Sen. Rand Paul

Maddy summaryS 2054, the "Audit the Pentagon Act of 2023," requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to obtain an unqualified audit opinion on its full financial statements by 2024. If a DoD component (like a military branch or agency) fails to achieve this by the end of the calendar year for any fiscal year after 2024, it faces a 1% reduction in its next fiscal year's funding. The withheld funds are distributed proportionally across all programs within that component and then deposited into the Treasury's general fund for deficit reduction. This bill directly affects all DoD financial components by linking their budget authority to audit compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education privacy rules to make it easier for students to transfer credits between colleges toward completing a credential. It allows a student's previous college to receive their academic records (with the student's written consent) if they want to apply those credits toward a certificate or associate degree at their original school. The change directly affects students who transferred from one institution to another but later want to complete a credential they started at their first school. The key provision requires explicit student consent before records are shared, streamlining the "reverse transfer" process for credential completion.

Maddy summaryThe Tanning Tax Repeal Act of 2023 eliminates a federal excise tax on indoor tanning services that was previously imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. This bill directly affects tanning salons and their customers by removing a 10% tax on indoor tanning services performed after the law's enactment. The key mechanism is amending the tax code to repeal Chapter 49, which contained the tanning tax provision. The repeal takes effect for services provided after the bill becomes law, meaning tanning businesses will no longer collect or pay this specific tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), a law that has provided the legal basis for U.S. military actions for over two decades. It directly affects ongoing military operations and potential future actions currently justified under the 2001 AUMF. The repeal takes effect 180 days after the bill becomes law, removing this specific legal authority for military force.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new regulatory category for certain substances added to animal feed, called "zootechnical animal food substances." It defines these as products that affect digestion, reduce foodborne pathogens, or alter gut bacteria in animals - without treating disease or acting as drugs - while excluding hormones and veterinary drugs. The bill requires manufacturers to submit specific data about these substances to the FDA for review and mandates clear labeling stating they are "not for use in the diagnosis, cure, or treatment of animal disease." This changes how such feed additives are evaluated and labeled, without requiring their use in farming.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Tax Certainty Act permanently extends the 20% tax deduction for qualified business income (QBI), which currently applies to owners of pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The bill achieves this by amending the tax code to remove an expiration date (via striking subsection (i) of Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code). This change directly affects small business owners who rely on the QBI deduction to reduce their taxable income. The key provision eliminates uncertainty about the deduction’s future, ensuring continued eligibility without requiring future legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 14-20, 2023, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. It recognizes 444 officers killed in 2022 (including specific names listed in the resolution) and acknowledges 32 officers killed in 2023, while expressing support for law enforcement personnel. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement officers and promoting awareness of their essential service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryS.1667, the America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023, creates a pathway to permanent residency for certain college graduates who entered the U.S. as children under specific visa categories. It directly affects noncitizens who: (1) were lawfully present as dependent children of nonimmigrant workers (excluding H-1B, L-1, etc.) for at least 8 years, (2) maintained lawful presence for 10+ years total, and (3) graduated from a U.S. college or university. Key provisions include age-out protections for dependents who turn 21 while waiting for visas and retention of priority dates for visa processing. The bill modifies immigration law to allow eligible individuals to file for permanent residency without numerical limits, using the date a petition was filed as the basis for age determination. This applies to those whose parents held employment-based nonimmigrant status (e.g., E-1, E-2, O-1), not tourist or student visas.

Maddy summaryS 780, the Duplication Scoring Act of 2023, requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess new federal bills for risks of creating duplicate or overlapping government programs. For bills reported by congressional committees, the GAO must identify if a new program, office, or initiative would duplicate an existing one previously flagged in GAO reports, noting where in the bill the duplication occurs and referencing the relevant GAO report. The GAO must then share this analysis with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the bill's reporting committee, and publish it online. The CBO must include this assessment as a supplement to its budget estimates for the bill. This process aims to prevent new legislation from adding unnecessary duplication to existing federal programs.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Banking Act of 2023 creates a legal safe harbor for financial institutions that provide services to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses and hemp-related legitimate businesses. It prevents federal banking regulators from taking adverse actions against depository institutions for serving these businesses solely because they operate within state-legal marijuana frameworks. The bill also ensures income from legal marijuana businesses can be considered for qualifying for federally backed mortgage loans and requires updated guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. These provisions aim to address longstanding banking access barriers for businesses operating within state-legal marijuana and hemp industries.