Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryS 2174 (NATO Act) would withdraw the United States from NATO by requiring the President to notify the treaty organization of denunciation within 30 days of enactment. It prohibits federal funds from supporting any U.S. contributions to NATO's budgets, including military and civil programs. This bill satisfies a legal requirement for congressional authorization regarding NATO withdrawal, as specified in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. The legislation directly affects U.S. foreign policy and military funding obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress by March 1st detailing allied nations' defense contributions. It directly affects NATO members, Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Rio Treaty signatories, and key partners like Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. The report must include each country's annual defense spending (in nominal dollars and as a percentage of GDP), their military contributions to joint operations, any restrictions on those contributions, and U.S. or allied efforts to address such restrictions. The report will be submitted to specific congressional committees on defense, foreign affairs, and appropriations.

Maddy summaryThe Open App Markets Act restricts major app store owners (with over 50 million U.S. monthly active users) from forcing developers to use their payment systems or favoring their own apps in search results. It requires these stores to allow users to choose third-party app stores as defaults, install apps from outside the store, and hide preinstalled apps. The law applies to companies controlling both app stores and operating systems (like Apple or Google), with enforcement by the FTC and private lawsuits by affected developers. It prohibits self-preferencing, mandates equal access to app store interfaces, and allows developers to recover triple damages for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress by March 1st, detailing defense spending and military contributions from all NATO member countries and nations in the NATO Membership Action Plan. The report must include specific data on each country's defense budget (as a percentage of GDP), participation in joint military operations, contributions to Ukraine (categorized as "hard" or "soft" power), and assessments of their defense industrial base and military readiness. It aims to provide Congress with transparent, data-driven insights to evaluate whether NATO allies are meeting shared security commitments, particularly amid evolving threats. The bill does not alter U.S. policy but establishes a formal process for tracking allies' defense efforts.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic concurrent resolution (not a law), expressing congressional support for U.S. law enforcement officers. It highlights statistics on officer safety risks, traumatic incidents, and line-of-duty deaths, then calls for increased safety measures, resources, and mental health support - without mandating specific actions or funding. The resolution does not change policy or affect any individuals directly; it serves only to publicly affirm support. It was passed unanimously by the Senate on June 18, 2025.

Maddy summaryThe International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025 establishes a new U.S. government coordination structure to support international nuclear energy cooperation. It creates an Office of the Assistant to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy Export Policy and a Nuclear Exports Working Group to coordinate civil nuclear exports. The bill authorizes financial assistance for "embarking civil nuclear nations" (countries developing nuclear energy programs) to help them build technical capacity and establish safety, security, and regulatory frameworks. It also establishes a biennial conference on nuclear safety and security, and creates mechanisms for cooperative financing relationships with ally nations to support U.S. nuclear exports.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate resolution (SRES 277) proposes designating June as "Fidelity Month" to symbolically reaffirm the values of faith, family, and patriotism. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals, groups, or government programs. The resolution cites declining public support for these values as its rationale but offers no concrete policy changes - only a symbolic observance. As a procedural resolution, it serves solely to express the Senate's opinion, with no legal or financial impact.

Maddy summaryS 2043, the "Open America's Waters Act," removes a longstanding requirement that vessels engaging in U.S. coastwise trade (between U.S. ports) must be built in the United States. The bill amends the U.S. Code to allow any vessel meeting U.S. safety and security standards to operate in this trade, directly affecting shipping companies and vessel operators. Key provisions require the Coast Guard to issue implementing regulations within 90 days mandating safety and security compliance for all vessels in the coastwise trade. The bill also repeals related sections and updates references in maritime law to align with this change.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new provision to federal law increasing penalties for using open flames or incendiary devices (including burning the U.S. flag) while committing certain federal crimes like property damage or public endangerment. It mandates an additional minimum 1-year prison term for offenders who intentionally use fire-starting methods during these crimes, beyond any existing penalties. The law specifically targets flag burning only when connected to other criminal acts involving property or public safety risks, not standalone flag desecration. It explicitly excludes First Amendment-protected expressive conduct not involving criminal acts or threats to public safety.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 268) condemns former FBI Director James B. Comey for a May 15, 2025 Instagram post featuring numbers "86 47" with the caption "cool shell formation," which the resolution claims incited violence against President Donald Trump. The resolution urges federal agencies to bar Comey from future government employment and requests the Justice and Homeland Security Departments investigate his social media activity, releasing findings publicly. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but formally expresses the Senate's disapproval of Comey's actions as described in the resolution.