Sen. John Cornyn

Maddy summaryS 895, the DELIVER Act of 2025, increases the standard mileage rate for organizations delivering meals to vulnerable populations. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the IRS to use the standard business mileage rate for miles driven when delivering meals to homebound elderly, disabled, frail, or at-risk individuals. This change applies to miles driven on or after the bill's enactment date. The bill directly affects non-profits, senior centers, and volunteer groups that provide meal delivery services to these specific populations.

Maddy summaryThe SHOPP Act of 2025 amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to expand eligible items for low-income SNAP participants. It adds fresh frozen fruits and vegetables to the list of qualifying produce and includes legumes (like beans and lentils) in place of the previous "fruits and vegetables" requirement. This change directly affects SNAP recipients using nutrition incentive programs at farmers' markets or participating retailers. The key provision allows participants to receive incentives for purchasing frozen produce and legumes, increasing year-round access to affordable healthy foods. The bill modifies existing program rules without changing funding levels or eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in organ harvesting within China, as stated in its policy to address "state-sponsored organ harvesting" linked to Falun Gong persecution. Key mechanisms include requiring the President to create and update a list of sanctioned persons within 180 days, blocking their U.S. property, banning visas, and revoking existing visas for listed individuals. Exceptions cover humanitarian aid (e.g., food, medicine) and national security activities. It also mandates a report within one year on China’s organ transplant practices, including whether Falun Gong persecution constitutes an atrocity under existing law. The sanctions authority expires after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $88 million annually (2025-2029) for the U.S. Department of State and USAID to implement the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative in 13 Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. It directly affects these countries’ security sectors by funding programs to combat transnational crime (like drug trafficking and gangs), strengthen law enforcement and judicial systems, prevent youth involvement in crime, and improve disaster resilience. Key mechanisms include training for police and border security, anti-corruption support for prosecutors, and initiatives to increase economic opportunities for at-risk youth. The bill also requires annual progress reports to Congress and includes measures to counter influence from authoritarian regimes like China and Russia in these regions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education law to prohibit federally funded athletic programs from allowing individuals assigned male at birth to participate in sports designated for women or girls. It defines "sex" for this purpose as biological sex at birth, based on reproductive anatomy and genetics. The law directly affects schools, colleges, and sports organizations receiving federal funding. Violations would constitute a breach of Title IX, requiring programs to exclude individuals whose sex is male from women's or girls' athletic teams.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 12) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established procedures for a "Waste Emissions Charge" affecting petroleum and natural gas systems. Specifically, it targets the EPA's November 2024 rule (89 Fed. Reg. 91094) which outlined compliance methods like netting and exemptions for emissions charges. If passed, the resolution would formally disapprove the rule under federal law (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code), preventing it from taking effect. The bill directly affects the oil and gas industry by removing a specific regulatory framework for emissions reporting and fees. This is a procedural disapproval measure, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy" to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, particularly targeting Venezuela's Maduro regime and transnational criminal organizations that profit from illegal mining operations. The strategy aims to disrupt linkages between artisanal miners and illicit actors, promote responsible sourcing, support formalization of mining operations, and reduce environmental harm from mercury use. It would require coordination between U.S. departments and international partners to build law enforcement capacity, support miners in transitioning to legal operations, and enhance traceability in gold supply chains. The bill authorizes $10 million for implementation over two fiscal years to support these objectives.

This resolution recognizes Black History Month as an opportunity to reflect on U.S. history and to commemorate the contributions of African Americans. It calls for the United States to (1) honor the contribution of pioneers who helped to ensure its legacy; and (2) move forward as a nation "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Maddy summaryS 703 (CATCH Fentanyl Act) establishes pilot projects at U.S. border ports to test non-intrusive inspection technologies - such as AI, machine learning, and quantum sensing - to improve detection of contraband, drugs, and threats in cargo and vehicles. The bill requires testing at least five technology types from specified categories, prioritizing those that enhance detection accuracy, reduce wait times, integrate with existing systems, and demonstrate cost-effectiveness. It mandates reports analyzing pilot results, privacy safeguards for data collected during inspections, and recommendations for nationwide implementation, with no new funding authorized. The legislation directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at land border ports and aims to modernize inspection processes without altering existing legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the fund supporting victims of state-sponsored terrorism by directing specific funds into the compensation pool. It requires $898 million from the Binance forfeiture case and annual transfers of 50% of excess balances from DOJ and Treasury forfeiture funds to the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. Payments to eligible claimants must be distributed by March 14, 2025, for the fifth round, with future annual payments starting in 2026. The bill mandates detailed annual reports on fund activity from the Attorney General and a GAO report on forfeiture proceeds, focusing on transparency and accountability for victims.