Maddy summaryThe Keep Families Together Act (S 4723) limits the separation of children from parents or legal guardians at or near the U.S. border or within 100 miles of it. It prohibits separation solely to deter migration or enforce immigration laws, allowing separation only under specific conditions: a state court order, a child welfare agency’s safety determination, or documented findings by border officials regarding trafficking, parentage, or immediate danger to the child. The bill requires agencies to document separations, provide monthly updates to families on children’s well-being, develop a public system for locating separated children, and mandate training for border agents on child welfare and trauma. It directly affects children under 18 without permanent U.S. immigration status and their families, applying to border enforcement agencies like Customs and Border Protection.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4554) is a non-binding resolution expressing Congress's "sense" that protections for abortion access should be supported after the *Dobbs* decision and that *Roe v. Wade* protections should be restored. It does not create new laws or change existing policies; it is solely a statement of congressional opinion. The resolution directly affects no individuals or entities, as it lacks legal force. Key provisions (Section 2) state Congress supports post-*Dobbs* reproductive health care access and aims to restore *Roe*-era protections, but these are declarative statements only.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands whistleblower protections for federal employees, contractors, and job applicants across all branches of government. It creates new administrative remedies for covered individuals harmed by retaliation, including specific pathways for FBI staff, intelligence community workers, and contractor employees. If agencies don't resolve complaints within 180 days, affected individuals can sue for double back pay, reinstatement, attorney fees, and other remedies in federal court. The law applies to all federal agencies, offices, and legislative/judicial entities, ensuring consistent protections for workers and contractors who report wrongdoing.
Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the ban on foreign influence in U.S. elections by expanding the definition of foreign-controlled business entities to include those with significant foreign ownership or influence (e.g., 50% direct ownership or 1% indirect ownership with aggregation). It requires any for-profit business entity making election-related contributions, expenditures, or independent spending to file a certification within 7 days, under penalty of perjury, confirming it is not foreign-controlled. Recipients of such funds must separately account for them and cannot reuse the funds for further election activities without the certification. The bill also clarifies that these rules apply to State/local ballot initiatives and disbursements to political committees like Super PACs.
Maddy summarySRES 756 is a Senate resolution designating June 19, 2024, as "Juneteenth Independence Day" to commemorate June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. This symbolic resolution recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern U.S. after the Civil War. It does not create new laws or affect any group; it solely serves to honor this date as part of U.S. history and encourage nationwide observance.
Maddy summaryS 4642, the "Ending Corporate Greed Act," imposes a new 95% tax on excess profits for large corporations with average annual gross receipts of at least $500 million over 2015-2019. It directly affects C-corporations (excluding REITs and S-corps) meeting this revenue threshold by calculating "excess profits" as current taxable income minus an inflation-adjusted average of their 2015-2019 profits. Key mechanisms include removing certain tax deductions (like those for foreign-derived income), adjusting depreciation rules, and capping the tax at 75% of a corporation’s modified taxable income. The tax applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023, and expires after 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $100 million federal fund to support local governments that provide free legal counsel to low-income tenants facing eviction. It directly affects tenants earning 200% or less of the federal poverty line in eviction or housing subsidy termination cases involving their primary residence. The fund provides grants to jurisdictions that have already enacted "right to counsel legislation," prioritizing those with tenant protections like 30-day notice periods, eviction diversion programs, or emergency rental assistance. Grant money can cover attorney training and recruitment costs for representing eligible tenants in covered cases. The bill does not mandate new laws but offers funding to jurisdictions that already have such policies in place.
Maddy summaryThe Streamlining International Food Assistance Act of 2024 amends the Food for Peace Act to allow U.S. international food aid programs to provide assistance in more flexible forms, such as cash, vouchers, or agricultural commodities, rather than being limited to physical goods. It updates the law by replacing "agricultural commodities" with "assistance, including in the form of agricultural commodities" in multiple sections and removes a requirement that aid must align with a specific prior provision (section 202(e)(1)(C)). The bill also repeals a provision that set fixed levels of assistance and makes technical adjustments to streamline program administration. These changes directly affect how the U.S. Department of Agriculture and USAID deliver food aid to foreign countries, aiming to improve efficiency and adaptability in responding to global food needs.
Maddy summarySRES 749 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing June 2024 as "LGBTQ Pride Month." It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the contributions and struggles of LGBTQ individuals in the U.S. The resolution encourages public reflection on LGBTQ history, discrimination faced by the community, and celebration of their achievements. It directly affects public awareness and Senate recognition, with no direct impact on individuals or government programs. This is a procedural resolution, not a legislative measure with binding effects.
Maddy summaryThe HART Act requires anyone buying multiple residential properties (like apartments, condos, or single-family homes) in a single year to report these acquisitions to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), treating all such purchases as one transaction. It directly affects real estate investors and large property buyers who acquire residential properties for rental or investment purposes, excluding properties bought for personal use or short-term rentals like hotels. Key provisions include amending the Clayton Act to mandate these reports, exempting personal-use properties, and directing the FTC to update regulations for enforcement. This aims to improve transparency around large-scale residential property ownership changes under antitrust oversight.