Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryThe Save Local Business Act (S 1261) clarifies when businesses can be held jointly liable for labor violations under federal law. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to define "joint employer" status strictly: an employer must directly and immediately control essential employment terms like hiring, pay, scheduling, and discipline for another employer’s workers. This directly affects businesses operating under multi-employer structures (e.g., franchises, staffing agencies) by limiting joint liability to cases where control is demonstrable and immediate. The bill does not change existing labor protections but sets clearer, more specific criteria for determining joint employer responsibility.

National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill grants the National Taxpayer Advocate the authority to appoint counsel in the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate to report directly to the National Taxpayer Advocate.

Maddy summaryThe Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act amends federal criminal statutes to clarify legal standards and increase penalties for specific violent crimes. It clarifies that assaults on federal officers are general intent crimes (removing the need to prove defendants specifically intended to harm officers), increases carjacking penalties to 20 years for first offenses (up from 15) and up to 40 years when weapons are used, and creates a new offense for distributing candy-flavored controlled substances to minors with penalties of up to 20 years for repeat violations. The bill also updates sentencing guidelines to require a 2-level enhancement for the new candy-flavored drug offense. These changes apply to existing federal criminal codes without creating new crime categories beyond the specified provisions.

Ending Duplicative Subsidies for Electric Vehicles Act This bill prohibits duplicative subsidies (i.e., loans, grants, or tax credits) for manufacturers of new clean electric vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 10) seeks to block a specific rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding reproductive health services for veterans. It requests Congress disapprove the rule (published September 2022) under a process in federal law that allows Congress to halt agency regulations. If approved, the VA rule would be nullified and could not take effect, meaning the VA could not enforce its provisions on reproductive health services for veterans. The bill directly affects the implementation of this VA policy for veterans receiving care at VA facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) position at the State Department. The envoy will represent the U.S. as a dialogue partner with PIF and coordinate U.S. policy with like-minded democracies in the region. The bill requires the President to appoint the envoy (with Senate confirmation) and mandates a 180-day report detailing plans to recruit and retain diplomatic staff for Pacific Island posts. It directly affects U.S. diplomatic operations in the Pacific and aims to strengthen engagement with PIF member nations, including the Freely Associated States.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends key labor laws to strengthen worker protections and clarify union election processes. It requires employers to provide voter lists for union elections with only one employee-chosen contact detail (like email or phone), mandates secret ballot elections for union representation, and restricts union dues from funding non-representational activities without written employee consent for at least 35 days. The bill also clarifies joint employment standards, making it harder for companies to avoid responsibility for workers' pay and conditions, and adds tribal sovereignty protections to labor law definitions. These changes directly affect employers, unions, and employees in collective bargaining contexts.

Maddy summarySRES 161 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April 22-30, 2023, as "National Park Week." It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but formally recognizes the National Park System's significance. The resolution highlights the parks' historical value, visitor impact (312 million visits in 2022), and economic contributions ($42.5 billion in 2021). It encourages public engagement with national parks but contains no funding, regulatory changes, or policy mechanisms. As a procedural resolution, it serves purely to honor the parks' legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle for hunting and fishing on federal lands and waters managed by the Interior Department or Agriculture Department. It directly affects hunters and anglers using these public areas by preventing federal restrictions on lead products, except in limited cases. The exception allows restrictions only on specific federal sites where state wildlife data shows lead use is harming wildlife, and only if approved by the state's fish and wildlife agency. The bill requires federal agencies to explain in public notices how any exception meets these state approval and wildlife harm criteria.

Maddy summaryS 1165, the Reentry Act of 2023, allows Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individuals during the 30 days preceding their release from prison or jail. This directly affects people transitioning from correctional facilities back into communities by connecting them to healthcare immediately after release. The bill amends Medicaid law to remove a barrier preventing coverage during this critical period. It also requires a report within 18 months analyzing correctional healthcare standards, the number of eligible individuals, and discharge processes to support better health transitions.