Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal list of drugs needed to address national security threats like chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to maintain this list, considering factors like public health needs and input from the Defense Department, and to periodically update it based on current threats. Drug developers seeking faster FDA review for these countermeasures must align with the list, which will be publicly accessible. The program's deadline for review is extended from 2023 to 2029, and a report on its effectiveness will be required by 2027. The bill directly affects pharmaceutical companies developing medical countermeasures and federal agencies managing national health security.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from stopping or delaying collections on certain pandemic-related business loans. It directly affects borrowers who received SBA loans guaranteed under specific sections of the Small Business Act (7(a) or 7(b)(2)) tied to COVID-19. The SBA must refer these loans to the Treasury Department, which then decides whether to collect payments, discharge the debt, or suspend collections. The SBA also must provide monthly briefings to Congress on collection progress and testify annually about implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts federal funding for state and local governments that qualify as "sanctuary jurisdictions" under its definition. A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as any state or local area that prohibits sharing immigration status information or refusing to comply with federal immigration detainers (with an exception for crime victims/witnesses). The bill blocks funding for Economic Development Administration grants and Community Development Block Grants if projects are located in such jurisdictions or if recipients become sanctuary jurisdictions during the grant period. Recipients must return funds if they become sanctuary jurisdictions, and the U.S. government will reallocate those funds to non-sanctuary areas.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or specific Chinese entities linked to China's military or defense sectors. It defines "Chinese entities of concern" as institutions involved in military-civil fusion, defense industry work, or receiving funding from China's military leadership. Starting 12 months after enactment, schools with such relationships would lose eligibility for DHS funds unless they terminate those ties. The bill directly affects higher education institutions hosting Confucius Institutes or partnering with the defined Chinese entities.
Maddy summaryS 1134, the Creating Efficiency in Foreign Facility Inspections Act, changes how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts drug facility inspections outside the United States. It requires the FDA to generally avoid notifying foreign drug manufacturers in advance of inspections, unless required by the host country's law or needed to protect public health. The bill also limits advance notice to the minimum necessary time and requires manufacturers to waive host country advance-notice requirements if they prevent inspections. This directly affects FDA inspection practices and foreign drug manufacturers operating in countries with inspection notification laws. The changes apply to routine surveillance inspections but exclude preapproval or for-cause inspections.
Maddy summaryThe Rural Hospital Support Act (S 1110) changes how Medicare calculates payments for two types of rural hospitals: sole community hospitals (the only hospital in their area) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (which rely heavily on Medicare for revenue). It recalculates payments using a 2016 base year instead of previous periods, potentially increasing reimbursements for eligible hospitals if this results in higher payments. The bill also extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program and low-volume hospital payment increases beyond 2024, while prohibiting adjustments to these payments for years before 2015. This directly affects eligible rural hospitals by increasing their Medicare funding and providing long-term program stability.
Maddy summaryThe Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2023 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants, zero or 1 percent interest loans, or loan modifications to eligible rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems. This assistance can help systems maintain public health and safety or address financial hardships in economically distressed areas, as determined by a residential affordability measure based on household water costs relative to median income. The bill requires the Secretary to establish this affordability indicator and related factors for determining eligibility. It amends existing law under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand flexible financial support options for rural water infrastructure.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1021) prohibits the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing financing to any business or project where the applicant or any participant has "seriously delinquent tax debt" - meaning unpaid federal taxes assessed by the IRS that could be collected through levy or court action. The Bank must verify tax debt status using the System for Award Management website and IRS data, and cannot finance such entities unless the President grants a waiver for urgent national interests (with a 30-day report to Congress). The bill specifically excludes debts being paid under an agreement, under active dispute, or subject to a continuous levy. It directly affects businesses seeking U.S. export financing who owe significant unpaid federal taxes.
Maddy summaryThe Define WOTUS Act of 2023 redefines "navigable waters" under the Clean Water Act to clarify which water bodies fall under federal regulation. It explicitly includes rivers, lakes, and wetlands connected to major waterways but excludes temporary streams, groundwater, man-made ditches, agricultural fields, and most artificial water features like ponds or stormwater basins. This directly affects landowners, farmers, and developers who need permits for projects near water, as it limits federal oversight to specific water types and creates a new process for property owners to get binding regulatory determinations. Key provisions require the Army Secretary to issue a final determination within 60 days of a request, with non-response automatically deeming the water unregulated, and set a 5-year limit for "regulated" findings.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the FERDI Act, requires federal agencies to annually report on employees and retirees with unpaid taxes (excluding those with payment plans) and creates new ineligibility rules for federal employment. It mandates that job applicants certify they have no "seriously delinquent tax debt" (unpaid taxes after assessment), and agencies must verify this through IRS records. Individuals with such debt face potential job denial or separation unless they resolve the debt within 180 days or qualify for an exemption due to financial hardship. The law applies to all federal civilian and military employees and applicants, with due process protections for affected individuals.