Sen. John Thune

Maddy summarySRES 838 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating November 17, 2024, as "National Warrior Call Day." It aims to raise awareness about veteran and military member mental health by emphasizing the importance of peer-to-peer connections during transition from service. The resolution cites statistics showing high veteran suicide rates (33.9 per 100,000 in 2021) and encourages all Americans to reach out to veterans or active-duty personnel for support. It does not create new laws or funding but urges public engagement through "making a warrior call" to prevent isolation. This resolution directly affects public awareness and voluntary actions, not specific individuals or programs.

Maddy summarySRES 840 designates the week of September 15-21, 2024, as "Telehealth Awareness Week" to recognize telehealth's role in expanding healthcare access, especially for rural and underserved communities. The resolution urges efforts to raise public awareness about telehealth benefits, highlight resources for providers and patients, and promote continued access to telehealth services across diverse settings. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic Senate statement supporting existing telehealth practices. The resolution references Medicare data showing widespread telehealth use and satisfaction among beneficiaries. This procedural resolution was introduced by Senators Schatz, Wicker, Cardin, Thune, Warner, and Hyde-Smith.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the federal tax credit for railroad track maintenance from $3,500 to $6,100 per mile of track maintained. It also adds an annual inflation adjustment starting in 2025, tying future credit amounts to the cost-of-living index. The change applies to expenditures paid or incurred after December 31, 2024, affecting railroad companies that maintain track infrastructure. The bill directly modifies the tax code to provide higher, inflation-indexed financial support for railroad maintenance costs.

Maddy summarySRES 800 is a symbolic Senate resolution introduced on August 1, 2024, by a bipartisan group of senators. It condemns the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally and honors three individuals affected: Corey D. Comperatore (who died shielding his family), David Dutch (critically injured), and James Copenhaver (critically injured). The resolution calls for national unity and civility following the violent incident. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but expresses the Senate's stance on the event.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates approximately 40 acres at the Wounded Knee Massacre site (part of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota) as Tribal land held in "restricted fee status" by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete all necessary steps to establish this status within one year of enactment, ensuring the land remains tribal-owned, part of the reservation under tribal jurisdiction, and protected from state taxation or sale without tribal and congressional consent. The land must be used solely for purposes specified in a 2022 tribal covenant, cannot be used for gaming, and retains existing utility agreements. This directly affects the two tribes managing the memorial site, preserving its status as a sacred and historical location.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to track and reduce delays in processing broadband infrastructure permit applications. It mandates agencies to develop data systems for accurate processing time tracking, analyze delay causes in real-time, and report annually to specific congressional committees. The bill also sets a $5 million minimum investment threshold for broadband projects requiring environmental review under NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act), meaning projects exceeding this cost must undergo standard environmental assessment. These provisions directly affect federal agencies managing permits and broadband infrastructure developers seeking federal approvals.

Maddy summaryS 4770 prohibits federal agencies from entering contracts with companies that boycott Israel after January 1, 2024. It requires companies bidding on contracts over $100,000 for services or information technology to certify they are not boycotting Israel, and mandates that contracts include a prohibition on boycotts during their term. If a company violates this, agencies must notify them within 30 days and terminate the contract 30 days later unless the boycott ends. This directly affects businesses with federal contracts exceeding $100,000 for services or IT, with no impact on individual contractors or smaller contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a tax exclusion allowing employers to pay employees' student loans tax-free under educational assistance programs. It directly affects employees who receive such employer assistance and employers offering these programs. The key provision removes the previous expiration date (January 1, 2026), ensuring the tax exclusion remains in effect indefinitely. The change applies to all payments made after the bill's enactment, eliminating future uncertainty for both employers and employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Veterans Community Care Program to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure continuity of care for veterans receiving services outside the VA system. The key provision adds a new requirement that veterans' health care providers must maintain consistent treatment plans when transitioning between VA and community care settings. This change directly affects veterans who rely on the community care program and the healthcare providers administering those services. The legislation focuses on establishing procedural safeguards to prevent disruptions in ongoing medical treatment rather than creating new funding or eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 103) seeks to block a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule titled "Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet; Restoring Internet Freedom" that was published in May 2024. It uses a specific congressional process under Title 5, U.S. Code, to formally disapprove the FCC rule, which would make the rule legally ineffective. The resolution directly affects the FCC’s regulatory authority over internet service providers and the implementation of net neutrality standards. If passed, it would prevent the FCC’s rule from taking effect, reverting to prior regulatory approaches for internet service. This is a procedural disapproval measure, not a new law.