Sen. Bernard Sanders

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 21) prohibits a specific U.S. foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense items. It blocks the proposed transfer of 2,166 Small Diameter Bombs, 2,800 general-purpose bombs, 13,000 JDAM guidance kits, and other bomb components and support items listed in a government transmittal. The resolution uses the existing congressional disapproval process under the Arms Export Control Act to stop this particular sale from moving forward. It directly affects the U.S. government's ability to authorize this specific transaction with Israel.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 20) prohibits a specific proposed foreign military sale to Israel involving 10,000 additional 155mm defense ancillaries (fuzes, primers, and charges), as detailed in Transmittal No. 24-16. It directly affects the U.S. government’s ability to proceed with this sale under the Arms Export Control Act. The resolution invokes Congress’s disapproval authority to block the transaction, requiring the sale to be halted if the resolution becomes law. This is a procedural disapproval measure targeting a specific military transfer, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding for Executive Order 14160 (and any successor policies), which attempted to deny U.S. citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. It directly affects the executive branch by blocking financial support for the controversial order, which contradicted the 14th Amendment and established court precedent like *United States v. Wong Kim Ark*. The bill’s key mechanism is a funding ban, ensuring no government resources can be used to implement policies that undermine birthright citizenship guaranteed by the Constitution and immigration law. It does not alter citizenship rules but prevents enforcement of the challenged executive order.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 634) amends U.S. Code § 4001 to prohibit federal authorities from detaining individuals solely based on protected characteristics. It directly affects anyone detained by federal law enforcement, banning detention based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any additional characteristic the Attorney General designates. The key provision adds a new subsection requiring that no one be imprisoned or detained "based solely on an actual or perceived protected characteristic," with the Attorney General having authority to expand the list of protected traits. This creates a clear legal standard to prevent discriminatory detention practices under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Equal COLA Act (S 624), equalizes cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for federal retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). It directly affects current and future FERS retirees, who currently receive less favorable COLAs than CSRS retirees. The key provision amends federal law to apply the same annual COLA calculation method - based on the previous year's price index change - to both systems, effective December 1 each year. This change ensures FERS annuities receive the same adjustment percentage as CSRS annuities, regardless of when the annuity began. The bill applies to all affected annuities commencing before, on, or after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Internal Revenue Service to conduct audits of the income tax returns of Presidents and certain related individuals (including spouses, estates, and trusts) and to publicly disclose specific information about those audits. The IRS must provide an initial report within 90 days of a tax return being filed, followed by periodic reports every 180 days, and a final report within 90 days of audit completion. The bill also requires Presidents to include their three most recent tax returns in required reports, and presidential candidates to include them within 15 days of nomination. The IRS would provide these returns to the Office of Government Ethics or Federal Election Commission upon request, with certain personal information redacted before public disclosure.

Maddy summaryThe SAD Act prohibits crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) from making deceptive claims about offering abortion services, contraception, or licensed medical care. It targets CPCs - anti-abortion organizations that mislead patients with false information, often near community health centers - to prevent them from discouraging access to reproductive care. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the law, with penalties up to $100,000 per violation or 50% of a CPC’s revenue, and requires annual FTC reports on enforcement actions. This directly affects CPCs and aims to ensure accurate information for people seeking abortion care, particularly low-income women and women of color facing heightened barriers post-Dobbs.

Maddy summaryThe Age 21 Act (S 597) would prohibit individuals under 21 years old from purchasing certain firearms and related items. The bill specifically targets semiautomatic assault weapons, certain pistols, shotguns, and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices by amending Section 922 of Title 18. It defines detailed categories of firearms that would be covered, including specific models like AR-15s and AK-47s, as well as features like detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The bill would require sellers to verify that buyers are at least 21 years old for these specific firearms and ammunition types. This would directly affect young adults aged 18-20 who would no longer be able to purchase these defined firearms.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Senate's non-binding position that the U.S. should not deploy military assets or personnel to Gaza for the purpose of "taking over" the territory. It directly addresses the executive branch, opposing any military actions that could lead to U.S. control of Gaza, which the Senate cites as violating constitutional requirements for congressional authorization of military force. The resolution references President Trump's February 4, 2025, comments about taking over Gaza and emphasizes concerns about regional relations, humanitarian impacts, and taxpayer costs. It does not create new law but formally states the Senate's opposition to such military deployments.

This resolution supports the designation of Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.