Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summaryThe Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 provides $13.4 billion in supplemental funding to support Israel's security needs, primarily for defense systems and diplomatic efforts. Key provisions include $4 billion for Iron Dome and David's Sling systems, $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam system development, and $3.5 billion for military financing. The bill prohibits using funds for the Ukraine war or entities controlled by Hamas, requires emergency designation by the President for all funding, and authorizes transfers between defense accounts and drawdowns from DOD stockpiles. This legislation directly affects the U.S. Government's ability to provide security assistance to Israel, with specific restrictions on how funds may be used.

This resolution recognizes October 2023 as National Women's Small Business Month, honoring the role of women small business owners and entrepreneurs and encouraging the support and creation of women-owned small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (with input from the Justice Department and intelligence agencies) to submit detailed monthly reports to Congress for one year (then biannually) on individuals encountered at U.S. borders or ports of entry who are in the federal terrorist watchlist. The reports must include specifics like how many were encountered, their national origin, ties to terrorist groups, travel methods, detention status, and whether they were falsely flagged. It directly affects border enforcement agencies (CBP, ICE, USCIS) and individuals on the watchlist by mandating transparency about their encounters. The bill does not change watchlist procedures but requires regular, detailed public reporting on these encounters for congressional oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Drug Price Negotiation Program to better support orphan drugs (medications for rare diseases). It changes how time is calculated for orphan drugs by excluding periods when a drug was designated as an orphan from the timeline used to determine when price negotiations begin. The bill also updates definitions to allow a single drug to cover multiple rare diseases, rather than being limited to just one disease. This directly affects pharmaceutical companies developing treatments for rare conditions, giving them more time before their drugs enter the price negotiation process. The changes aim to encourage continued development of therapies for small patient populations.

Maddy summaryS 3061 revokes a waiver determination submitted to Congress on September 11, 2023, related to certain U.S. sanctions against Iran. The bill directs that this waiver, which had allowed exemptions under specific sanctions laws, no longer has effect after the bill is enacted. It specifically targets waivers issued under provisions from the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act or the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act. This change would directly affect how those Iran sanctions are applied, reinstating the original restrictions without the temporary exemption.

Maddy summarySRES 426 is a Senate resolution designating November 4, 2023 (the first Saturday of November), as "National Bison Day." It directly recognizes the cultural, historical, and economic significance of bison to Native American tribes, rural communities, and the U.S. ecosystem. The resolution encourages the American public to observe the day with ceremonies and activities, but it does not create new laws, funding, or obligations. This is a symbolic gesture acknowledging bison's role as the national mammal and its importance to tribal heritage and conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryS. RES. 420 designates Betty K. Koed as Historian Emerita of the U.S. Senate, effective October 21, 2023, honoring her 25-year career as the Senate's first female Historian (serving from 2015-2023 after roles as Assistant and Associate Historian). The resolution recognizes her work preserving Senate archives, producing historical publications, and supporting educational programs about Senate history. It is a ceremonial honor with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or constituents.

This resolution states that the Senate stands with Israel as it defends itself, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls on all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas' war on Israel. The resolution also reaffirms the United States' commitment to Israel's security, supports emergency resupply and certain other types of assistance to Israel, and calls on the United States to lead an international effort to deprive Hamas of Iranian and other sources of funding and lethal assistance. Furthermore, the resolution states that nothing in it may be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization for the use of military force.

Maddy summaryS 3088, the CONFUCIUS Act, requires U.S. colleges and universities receiving most federal education funds to ensure any Confucius Institute partnership includes three specific provisions. These require contracts to protect academic freedom, ban the application of foreign law on campus, and give the university full control over teaching content, activities, research grants, and staffing at the Confucius Institute. The bill directly affects institutions of higher education that host these China-funded cultural centers and receive federal education funding (excluding student aid). It does not ban Confucius Institutes but sets conditions for their continued operation at federally funded institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill blocks the EPA from implementing new vehicle emissions rules for model years 2027 and later, specifically targeting the "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards" rule. It amends the Clean Air Act to prevent future regulations from mandating specific technology (like electric components) or limiting the availability of new vehicles based on engine type (e.g., gasoline vs. electric). The bill directly affects the EPA’s authority to set emissions standards and the auto industry’s ability to sell certain vehicle types. It ensures emissions rules cannot restrict consumer choices among new vehicle models.