendment for exporting additional military weapons to Israel. Specifically, it targets an amendment authorizing the transfer of 15,500 JDAM tail kits and 615 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The resolution blocks this specific export under the Arms Export Control Act, which requires congressional review of such arms transfers. If passed, it would prevent the approval of this particular license amendment for defense articles.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 22) would prohibit a specific U.S. military sale to Israel involving 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (in multiple variants) and associated support equipment like spare parts, training, and technical services. It directly affects the planned foreign military sale detailed in Transmittal No. 24-104, which was submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act. The resolution would block the transaction from moving forward by formally disapproving the proposed sale. This is a procedural disapproval measure, not a new law, targeting this particular defense package.