Sen. Katie Boyd Britt

Maddy summarySRES 331 designates August 2023 as "National Catfish Month" to recognize the economic and cultural significance of the U.S. catfish industry. The resolution highlights that the industry supports over 9,000 jobs and contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the U.S. economy, while emphasizing catfish as a sustainable, year-round seafood source. It also acknowledges the industry’s role in regional cuisines and its status as the largest farm-raised seafood product in the United States. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness of the industry’s contributions.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 41) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific immigration rule issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2023, addressed "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" in immigration processing. The resolution would formally block the rule from taking effect by directing Congress to disapprove it under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This action directly affects how USCIS and immigration courts implement certain immigration pathways.

Maddy summarySRES 326 is a procedural Senate resolution (not a law) designating August 23, 2023, as "National Poll Worker Recruitment Day." It formally recognizes the importance of poll workers in elections and encourages eligible citizens to volunteer for this role in the 2023 elections. The resolution has no binding effect but aims to raise awareness about the need for poll workers. It directly affects the public by inviting them to participate in election administration.

Maddy summaryS 2687, the "Protecting America's Property Rights Act," requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to only purchase conventional mortgages for one- to four-family homes if the mortgage lien priority is insured by a licensed title insurance company in the property's state. This directly affects these government-backed mortgage entities and the mortgage market for single-family homes. Key provisions include amending their charters to add this title insurance requirement for eligible mortgages, mandating prior approval from the FHFA Director and Treasury Secretary for new programs, and requiring semi-annual congressional reports on such programs. The bill updates the definition of "conforming mortgage" to include this title insurance standard.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2647, SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023) provides federal funding to improve stillbirth data collection, research, and education. It authorizes $5 million annually for states to collect stillbirth data using existing health records while protecting privacy, $1 million for developing standardized data collection guidelines and public educational materials, and $3 million for specialized training programs in perinatal pathology and stillbirth research. The bill directly affects state health departments, medical professionals (like obstetricians and pathologists), and families impacted by stillbirth through improved data systems and educational resources. Key provisions require standardized data reporting, consultation with affected families and healthcare providers, and mandatory reports on program progress within five years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act creates a federal grant program to help behavioral health providers - including mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, community centers, and specialized treatment facilities - adopt certified health information technology. Grants of up to $2 million per provider for two years will fund technology that shares patient data with primary care doctors, hospitals, and emergency departments, meeting federal interoperability standards. The program requires grantees to report on improvements in care coordination, data sharing, and outcomes, with $20 million authorized annually from 2025 through 2029. This directly supports providers serving individuals with mental health and substance use disorders by modernizing their technology systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a centralized online portal for appraisers and appraisal management companies (AMCs) to handle licensing, certification, and registration processes. It requires the Appraisal Subcommittee to establish a cloud-based system where users submit applications, pay fees, and complete background checks, while connecting state licensing agencies to access all relevant applicant information. The portal streamlines state agency access to education records, experience logs, and criminal history checks processed through the FBI, with states retaining final licensing authority. Fees for portal use are set to be revenue-neutral, and states may receive grants to connect their systems to the portal.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to study including rapeseed and canola (defined as "covered oilseed crops") in double cropping policies, which allow farmers to plant two crops on the same land in one year. The study must assess economic/environmental benefits and risks (like soil health impacts) through research conducted with stakeholders, focusing on winter-planted crops. The Corporation must complete this research and submit a report to Congress within 13 months of the bill's enactment, detailing findings and recommendations. This study specifically affects Mid-South farmers growing these oilseed crops and could inform future crop insurance policy changes, but does not alter current insurance rules.

Maddy summarySCONRES 2 is a symbolic congressional resolution commending Iranian protesters who risked their safety to demonstrate against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, particularly following the death of Mahsa Amini after her arrest by morality police for alleged hijab violations. It specifically highlights protests in over 133 cities where demonstrators, including women removing headscarves, have faced violent crackdowns, with reports of over 500 deaths and 19,000 arrests. The resolution condemns the regime's brutality, supports internet freedom tools to bypass censorship, and urges the administration to impose human rights sanctions on officials responsible for repression. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses congressional support for protesters but does not enact new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast exams with no out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays) for enrolled individuals. It directly affects people needing these exams, including those with abnormalities found in screenings or those at higher risk due to personal/family history. The law allows plans to still require prior authorization for these exams and does not override stricter state laws protecting coverage. The requirement applies to all group and individual health plans, including grandfathered plans and high-deductible plans with health savings accounts, starting January 1, 2024.