Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summaryThe Regulatory Accountability Act establishes new requirements for federal agencies when creating rules that have significant economic impact. It defines "major rules" as those likely to affect the economy by $100 million or more, cause major cost increases for consumers or industries, or have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, or public health. The bill requires agencies to consider multiple alternatives for major rules, conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses, and publish frameworks for assessing rules' effectiveness. Agencies must also make more information about rulemaking processes accessible to the public, including studies and data used in decision-making. The bill primarily affects federal agencies that create regulations and increases transparency for the public and businesses impacted by major regulatory actions.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 23) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The rule, published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2022, established regulations for listing endangered/threatened species and designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. If passed, this resolution would nullify that rule, preventing it from having legal effect. The bill directly affects how the National Marine Fisheries Service implements species protection under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 213) expresses the U.S. Senate's support for designating May 2023 as "Renewable Fuels Month." It recognizes renewable fuels' role in reducing carbon emissions, lowering consumer fuel prices, supporting rural communities, and decreasing reliance on foreign energy sources. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these benefits through symbolic recognition. It directly affects no specific group or policy, serving only as a statement of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding - including Medicaid, ACA subsidies, and other federal health programs - from covering gender transition procedures. It specifically bans taxpayer dollars from being used for medical services like hormone therapy, surgery, or puberty-blocking drugs related to gender transition, except for cases involving disorders of sex development or complications from such procedures (as defined in Section 306). The bill also clarifies that ACA premium credits and cost-sharing reductions cannot apply to health plans covering these procedures, though individuals or states may purchase separate non-federal coverage for them. It directly affects federal health programs and beneficiaries relying on government-funded healthcare.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits healthcare professionals from performing or referring minors (under 18) for gender transition procedures, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgeries like genital or non-genital transition surgeries. It imposes criminal penalties (fines, up to 5 years imprisonment) on providers who violate this prohibition, while protecting minors from prosecution for the procedures. The bill explicitly excludes medical treatments for disorders of sex development or emergencies where surgery is needed to prevent death or serious harm. It defines key terms like "gender transition procedure" and "biological sex" to clarify the scope of the ban. The law does not affect adults or medical care for conditions unrelated to gender transition.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows states to retain 25% of funds recovered from fraudulent unemployment claims (particularly pandemic-era claims) to strengthen fraud prevention systems. States can use these funds for modernizing unemployment systems, hiring fraud investigators, covering administrative costs for fraud detection, and other program integrity activities. The bill requires states to implement specific data-matching systems to prevent fraud, including cross-checking claims against employment records, databases of incarcerated individuals, and deceased individuals. It also extends emergency staffing flexibility for fraud detection through 2030 and establishes a 10-year window for prosecuting unemployment fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal executive agencies to return to their pre-pandemic telework policies by December 31, 2019, effectively ending widespread remote work arrangements established during the COVID-19 emergency. It directly affects all federal employees in executive agencies by limiting remote work options until agencies submit a detailed study to Congress analyzing telework impacts on mission performance, costs (like underused office space and incorrect pay classifications), and employee productivity tools. Agencies must then submit a plan to expand telework, which the Office of Personnel Management must certify will improve mission performance, reduce costs, and ensure secure remote work capabilities before any changes can take effect. The law prohibits agencies from expanding telework until this study, plan, and certification process is completed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retirement plan managers (fiduciaries) to primarily consider financial factors like risk and return when selecting investments for employee benefit plans, such as 401(k)s. It allows using non-financial factors (like environmental or social concerns) only if financial factors are insufficient to choose between options, and then mandates detailed documentation explaining why financial factors weren't decisive and how the non-financial choice still serves participants' retirement interests. The rule applies to investments made 60 days after the bill becomes law. It directly affects plan managers overseeing retirement savings, not individual investors.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Back the Blue Act of 2023," strengthens federal protections for law enforcement officers by creating new criminal penalties for killing or assaulting them while on duty. It makes it a federal crime to kill or attempt to kill law enforcement officers, federal judges, or federally funded public safety officers (including firefighters and first responders) during official duties, with penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison or death if the victim dies. The bill also establishes a new federal offense for fleeing interstate to avoid prosecution for killing law enforcement officers and adds a new aggravating factor for death penalty cases involving officers. Additionally, it expands law enforcement officers' rights to carry firearms in certain circumstances and limits federal habeas corpus relief for murder convictions involving law enforcement officers.

Maddy summaryS 1522 requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (specifically the FDA) to study how biosimilar biological products are designated as "interchangeable" (meaning pharmacists can substitute them for the original drug without a doctor's input). The study, due within four years, will examine challenges manufacturers face in getting this designation, the FDA's review process, data requirements for interchangeability versus standard biosimilars, and how the FDA uses real-world evidence. It will also compare FDA's interchangeability standards to the system for rating generic drugs. This study directly affects drug manufacturers seeking interchangeability designations and the FDA's regulatory approach. The report will inform future policy but does not change current law.