Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $25.48 billion in funding for NASA for fiscal year 2025, directing the agency to maintain continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit through a transition from the International Space Station to commercial space stations. It requires NASA to develop human-rated lunar landing capabilities for the Artemis program, continue development of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, and establish a Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program to procure services from U.S. commercial providers. The bill mandates a managed transition from the ISS to commercial destinations by 2030, with specific requirements for maintaining ISS operations until commercial alternatives are ready and for conducting in-space testing of advanced spacesuit capabilities. It also includes provisions to support lunar exploration, maintain a balanced science portfolio, and strengthen NASA's role in commercial space activities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill extends funding for the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program, which trains healthcare workers in health wellness approaches, through fiscal years 2025-2029 (previously 2020-2024). It redirects $20 million in unobligated funds from the Department of Health and Human Services' Nonrecurring Expenses Fund to support this program. The bill directly affects the existing SOAR program and its participants, ensuring continued operation without new appropriations. It makes no changes to the program's structure or eligibility, only adjusting its funding period and reallocating unused funds.
Maddy summaryThe FDA Modernization Act 3.0 requires the FDA to issue a final rule within 180 days of enactment to implement regulations for nonclinical testing methods used in drug development. This affects pharmaceutical companies developing new drugs by establishing standardized requirements for preclinical safety testing before human trials. The bill also makes a technical amendment to renumber a subsection related to clinical trial diversity plans, clarifying existing provisions without changing their substance. The key change is the FDA's obligation to finalize these testing regulations, aiming to modernize the drug approval process.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to document specific communications with major internet platforms regarding content moderation. It mandates detailed descriptions of any discussions about removing user content (like posts or videos), content moderation policies, or technical processes (such as algorithms or data tools) between agencies and companies covered under Section 230 of the Communications Act. The requirement applies to all communications involving internet service providers, content platforms, or software providers. This directly affects federal agencies and tech companies by creating a new transparency obligation for their official interactions.
Maddy summaryThe Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 91) authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats who risked their careers and safety to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. These diplomats, representing countries including Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and others, issued visas and provided safe passage to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution despite strict orders from their home governments. The medal will be presented collectively to the next of kin of each diplomat, along with representatives from their home countries, and then permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The act recognizes these individuals' bravery without implying they represent all who performed similar humanitarian acts during the Holocaust. The medal serves as a permanent tribute to their sacrifice and will be available for public display and research.
Maddy summarySRES 925 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma, who died on November 23, 2024, at age 94. The resolution expresses the Senate’s sorrow at his passing, requests that his family be notified, and directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal expression of respect for a former senator’s legacy.
Maddy summaryS 5436 (Protecting AI and Cloud Competition in Defense Act of 2024) requires the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to mandate competitive bidding for contracts involving cloud computing, data infrastructure, and large AI models (foundation models) with vendors holding $50 million+ in DoD contracts over five years. It prohibits contractors from using government-provided data without authorization, mandates data protection on vendor systems, and requires annual reports to Congress starting in 2026 on competition and market concentration in defense AI procurement. The bill directly affects major technology contractors supplying the DoD with AI/cloud services, ensuring government data rights and promoting multi-vendor competition. Key mechanisms include updated procurement rules for security/interoperability, penalties for data misuse, and public reporting on market dynamics.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands career services under the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program to include specific spouses. It directly affects spouses of disabled veterans (as defined in section 4101(5) of Title 38) and spouses of service members who died while serving in the Armed Forces (Gold Star spouses). The key change adds "eligible persons" to the program's eligibility criteria throughout the relevant section, allowing these spouses to access career counseling, job placement, and other support services previously available only to veterans themselves. This is a concrete policy change that broadens access to existing career assistance programs for these two groups of military spouses.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 902) honoring the late Senator Timothy Peter Johnson of South Dakota, who died after a long career in public service. The resolution expresses the Senate's "profound sorrow" over his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to share the resolution with the House and send a copy to his family, and calls for the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is purely a formal expression of respect for a former senator. The resolution commemorates his decades of service, including his time as Chairman of the Banking Committee and his return to work after a serious health setback.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a National Plan for Epilepsy under the Public Health Service Act, requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create an integrated strategy for preventing, diagnosing, treating, and curing epilepsy. It mandates an annual assessment of progress, an Advisory Council with diverse representation (including people living with epilepsy, caregivers, healthcare providers, and researchers), and annual reports to Congress on federal efforts. The plan directly affects the nearly 3.5 million people in the U.S. living with epilepsy and their caregivers by aiming to improve care coordination, reduce uncontrolled seizures, address financial burdens, and advance research. Key mechanisms include coordinating across federal agencies (like NIH and CDC), requiring public input, and setting a 2035 sunset date for the program.