Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to create a specific federal definition for "obscene" visual content, affecting how such material is regulated under federal law. It defines obscenity as visual depictions that (1) appeal to prurient interest, (2) depict sexual acts with intent to arouse, and (3) lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. The definition explicitly covers images, videos, and graphic files, referencing existing definitions of "sexual act" from Title 18. This change would standardize federal obscenity enforcement for visual media across state lines and in interstate communications.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special review board to address career impacts on service members who requested religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine and remained in the military. The board will audit all such requests since 2020, assess whether promotions, assignments, or records were unfairly harmed, and order corrections like backdated promotions, restored pay, and expungement of negative records (e.g., reprimands or promotion denials). Service members directly affected are those who filed vaccine-related religious accommodation requests and stayed in service. The review must be completed within one year, with corrective actions finalized within 60 days of case reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1612) prevents U.S. funding for United Nations agencies if Palestine gains any status beyond observer status. It amends existing laws to replace "full membership" with "any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status" in U.S. funding rules for UN agencies. This would block U.S. financial support for UN bodies if Palestine achieves full membership or equivalent standing. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign aid policy toward UN agencies and Palestine's potential UN representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service from deducting labor organization dues, fees, or political contributions from employee paychecks. It directly affects federal workers and postal employees by ensuring their union dues are not automatically withheld from their pay. The key provision amends existing laws (5 U.S.C. § 7115 and 39 U.S.C. § 1205) to explicitly ban these payroll deductions. The policy change ensures employees retain full control over how they pay union dues, without automatic payroll withholding.

Maddy summaryS 1589, the Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2025, updates U.S. immigration parole rules to allow temporary entry for specific groups under strict criteria. It permits parole for urgent humanitarian reasons (like life-threatening medical emergencies or family reunification) or significant public benefit (such as assisting law enforcement), but only on a case-by-case basis - not for entire groups. The bill specifically expands eligibility for military family members, Cuban nationals under historical migration agreements, and those needing urgent medical care or organ transplants. Parole lasts up to one year (with possible one-year extensions) and does not grant work authorization except for military families and Cuban nationals, while requiring detailed annual reporting to Congress.

Maddy summaryThe App Store Accountability Act requires major app stores (those with over 5 million U.S. users) to verify the age of new users and obtain parental consent for minors before they can download apps or make in-app purchases. App stores must clearly display age ratings, protect age verification data, and notify parents of significant changes to apps used by minors. App developers must verify user age through the app store's system, cannot enforce contracts against minors without parental consent, and must display age ratings in plain language. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these requirements, with states also having authority to take action in certain cases.

Maddy summaryThe Make Sense Not Cents Act (S 1554) would stop the U.S. Treasury from minting new 1-cent coins (pennies). It directly affects businesses and the public that handle physical currency, as it would eliminate the production of new pennies. Key provisions include prohibiting the minting of pennies and updating related laws (like those governing coin specifications and tax codes) to reflect this change. Importantly, the bill clarifies that existing 1-cent coins remain legal tender for all payments, regardless of when they were made. This is a policy change to the physical coinage system, not a shift in currency value or legal status.

Maddy summaryThis bill would deny federal tax deductions for medical expenses related to gender transition procedures and prohibit federal funding through Medicaid, Medicare, and essential health benefits for such procedures. It defines gender transition procedures broadly to include various hormonal treatments and surgeries, while excluding certain medical conditions like disorders of sex development and specific medical emergencies. The bill would affect individuals seeking gender transition care who rely on federal health programs for coverage. The provisions would apply to services furnished after the bill's enactment, with specific exclusions for certain medically necessary treatments.

Maddy summaryThe Stand with Israel Act would prohibit U.S. federal funds from being used to pay the U.S. share of United Nations dues or contributions to UN programs, specialized agencies, or related entities if the UN or a UN entity expels, downgrades, or suspends Israel's membership or restricts Israel's full and equal participation as a member state. This means the U.S. government would withhold payments to the UN in cases where the UN takes such actions against Israel. The bill directly affects the Department of State and other federal agencies responsible for UN funding, requiring them to block these payments under specified conditions. It does not compel the UN to act but would prevent U.S. financial support in response to UN decisions impacting Israel's membership status.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felonies" by adding "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence" to the list of crimes triggering mandatory deportation for non-citizens. It directly affects non-citizens convicted of these specific sexual offenses, making them subject to automatic deportation under immigration law. The key change is adding this provision to Section 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which defines aggravated felonies. This policy shift would expand the scope of offenses classified as deportation triggers without creating new enforcement procedures.