Sen. John R. Curtis

Maddy summaryThe Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025 amends the law governing deposits into the Crime Victims Fund, adding two new sources: funds from declined criminal prosecutions (without conviction) and certain False Claims Act recoveries (from 2025 through 2030). It specifically excludes two types of False Claims Act funds from these deposits: payments to whistleblowers (qui tam plaintiffs) and reimbursements for government fraud damages. This bill directly affects the Crime Victims Fund, which provides support to victims of crime, and adjusts how federal agencies handle False Claims Act cases. The changes aim to modify the fund's funding sources without altering the False Claims Act itself.

Maddy summaryS 1806, the Business Owners Protection Act of 2025, terminates certain discretionary powers held by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that were created under the Dodd-Frank Act but never implemented. Specifically, it ends SEC authority to impose new requirements on private businesses if the Commission hadn’t proposed rules or issued guidance on those requirements by January 1, 2025. This affects businesses that might have faced new SEC rules but avoids future regulatory burdens from unused authority. The SEC must publicly list all terminated authorities within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThe TAKE IT DOWN Act requires major social media platforms and websites hosting user-generated content to establish a 48-hour removal process for nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (including deepfakes) upon verified request. It defines "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions" as images or videos of identifiable people shared without consent, with criminal penalties for sharing such content with intent to cause harm. The law exempts law enforcement activities, medical purposes, and content shared for legitimate educational reasons. Platforms must remove these materials quickly but are protected from liability if they act in good faith. This law directly affects social media companies and individuals whose intimate images are shared without consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to change how certain water infrastructure financing is treated in federal budgeting. It specifically applies to projects funded by WIFIA where the recipient is a non-Federal entity (like a state, local government, or public utility) and repayment comes from non-Federal revenue sources. The key provision reclassifies such financial assistance as a direct loan or loan guarantee for budget purposes under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, rather than as a direct grant. This change simplifies the budgetary accounting for these projects but does not alter the eligibility criteria for receiving WIFIA funding itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the President to review whether specific Hong Kong judicial and government officials meet criteria for existing U.S. sanctions within 180 days of enactment. It directly affects 45 named individuals, including Hong Kong Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, judges, prosecutors, and officials like Chief Executive John Lee, who were previously sanctioned or hold current roles. The review will determine if sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, Hong Kong Human Rights Act, or other existing legal authorities apply to these individuals. The bill does not impose new sanctions but mandates a formal assessment process using current U.S. legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal unemployment payments to individuals whose prior year's wages reached $1 million or more. It requires applicants to self-certify their income and mandates states to verify wage eligibility through existing systems. Individuals who receive payments they're ineligible for must repay them, and the law prevents federal interference with state-level disqualifications based on high earnings. It directly affects only jobless individuals with very high prior earnings who would otherwise qualify for federal unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) handles hearings for nuclear facility permits. It allows the NRC to issue construction permits, operating licenses, or amendments without a formal hearing if no affected party requests one, provided the NRC gives 30 days notice and publishes in the Federal Register. The NRC may skip this notice period only for permit amendments involving no significant hazards. The bill directly affects nuclear power plant operators, uranium enrichment facility applicants, and the NRC’s licensing process. It streamlines permitting by reducing mandatory hearings but does not alter safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 222) symbolically designates May 2025 as "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" to promote safety awareness among all road users. It encourages rider education, proper gear use, and shared roadway responsibility, recognizing motorcycles' role in transportation and the need to reduce motorcyclist fatalities. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally supports existing safety efforts by the motorcycling community and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It directly affects public awareness and serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage safer road practices.

Maddy summarySRES 220 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution recognizes officers who have been killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty, including 234 officers honored for 2024 fatalities and 18 officers killed in 2025. It expresses the Senate’s support for law enforcement, acknowledges the need for adequate resources for officer safety, and encourages public observance to celebrate their service and sacrifices. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to block a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule that aimed to expand internet access for schools through the E-Rate program, specifically addressing the "homework gap" by increasing funding for student connectivity. The rule, published in the Federal Register on August 20, 2024, would have modified how schools and libraries access broadband under the E-Rate program. If passed, the resolution would cancel this rule, preventing it from taking effect under federal disapproval procedures. This is a procedural action targeting a specific FCC regulatory change, not a new policy.