Maddy summaryThis bill, S 5124 (Protect our Presidents Act), requires the U.S. Secret Service to provide presidential and vice-presidential candidates with security protection equivalent to that given to the sitting president. It specifically covers major party candidates who have accepted nominations at national conventions, their spouses, and the president-elect or vice president-elect. The Secret Service must report to congressional committees every 15 days during election years - detailing threat levels, security costs, personnel assigned, and any unmet security needs for each candidate. Candidates may decline the enhanced protection if they choose. The bill focuses on standardizing security protocols for candidates during elections, not on altering existing protections for current officeholders.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe STRATEGIC Act of 2024 establishes a comprehensive framework to counter the People's Republic of China's influence through expanded regulations, sanctions, and oversight measures. The bill directly affects U.S. institutions by prohibiting gifts and contracts from certain Chinese entities, requiring think tanks to disclose foreign funding, and restricting visa issuance for senior Chinese officials. Key mechanisms include amendments to the Foreign Agents Registration Act to strengthen enforcement, creation of new funds to counter Chinese influence, and requirements for reporting on climate cooperation and military installations. The legislation also establishes new oversight for science and technology agreements with China, creates a special envoy office for critical technologies, and implements sanctions against entities involved in South China Sea activities and intellectual property theft.
Maddy summaryS 3187, the Southern Border Transparency Act of 2023, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish detailed immigration data monthly and quarterly. It mandates CBP to post on its website the number of people granted parole at ports of entry, broken down by nationality, age group (like minors or families), and location. DHS must submit quarterly reports to Congress and post them online, detailing apprehensions, processing outcomes (such as parole, removal, or asylum screenings), and demographic breakdowns along the southern border. The bill also updates annual reporting requirements to track parolees' status, including employment authorization and whether their parole ended or was extended. These requirements directly affect CBP and DHS operations, aiming to increase public and congressional transparency about border processing.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the federal government to evaluate state and tribal protocols for handling children missing from foster care and provide technical assistance to improve these systems. It mandates the Secretary to assess how effectively states identify and respond to missing youth, identify obstacles, and share best practices for tracking and recovery. Additionally, it directs the Secretary to assist states in implementing mandatory screenings for sex trafficking risks when youth return to foster care after going missing, including documentation and appropriate service referrals. The bill directly affects states, tribes, and tribal organizations administering foster care programs under federal law.
Maddy summarySRES 823 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2024) and celebrating the cultural contributions and achievements of Latinos in the United States. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups; instead, it urges the public to observe the month through activities honoring Latino heritage. The resolution highlights Latinos' economic impact (e.g., $3.4 trillion purchasing power), demographic significance (19.5% of U.S. population), and historical military service, but these statistics serve as context, not policy changes. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal force and is intended to raise awareness, not alter government programs or funding.
Maddy summarySRES 815 designates the week beginning September 9, 2024, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week" to recognize institutions that serve a significant Hispanic student population. It specifically refers to degree-granting colleges and universities with at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, which collectively serve over 5 million students nationwide. The resolution calls for the public and organizations to observe this week with ceremonies and activities honoring these institutions' role in expanding access to higher education, particularly for low-income and underserved students. This is a ceremonial resolution with no funding or regulatory changes; it simply provides national recognition during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires port applicants seeking federal infrastructure grants to address cybersecurity for digital projects. If an applicant uses grant funds for digital infrastructure or software, they must either certify they have an approved security plan or describe how they'll handle cybersecurity risks in their application. Applicants without an approved security plan must update their existing security plan within the next required update cycle to cover these new digital risks. The bill directly affects port authorities and entities applying for federal grants to acquire digital systems. It modifies the grant application process to mandate cybersecurity planning for digital investments.
Maddy summaryS 5068 restructures key defense leadership roles within the Department of Defense. It creates a new Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Industrial Base Development and Engagement, focused on strengthening U.S. defense partnerships with allies like Taiwan. The bill renames the existing "Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities" position to include "Homeland Defense" and expands its duties to cover homeland security policy, Arctic resilience, and coordination with state/local governments. It also eliminates the current "Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs" position and expands the International Security Affairs role to include Western Hemisphere affairs.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to strengthen federal efforts addressing harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia in marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. It requires a federal Task Force to produce a comprehensive Action Strategy every five years examining causes, ecological consequences, economic impacts, and potential solutions for HABs across diverse water systems. The bill establishes a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network to integrate monitoring capabilities and creates a National-Level Incubator Program to develop new prevention and mitigation strategies through merit-based funding. It authorizes $19.5 million annually for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and $8 million for the Environmental Protection Agency from 2024 through 2028 to implement these initiatives, directly affecting federal agencies, coastal communities, and industries dependent on healthy aquatic ecosystems.
Maddy summaryThe TRACE Act requires the Attorney General to add a specific data field to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, indicating whether a missing person’s last known location was confirmed or suspected to be on federal land (e.g., national forests, parks, or military sites). It also mandates annual reports to Congress detailing the number of such cases from the previous year. This directly affects cases involving missing persons last seen on federally managed lands, improving data tracking for law enforcement. The law focuses on concrete data collection and reporting, not on new enforcement powers or policy changes.