Sen. Jerry Moran

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 summaryThe Water Project Navigators Act establishes a federal program to fund "water project navigators" who assist eligible communities and organizations in developing multi-benefit water projects. These navigators, funded through grants to states, tribes, nonprofits, or local entities in specific eligible states (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico), help plan projects that improve water supply resilience (e.g., conservation, recycling) while also protecting ecosystems and supporting communities. The program prioritizes projects benefiting disadvantaged communities, Indian Tribes, drought-affected areas, and those incorporating natural features, with federal funding covering up to 75% of costs. It requires annual funding of $15 million and mandates a congressional report on the program’s impact after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides supplemental funding to address a shortfall in the Department of Veterans Affairs' 2024 budget. It appropriates $2.285 billion for veterans' compensation and pensions and $596.969 million for readjustment benefits (such as education and housing assistance), both to remain available until spent. The bill also requires the GAO to review the funding shortfall causes, the Office of Management and Budget to revise the 2025 VA budget, and the VA Secretary to report on potential cost savings within VA's Central Office. As a procedural funding measure, it does not create new policies but ensures existing benefits can be delivered.

Maddy summarySRES 795 is a Senate resolution expressing strong disapproval of the Department of Education's delayed implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act for the 2024-2025 academic year. The resolution cites specific issues, including the FAFSA application launching on December 31 (instead of the usual October 1), delayed data transmission to colleges until March, and resulting financial aid delays past National College Decision Day on May 1. This directly affected students - particularly those in foster care or experiencing homelessness - by reducing their time to compare college financial options. The resolution calls on the Department to address rollout problems for future cycles and testify to Congress, but it does not create new policy or funding changes.

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 restricts critical skill incentives for Senior Executive Service (SES) employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It prohibits these incentives for VA executives based in the central office, regardless of where they work, and limits them to individual cases (not group awards) for other SES employees. Approval requires sign-off from five senior VA officials, including Under Secretaries and the Chief Human Capital Officer. The VA must also submit quarterly reports to congressional committees detailing who receives these incentives. The law directly affects VA senior executives by changing how specialized pay supplements can be awarded.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies tax rules for government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It amends the tax code to specify that the U.S. government or its agencies are not considered "tax-exempt entities" when applying certain rules to these GSEs' stock. The change affects how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are treated under tax law but does not create new housing programs or directly impact rural housing investments. The title "Preserving Rural Housing Investments" is misleading, as the bill addresses only a narrow tax clarification with no direct policy changes for housing. The amendment applies to taxable years ending after July 30, 2008.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers and sellers of pill-making machines (like tableting or encapsulating machines) to permanently affix a unique serial number to each device. It directly affects companies that produce or distribute these machines, mandating serial numbers to track their movement. The bill prohibits tampering with or removing these serial numbers, and bans transporting machines with altered or missing numbers. These changes aim to make it harder to secretly produce illicit pills by creating a traceable record for law enforcement.

Maddy summaryS 4487, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act of 2024, requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop free training resources and toolkits on AI and key emerging technologies (like quantum-hybrid computing) for small businesses. These materials will cover practical areas including financial management, cybersecurity, marketing, and government contracting, with specific focus on businesses in rural, Tribal, or underserved communities and advanced manufacturing. The training will be distributed through existing Small Business Administration networks like small business development centers and SCORE. The Secretary must update the resources every two years and report to Congress on their distribution and measurable outcomes, such as the number of businesses using them and impacts on revenue or workforce.

Maddy summaryThe NSF AI Education Act of 2024 creates federal scholarship programs for undergraduate and graduate students studying artificial intelligence (AI) at U.S. colleges and universities. The bill establishes specific scholarship tracks for AI and agriculture, AI and education, and AI and advanced manufacturing, with priority given to students at rural-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges, and historically underserved communities. It also creates Centers of AI Excellence at community colleges and vocational schools, funds AI resources for schools, and requires the development of guidance for AI use in K-12 classrooms. The legislation aims to expand access to AI education across diverse educational settings and support workforce development in AI-related fields.