Maddy summaryThis bill, S 5124 (Protect our Presidents Act), requires the U.S. Secret Service to provide presidential and vice-presidential candidates with security protection equivalent to that given to the sitting president. It specifically covers major party candidates who have accepted nominations at national conventions, their spouses, and the president-elect or vice president-elect. The Secret Service must report to congressional committees every 15 days during election years - detailing threat levels, security costs, personnel assigned, and any unmet security needs for each candidate. Candidates may decline the enhanced protection if they choose. The bill focuses on standardizing security protocols for candidates during elections, not on altering existing protections for current officeholders.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3187, the Southern Border Transparency Act of 2023, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish detailed immigration data monthly and quarterly. It mandates CBP to post on its website the number of people granted parole at ports of entry, broken down by nationality, age group (like minors or families), and location. DHS must submit quarterly reports to Congress and post them online, detailing apprehensions, processing outcomes (such as parole, removal, or asylum screenings), and demographic breakdowns along the southern border. The bill also updates annual reporting requirements to track parolees' status, including employment authorization and whether their parole ended or was extended. These requirements directly affect CBP and DHS operations, aiming to increase public and congressional transparency about border processing.
Maddy summaryS 5088 (Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024) requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to submit a detailed report to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The report must document challenges faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities when starting or running a business, including an assessment of existing SBA resources, outreach efforts, and deficiencies in support. It specifically asks the SBA to describe how its offices, small business development centers, and women’s business centers engage with this group and recommend legislative changes if needed. The bill does not create new programs or funding but mandates a comprehensive review of current SBA support for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Maddy summaryThe Transparency in Student Lending Act (S 4686) requires colleges and student loan contractors to clearly explain the true cost of loans to borrowers before funds are disbursed. Specifically, it mandates written disclosure of the loan's Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which must factor in the loan amount, interest rate, standard term, fees, and how interest is capitalized. This disclosure must be provided in a format the borrower can keep, making loan terms more transparent. The bill directly affects all institutions participating in federal student loan programs under the Higher Education Act. It aims to help students understand total borrowing costs before taking out a loan.
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals key provisions of the Clean Air Act that allow California to set its own vehicle emission standards and grants other states the ability to adopt those standards. It directly affects California's authority to enforce its stricter emissions rules for vehicles and prevents other states from using California's standards as a federal baseline. The bill eliminates all existing federal waivers for California's standards and blocks future applications for such waivers, effectively ending the federal approval process for California's vehicle regulations. This would remove the legal basis for California's unique vehicle emission standards to apply nationwide.
Maddy summaryThe Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act amends a federal criminal law to expand penalties for interfering with energy transportation infrastructure, such as pipelines and power lines. It broadens prohibited acts to include vandalism, tampering, disrupting operations, and preventing construction of these systems. This change directly affects individuals who engage in such actions, increasing legal consequences for disrupting energy infrastructure projects. The bill does not create new infrastructure but strengthens existing legal protections for energy transportation networks.
Maddy summaryThe ROAD to Housing Act (S 5027) is a comprehensive housing bill aimed at improving housing access, financial literacy, and support for vulnerable populations. It reforms housing counseling programs to prioritize areas with high foreclosure rates, creates incentives for small dollar mortgage originators, and updates regulations to encourage lending for mortgages under $70,000. The bill also expands the Moving to Work Program for public housing agencies to increase flexibility in providing housing assistance, introduces incentives for local communities to reduce homelessness, and requires annual oversight testimony from housing regulators. These provisions primarily affect HUD programs, public housing agencies, housing counselors, and low-to-moderate income households seeking housing assistance.
Maddy summaryThe Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to join the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) when reviewing transactions involving U.S. agricultural land, biotechnology, or agricultural industry sectors (including transportation, storage, and processing) with foreign entities from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran. It mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture notify CFIUS about transactions where a foreign person from one of these "covered countries" is acquiring agricultural land, and CFIUS must then determine whether to initiate a review. This applies only to transactions already reportable under the 1978 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act and expires for any covered country once it is removed from the official list of foreign adversaries. The law directly affects foreign investors from specified countries seeking to purchase U.S. agricultural assets and the federal review process for such transactions.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary 30-member Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Reform to review how federal agencies issue regulations. The committee would examine current regulatory processes, identify rules that could be repealed, and recommend ways for Congress to review proposed regulations with significant economic impact ($50 million or more annually) before they take effect. Composed of 15 Senate members and 15 House members appointed by party leadership, the committee would operate for one year and hold hearings on regulatory burdens across different economic sectors. It would also analyze the feasibility of creating a permanent committee to review major regulations, with recommendations submitted to Congress within 90 days of its termination.
Maddy summarySRES 795 is a Senate resolution expressing strong disapproval of the Department of Education's delayed implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act for the 2024-2025 academic year. The resolution cites specific issues, including the FAFSA application launching on December 31 (instead of the usual October 1), delayed data transmission to colleges until March, and resulting financial aid delays past National College Decision Day on May 1. This directly affected students - particularly those in foster care or experiencing homelessness - by reducing their time to compare college financial options. The resolution calls on the Department to address rollout problems for future cycles and testify to Congress, but it does not create new policy or funding changes.