Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 13-member Commission to study the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, and to develop reparation proposals. The Commission will examine the institution of slavery from 1619-1865, discriminatory practices like redlining and Jim Crow, and current disparities in wealth, incarceration, and employment. It will identify evidence of these harms, study their lingering effects, and recommend educational approaches and potential remedies, including compensation calculations and eligibility. The Commission must submit its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of its first meeting. The bill authorizes $12 million for the Commission's work and requires it to terminate 90 days after submitting its report.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Washington, D.C. Admission Act would admit Washington, D.C. as a new state called "Washington, Douglass Commonwealth," granting it full representation with two U.S. Senators and one U.S. Representative. The bill would establish the new state's boundaries, with the area serving as the seat of government (the "Capital") remaining under federal jurisdiction for specific purposes. It would repeal the District of Columbia's congressional delegate position and its participation in presidential elections, while providing for a transition period overseen by a Statehood Transition Commission to handle the shift from district to state governance.
Maddy summaryThe Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act of 2025 imposes a tax on fossil fuel companies based on their historical carbon emissions from 2000-2023. Companies that emitted more than 1 billion metric tons of CO2 during this period must pay a tax calculated as a proportion of a total $1 trillion tax amount, based on their excess emissions. The tax revenue will fund a new trust fund to support climate resilience projects, with at least 40% of funds directed to environmental justice communities (communities of color, low-income, and Tribal/Indigenous communities). Companies can pay the tax over 9 years in installments, and the bill explicitly states it doesn't affect existing legal claims against polluters or preempt state climate laws.
Maddy summaryThe Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024 would establish a federal commission to investigate and document the historical impacts of Indian boarding school policies on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. The Commission would hold public hearings for survivors, families, and tribal representatives, work to locate unmarked graves and document records from these schools, and develop recommendations for healing and preventing similar practices today. It would include 10 diverse members representing tribal communities, experts in boarding school history, and healing practitioners, with an Advisory Committee composed of tribal organizations and survivors. The Commission would issue an initial report within three years and a final report within five years, making recommendations for federal action to address historical trauma and support mental health and cultural healing. This bill focuses on documenting the government's role in cultural termination and developing concrete steps for acknowledgment and healing.
Maddy summarySRES 941 is a ceremonial Senate resolution congratulating the University of Vermont men's soccer team on winning the 2024 NCAA Division I national championship. It formally recognizes their victory, including their "Cardiac Cats" nickname earned through late-game goals, and directs the Senate to send a copy to the university president, athletics director, and head coach. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it solely serves to honor the team's achievement.
Maddy summaryThe ICEE HOT Act of 2024 establishes a federal rebate program to promote energy-efficient building electrification products. It provides 30% rebates to contractors, distributors, and manufacturers for eligible products like heat pumps, water heaters, and electric stoves, with 40% of funds required to support disadvantaged businesses or those with 40% disadvantaged employees. The program mandates that 85% of rebates be passed through to end consumers and offers additional incentives for union labor and high-efficiency products exceeding Energy Star standards. The bill authorizes $10 billion for states to implement these rebates from 2025-2032, aiming to increase product availability and address equity in the energy transition.
Maddy summaryThe Postal Banking Act would authorize the U.S. Postal Service to offer basic financial services directly to the public, including small-dollar loans (up to $500 per loan, $1,000 annually), checking/savings accounts (capped at $20,000 or 25% of median FDIC account balances), debit cards, check-cashing, and money remittance. It sets strict limits: loan interest rates cannot exceed 101% of the Treasury rate, savings rates must be at least 100% of the FDIC’s national rate, and the Postal Service must provide these services exclusively without private bank partnerships. The bill explicitly prohibits the Postal Service from obtaining a bank charter or becoming an insured depository institution, while requiring annual GAO reports on program demographics and usage. The goal is to provide affordable alternatives for unbanked or underbanked individuals who currently rely on costly services like payday loans or check-cashing.
Maddy summaryS 5637 establishes the Biomedical Innovation Fund in the Treasury, requiring annual $10 billion transfers from the general fund starting September 1, 2025, through 2034. The fund distributes amounts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on their discretionary appropriations relative to minimum funding levels, with 20% of each annual allocation available for obligation each year over five fiscal years. Funds must support specific research activities including basic disease research, innovative treatments for unmet medical needs, early-career scientist programs, and studies targeting conditions disproportionately affecting Medicare/Medicaid populations. The bill strictly prohibits non-compliant uses and mandates annual reports on fund operations and research outcomes to Congress.
Maddy summaryThis bill would require Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children to stop trading or holding certain investments (called "covered investments") and instead place them in "qualified blind trusts" or divest them by specific deadlines. It defines covered investments broadly to include stocks, commodities, and derivatives, but excludes diversified mutual funds, government bonds, and some business interests. The bill sets different deadlines for different groups (e.g., 90 days after enactment for existing holdings, 120 days for new holdings) and establishes civil penalties for non-compliance, including penalties equal to 10% of the value of non-compliant holdings. It also requires public reporting of financial disclosures and establishes procedures for oversight by ethics offices.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the federal government to study whether the Deerfield River (including all its branches and major tributaries like the Green River and North River) in Massachusetts and Vermont should be designated as a Wild and Scenic River. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete this study within three years of funding and submit a report to Congress with the findings. The study itself is the primary action; it does not immediately protect the river but would inform future decisions about potential designation. This affects the river watershed and communities along its path by initiating a formal review process.