Sen. Edward J. Markey

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to overturn a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have established fixed admission periods and specific extension procedures for nonimmigrant academic students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. If enacted, the bill would prevent this immigration policy from taking effect by using the congressional review process outlined in federal law. The measure directly affects individuals entering the United States under these specific nonimmigrant visa categories by maintaining their current status rather than subjecting them to the new time limits proposed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to prohibit a proposed sale of military equipment to the Saudi Arabian government. The specific items targeted for disapproval include over 10,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kits and more than 10,000 general purpose bombs, along with associated support services and spare parts. If enacted, this measure would block the transfer of these defense articles under the Arms Export Control Act.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would explicitly prohibit using slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime. The bill seeks to remove the exception in the 13th Amendment that currently allows such practices within the criminal justice system. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, this change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by banning forced labor as a sentence. The text clarifies that the amendment does not prevent voluntary work programs or community service alternatives for those in correctional institutions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates September 2026 as National Voting Rights Month to highlight the importance of voting access and the history of voter suppression in the United States. The bill encourages Congress to pass legislation that strengthens protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 while opposing measures that could restrict voter eligibility. It also recommends that schools develop curricula on voting rights history and invites the government to fund public service announcements to remind citizens of election dates and registration deadlines.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests that the Secretary of State submit a detailed report to congressional committees within 30 days regarding human rights practices in Israel, specifically focusing on the West Bank. The report must include all credible information on the killings of nine U.S. citizens by Israeli forces or settlers since January 2022, along with an assessment of ongoing investigations and potential accountability measures. Additionally, the resolution requires a description of the conditions and legal status of U.S. citizens currently held in Israeli prisons and an evaluation of the treatment of Palestinian children in military detention. The statement must also outline specific steps taken by the U.S. government to promote human rights observance and mitigate violence against both American and Palestinian residents in the region.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes existing regional ocean partnerships through 2031, extending funding for coastal states and tribes managing ocean resources. It sets specific annual funding levels: $11.57 million for 2028, $11.69 million for 2029, $11.81 million for 2030, and $11.92 million for 2031. The bill makes technical updates to reporting requirements and adjusts the funding period to align with the new authorization. It directly affects current regional ocean partnership programs under the 2023 defense act, ensuring continued federal support for coastal management efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish an independent expert panel within 60 days to review the agency’s Safety Management System (SMS) implementation. The panel will assess how well the FAA complies with its own safety policies, evaluates safety culture, and integrates SMS across all departments (like Air Traffic Organization and Aviation Safety Office), with a focus on four core components: safety policy, risk management, assurance, and promotion. The panel must submit findings and recommendations within 180 days, and the FAA must publish the report publicly, including any dissenting views from panel members. This is a procedural review of the FAA’s existing SMS, not a new safety rule, directly affecting the FAA and aviation stakeholders represented on the panel (e.g., airline pilots, controllers, and industry safety managers).

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 236) amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to allow the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to lease reservation and trust land for up to 99 years. It directly affects these two federally recognized tribes by expanding their authority to lease tribal land under the existing leasing framework. The key provision modifies the 1955 Act to specifically include their lands in the leasing authority, replacing a reference to the Chehalis Reservation. This change would enable tribes to enter longer-term leases for economic development or other purposes on their designated lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the funding authorization for the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act from 2026 to 2031, ensuring continued financial support for research into treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It requires the Food and Drug Administration to review clinical trial data more rigorously by assessing patient enrollment numbers and requesting interim results from drug manufacturers before renewing research grants. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that clinical trials in phase 3 include combined phase 2/3 studies and planned trials that have not yet started enrolling participants. The bill also mandates the FDA to publish a report within a year of enactment detailing its progress on rare neurodegenerative disease action plans and how it coordinates with broader disease communities. Finally, it adjusts the timeline for a Government Accountability Office report to cover a five-year period instead of four.