Maddy summaryThe GRACE Act establishes a minimum annual refugee admission level of 125,000, requiring the U.S. to admit at least that many refugees each fiscal year unless the President sets a higher number (with 125,000 automatically applying if no determination is made). It mandates that the President consider the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' global resettlement needs when setting annual numbers and allocate refugees regionally, including an unallocated reserve for unexpected regional needs after notifying Congress. The bill also requires quarterly reports to Congress on refugee admissions, including regional breakdowns, security clearance rates, processing times, and plans to meet annual goals, enhancing transparency in the refugee admissions process.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National Voter Registration Act to allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field offices to serve as official voter registration agencies for new naturalized citizens. It requires USCIS offices to facilitate voter registration applications during naturalization processes and mandates that courts conducting naturalization ceremonies permit USCIS to provide registration assistance. The bill directly affects newly naturalized citizens who complete their citizenship process at USCIS offices or through court ceremonies. Key provisions establish joint procedures between states and USCIS for registration and clarify that existing immigration fees and grant programs may fund these voter registration services.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits rental property owners (with 4+ units) and algorithmic services from facilitating price coordination among landlords. It makes it illegal for owners to use "coordinators" (software/data services) that collect and analyze rental data to recommend uniform pricing or lease terms, which could enable tacit rent cartels. Violations would be treated as antitrust violations under federal law, with penalties including triple damages for affected tenants. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general would enforce these provisions, and pre-dispute arbitration agreements related to violations would be unenforceable.
Maddy summaryS 3688, the FAIR Act, sets pay adjustments for federal employees in 2025. It increases base pay by 4% for most federal workers covered under statutory pay systems and prevailing rate employees (those paid according to local market rates). Additionally, it raises locality pay adjustments by 3.4% for 2025. The bill directly affects all federal employees whose pay is determined under these specific pay systems. These changes are mandated by statute and apply to calendar year 2025.
Maddy summary# Summary of Proposed Education Legislation This document presents a comprehensive legislative proposal to reform and reorganize key components of the U.S. education research and technical assistance infrastructure. The primary focus is on enhancing evidence-based practices, improving coordination among educational entities, and strengthening research on special education. Key changes include: 1. **Reorganization of Research Centers**: - Renaming the "National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance" to "National Center for Education Evaluation and Evidence Use" - Establishing a new "National Center for Special Education Research" with specific focus on infants/toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities - Creating a "What Works Clearinghouse" to compile evidence-based practices 2. **Emphasis on Evidence-Based Practices**: - Mandating evidence use by practitioners, education system leaders, and policymakers - Requiring all research to adhere to high standards of quality, validity, and reliability - Establishing clear standards for peer review of research 3. **Regional Educational Laboratories**: - Creating a network of 10 regional educational laboratories serving geographic regions - Requiring coordination between regional laboratories and comprehensive centers - Mandating research-practice partnerships to support evidence-based implementation 4. **Special Education Focus**: - Adding specific research priorities for special education (including universal design for learning) - Emphasizing transition outcomes for students with disabilities - Improving assessment alignment with special education needs 5. **Technical Assistance Coordination**: - Establishing "comprehensive centers" (national and regional) to coordinate technical assistance - Creating "focus centers" to address specific educational challenges - Requiring coordination between technical assistance centers to minimize duplication 6. **Data and Research Management**: - Updating data management requirements for research funded under this title - Requiring machine-readable data management plans for research proposals - Enhancing public access to research products while maintaining privacy protections 7. **Funding Updates**: - Increasing authorization levels for various programs - Updating funding references to current fiscal years The legislation aims to create a more cohesive, evidence-based education research and technical assistance system that better serves students, particularly those from underserved populations and students with disabilities, by ensuring research findings are effectively translated into practice.
Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a corporate tax penalty on large companies where the CEO's pay exceeds 50 times the pay of the average worker. For corporations with a pay ratio over 50:1, the standard 21% corporate tax rate increases by 0.5% to 5% based on how high the ratio is (e.g., 5% for ratios over 500:1). It applies only to corporations with average annual revenue over $100 million, exempting smaller businesses. The penalty takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and includes rules to prevent companies from manipulating the ratio by using contractors instead of employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal right for patients to access fertility treatments without unreasonable restrictions, protects health care providers who offer these services, and requires insurance coverage for such treatments. It guarantees patients the right to continue ongoing treatments under written agreements and retain control over reproductive materials. States cannot impose requirements that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures or that don’t significantly advance safety. Violations can be challenged in federal court by the government, patients, or providers, while states may still enforce health/safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests the State Department to provide detailed information about Israel's human rights practices in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, conflict. It specifically asks for data on alleged human rights violations, a list of U.S. weapons supplied to Israel since October 7 (including bomb types and quantities), and assessments of Israel's compliance with international human rights law during military operations. The information must include whether U.S. security aid should continue amid concerns about civilian impact, and an evaluation of end-use monitoring for weapons. This procedural request, under the Foreign Assistance Act, aims to inform potential decisions on U.S. security assistance to Israel.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 510) expresses the Senate's support for respecting the FDA's scientific determination that mifepristone - a medication used for early pregnancy termination - is safe and effective. It calls for abortion care policies to be "equitable and based on science," emphasizing the FDA's authority to regulate the drug without interference, including its 2023 update allowing mail-order access. The resolution directly addresses the impact of state restrictions on medication abortion, noting that such policies disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous people, people of color, low-income individuals, rural communities, and other marginalized groups. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but urges alignment with FDA science to protect access to this time-sensitive care.