Sen. Chuck Grassley

Maddy summaryThe Conservation Reserve Program Reform Act of 2023 extends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and related conservation programs through 2028, replacing the previous 2023 end date. It increases the annual enrollment limit for CRP land to 8 million acres in 2024 (with higher annual caps through 2028) and sets a total cap of 24 million acres for the 2024-2028 period. New CRP contracts entered after October 1, 2023, must last 15-30 years (up from 10-15 years), and cost-sharing payments for conservation practices rise from 50% to 75%. The bill also makes the CLEAR 30 and SHIPP conservation programs permanent (removing "pilot" status) and adjusts payment schedules for long-term contracts.

Maddy summaryThe Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2023 directs U.S. foreign aid to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally by 2030, focusing on priority countries with high mortality rates and vulnerable populations like the poorest communities, conflict-affected areas, and indigenous groups. It requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to create a 5-year strategy identifying specific health barriers, setting measurable targets, and scaling evidence-based interventions through community-based approaches. A new "Child and Maternal Survival Coordinator" will oversee implementation, coordinate with partner countries and organizations, and ensure resources align with proven health solutions. Annual reports to Congress must track progress using metrics like deaths averted, service coverage, and funding allocations for transparency and accountability.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 201) supporting National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6-12. It recognizes nurses' contributions to healthcare, their role as patient advocates, and their status as the largest healthcare profession (over 4.5 million registered nurses in the U.S.). The resolution encourages the public to observe the week with recognition and activities but does not create new laws, funding, or requirements. It has no direct effect on policy or nursing practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage to include pharmacist services in designated underserved areas. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or medically underserved populations, as well as pharmacists licensed to provide these services. Key provisions require Medicare to cover pharmacist services (like those typically provided by physicians) in these areas and set payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of the physician fee schedule. The changes take effect January 1, 2024, and require new billing codes for pharmacists.

Maddy summaryS 1475, the "Stop Pills That Kill Act," targets counterfeit fentanyl and methamphetamine pills marketed to mimic legitimate medications. It updates federal law to explicitly prohibit these fake pills and requires the DEA to create a comprehensive plan within 180 days, including enforcement strategies, youth-focused prevention education, and audits of current campaigns like "One Pill Can Kill." The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing seizures of counterfeit pills, prosecution data, conviction statistics, and ongoing prevention efforts. It directly affects federal law enforcement agencies, public health officials, and individuals involved in manufacturing or distributing these deceptive pills. The focus is on concrete data collection and prevention measures for pill-form counterfeits, not on new criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryS 1494, the BUILD IT Act, requires the federal government to deliver unused border barrier construction materials to Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas within 90 days of enactment. The materials include items held by federal agencies (like DHS or Defense) or contractors, with no fees charged to the states. States receiving these materials must use them exclusively to build, repair, or reinforce border barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill also mandates termination of existing federal contracts related to these materials to facilitate the transfer.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 200) expresses support for designating April 30-May 6, 2023, as "National Small Business Week" to honor small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States. It recognizes that small businesses (over 33 million nationwide supporting 62 million jobs) are vital to the U.S. economy and highlights their resilience. The resolution specifically calls for celebrating their contributions, acknowledging challenges they face, and supporting efforts to improve access for underserved small businesses. As a symbolic gesture - not a law - it does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes small business impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Baltic Security Initiative, requiring the U.S. Secretary of Defense to deepen security cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the "Baltic countries"). It authorizes $350 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2026 to enhance military capabilities like missile defense, cyber security, and joint planning, while addressing threats from Russia and China. The initiative mandates a strategy report to Congress within one year of enactment, detailing how the U.S. will achieve these security objectives. The bill directly affects U.S. defense spending and the military cooperation framework with the three Baltic nations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to recover compensation from bank executives and directors who contributed to a bank's failure. It permits the FDIC to seek repayment of payments received in the two years prior to the bank's collapse (with no time limit for fraud), and to ban individuals from future financial roles for at least two years if they violated laws, breached fiduciary duties, or engaged in unsafe practices that caused the failure. The bill also requires liability insurance for these executives to exclude coverage for such recoupments. It directly affects senior bank leaders and their insurers, focusing on accountability for failures that required government intervention.

Maddy summarySRES 194 designates May 5, 2023, as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. The resolution directly addresses the disproportionate violence faced by Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women by calling for public commemoration of victims and solidarity with affected families. It uses May 5 - the birthday of Hanna Harris, a Northern Cheyenne woman whose case is cited in the resolution - as the designated date for awareness efforts. As a Senate resolution, it serves as a symbolic recognition of this issue rather than creating new legal obligations.