Maddy summaryThe LIABLE Act (S 1487) removes jurisdictional immunity for international organizations in U.S. courts when they are involved in terrorism-related acts. It allows lawsuits seeking money damages for personal injury or death caused by torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, or material support for such acts - when committed by an organization's official, employee, or agent. This applies only if the organization conspired with, aided, or materially supported a designated foreign terrorist group (under 8 U.S.C. 1189), and the victim was a U.S. national, military member, or U.S. government contractor. Claims must be filed within 20 years of the incident. The bill directly affects international organizations operating in the U.S. or involved with designated terrorist groups.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill removes exclusions for grazing crops and grasses from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), expanding eligibility for disaster aid to farmers who grow these crops. Previously, farmers raising crops used for grazing were excluded from NAP benefits, but this change would allow them to access the same disaster assistance as other farmers. The Secretary of Agriculture must issue new regulations within 90 days of the bill's enactment to implement these changes. The policy directly affects ranchers and farmers who rely on grazing land for livestock, providing them with access to federal disaster support during crop failures or natural disasters.
Maddy summaryS 1495 reforms how the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) handles wetland compliance and appeals for farmers and ranchers. It requires NRCS to prove violations (not farmers to prove innocence), prohibits retroactive penalties for past wetland conversions, and prevents NRCS from changing its arguments after a successful appeal. The bill also mandates on-site visits during appeals, creates farmer-led State oversight committees, and requires customer satisfaction surveys after wetland determinations. These changes directly affect agricultural landowners who interact with NRCS regarding wetland assessments.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal meat and poultry inspection laws to allow state-inspected meat and poultry products to be sold across state lines. It removes the previous restriction that limited such products to sales only within the state where they were inspected, enabling interstate commerce for products meeting state inspection standards. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to permit interstate shipments of properly inspected state products and prohibits states from blocking the movement or sale of these items. It directly affects small meat and poultry producers, processors, and retailers who rely on state inspection programs instead of federal oversight. The change aims to expand market access for these businesses without altering inspection standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits "reverse payment" agreements where brand-name drug companies pay generic or biosimilar manufacturers to delay entering the market, which harms competition. It creates a presumption that such agreements are anticompetitive if a generic or biosimilar company receives value in exchange for delaying market entry, with exceptions for standard settlements involving early market entry rights or reasonable litigation expenses. The bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to enforce this new prohibition and requires certification of such agreements, aiming to enhance competition and lower drug costs for consumers. This would directly affect brand-name drug companies, generic manufacturers, and biosimilar biological product manufacturers.
Maddy summaryThis bill prioritizes states that have never received a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suicide prevention grant. It requires the VA Secretary to give all eligible applicants in such states a scoring preference during grant evaluations until at least one grant is awarded there. The law directly affects veterans in states without existing VA suicide prevention grants by ensuring these states receive fair consideration for funding. Key mechanisms include prioritizing entities in states with prior unawarded applications and applying a scoring preference for all applicants in states with no prior grants. This aims to expand access to mental health support for veterans nationwide.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1326 (Food Security and Farm Protection Act), prohibits state and local governments from imposing additional production standards on agricultural products sold across state lines. It directly affects farmers, food producers, and businesses involved in interstate agricultural trade by preventing states from creating new rules for farming that occurs in another state, unless federal or the producing state's rules already cover it. Key mechanisms include banning such extra state rules and creating a federal court process for affected parties (like producers or distributors) to challenge those rules and seek damages. The law also requires courts to issue temporary injunctions against enforcement of challenged regulations while cases are resolved, unless the state proves it will likely win and would suffer severe harm without the rule.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 159) is a ceremonial Senate measure honoring the late Senator John Bennett Johnston, Jr. (1932-2024), who represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate from 1972 to 1997. It commemorates his career, including his work on energy policy, flood control, and Louisiana conservation efforts, and requests the Senate adjourn in his memory while sending condolences to his family. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or laws.
Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 45 seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have allowed California to enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II vehicle emission standards. The resolution uses the congressional disapproval process under federal law to declare the EPA rule invalid, preventing California from implementing its stricter pollution controls for cars and trucks. If passed, this resolution would stop the rule from taking effect, meaning California could not override federal vehicle emission standards with its own requirements. The bill directly affects California's ability to set state-level environmental regulations for motor vehicles and the EPA's regulatory authority.
Maddy summarySJRES 46 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning California's vehicle emission standards. The rule, submitted in 2023, relates to California's pollution control requirements for motor vehicles, including advanced clean trucks, zero-emission airport shuttles, and heavy-duty engine emissions. This resolution would block the rule from taking effect using a specific federal disapproval process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. If passed, the rule would have no legal force, meaning California's current standards would remain without the EPA's formal approval for these specific provisions.