Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1358, the TASK Act) requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to mandate specific reporting for publicly traded U.S. companies with operations in China or supply chains linked to Xinjiang, China. It directs companies to report on: (1) supply chain sourcing checks for products imported from Xinjiang using forced labor; (2) transactions with companies sanctioned by Commerce or Treasury (e.g., military-linked firms); and (3) annual disclosures about Chinese Communist Party committees in their China operations and related decisions. The reporting aims to increase transparency around supply chain risks and ties to sanctioned entities, as part of the SEC’s evaluation of ESG (environmental, social, governance) disclosure guidance. It directly affects U.S. companies operating in China or sourcing goods from Xinjiang.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 1359 (STOP CCP Act of 2025) prohibits U.S. persons (including citizens, residents, and entities in the U.S.) from buying or selling publicly traded securities of Chinese entities operating in China's defense/military sectors or surveillance technology sectors, or entities owned by such companies. The bill requires the Treasury Secretary to expand the existing sanctions list (NS-CMIC List) to cover entities supporting China's military-industrial complex, including successors or financial service providers. It also closes sanctions loopholes by mandating that sanctions apply across all relevant laws unless the President waives them for national security reasons and reports to Congress. The law directly affects U.S. investors and financial institutions engaging with targeted Chinese companies.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Treasury to submit annual reports to Congress on American financial investments in China, including investments routed through other countries. It specifically mandates assessments of U.S. investors (like state pension funds) and Chinese entities receiving over $100 million in such investments, particularly in sectors like housing. Reports must cover all investments since 2008 for the first report, then annually, with details on investment types, major investors, and entities subject to U.S. sanctions. The bill focuses on transparency, not new restrictions, and directly affects U.S. investment entities and Chinese businesses receiving significant foreign capital.
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1308, VETS Opportunity Act of 2025) changes how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) counts independent study programs toward education benefits for veterans. It requires these programs to include regular, substantive interaction between students and instructors to qualify for VA funding. The bill also specifies that only institutions participating in federal student aid programs (Title IV of the Higher Education Act) can offer qualifying independent study courses. These changes apply to education terms starting August 1, 2025, directly affecting veterans pursuing VA-covered independent study courses.
Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT Act This bill expands oversight and disclosure requirements related to foreign sources and institutions of higher education (IHEs). Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to annually disclose to the Department of Education (ED) any year in which the IHE receives a gift from a foreign country of concern (e.g., China or Russia) or foreign entity of concern of any dollar amount; receives a gift or contract from a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts within a calendar year (current disclosure threshold is $250,000 or more), or which has an undetermined monetary value; enters into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern after receiving a waiver for such contract; or is substantially controlled by a foreign source. Additionally, the bill prohibits IHEs from entering into contracts with a foreign country of concern or with a foreign entity of concern without obtaining a waiver, and requires certain IHEs to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources. The bill requires ED to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation. Penalties may include losing eligibility for federal student financial aid.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. (including domestically manufactured, imported, or shipped vehicles) to include AM radio as standard equipment, meaning it must be built into the vehicle at no extra cost to buyers. It mandates that manufacturers install AM radio receivers that can access both traditional and digital AM broadcast stations, with compliance deadlines set 2-4 years after the rule is issued. During a transition period before the rule takes effect, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio but cannot charge extra for AM access. The bill also prohibits states from creating their own requirements about AM radio access in vehicles, aiming to ensure consistent emergency alert capabilities through AM radio in cars.
Maddy summaryThis bill revises the federal standard for pasteurized orange juice by requiring finished products to contain at least 10.0% by weight of orange juice soluble solids (excluding any added sweeteners). It directly affects orange juice manufacturers and producers who must comply with this updated standard for labeling and sale. The key provision amends existing regulations under the Code of Federal Regulations to set this minimum juice content requirement. The bill does not restrict the Secretary of Health and Human Services from later proposing further regulatory changes to the standard. This is a technical adjustment to product specifications, not a new tax or subsidy.