Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow individuals with valid concealed carry permits from their home state to carry concealed handguns in other states that either permit concealed carry for residents or don't ban it. It requires permit holders to have a government-issued ID, meet federal firearm possession rules, and carry only handguns (excluding machineguns or destructive devices). Carrying would still follow local restrictions in the destination state, such as bans in schools or government buildings. The bill does not change how states issue permits but creates automatic recognition of valid permits across participating states.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates the week of January 22-28, 2023, as "National School Choice Week." It encourages parents to learn about K-12 education options - including public, charter, private, and homeschooling - and promotes public events to raise awareness about educational choice during that week. The resolution does not create new laws or regulations but formally recognizes the annual observance through symbolic congressional support.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows timber landowners to claim a tax deduction for losses of uncut timber caused by disasters like fire, storms, insects, or drought. It sets a minimum deduction based on the pre-loss appraised value minus salvage value, requiring certified appraisals within one year (with an option to estimate initially). Crucially, landowners must reforest the affected area with hardwoods or softwoods within five years to maintain the deduction, or face recapture of the tax benefit. The provision applies only to timber held for business sale, not passive investments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers performing abortions to provide the same immediate medical care and hospital admission to any infant born alive during or after the procedure, as they would for any newborn. It mandates reporting of any failure to provide this care to law enforcement and imposes penalties including fines or up to 5 years in prison for violations. Women who undergo abortions may pursue civil lawsuits for damages, including compensation for physical/psychological harm and three times the abortion cost, if providers fail to comply. The law directly affects abortion providers, hospitals, and the women receiving abortion services.

Maddy summaryS 170 establishes a 12-member congressional Joint Select Committee on Afghanistan to investigate the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The committee, composed of equal Senate and House members appointed by party leaders, must produce a report within 90 days detailing specific aspects of the withdrawal - including intelligence assessments, evacuation planning, timeline decisions, and communications with allies. The report must cover 23 defined elements, such as warnings about Taliban advances, National Security Council planning, and the status of assets left behind. The committee will operate for one year, with unclassified findings and a possible classified annex. This procedural bill creates a formal investigation mechanism without proposing new policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe JOBS Act of 2023 expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs that provide 150-600 clock hours (8-15 weeks) of instruction aligned with in-demand local industries. It directly affects students enrolled in eligible career-focused programs at institutions of higher education, requiring programs to offer industry-recognized credentials and meet validation standards from employers or sector partnerships. Key provisions include mandatory industry validation of program quality, institutional credit articulation for noncredit programs, and lowering the minimum Pell Grant percentage from 10% to 5% for qualifying students. The bill ensures these programs count toward students’ total Pell Grant eligibility period while maintaining standard Pell Grant terms and conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the President to create a strategy aimed at doubling U.S. exports to Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean within 10 years, with the goal of supporting American jobs. The strategy must be developed with input from Congress, federal agencies, development banks, and the private sector, and submitted to Congress within 180 days, followed by a progress report after 3 years. It also establishes two special coordinators (one for Africa, one for Latin America/Caribbean) to oversee implementation and mandates standardized training for U.S. officials on export financing programs. Additionally, the bill encourages the administration to lead joint trade missions to these regions within one year.

Maddy summaryThe Drone Act of 2023 amends federal law to criminalize specific dangerous drone uses, directly affecting individuals and organizations operating drones in prohibited ways. It creates new offenses for weaponizing drones (e.g., attaching firearms or explosives), using drones to transport contraband into prisons or across borders, interfering with emergency operations, and flying drones in restricted airspace near airports or critical infrastructure. Violations carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison or fines, with death penalty eligibility for cases causing fatalities. The law targets documented threats like drone-assisted smuggling at borders, contraband delivery to prisons, and safety hazards near airports, as noted in the bill’s findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prevent government shutdowns by automatically continuing funding for most federal programs at the previous fiscal year's level if Congress fails to pass a full budget by the start of the new fiscal year. The automatic funding would continue in 14-day increments until a budget is enacted, with the government returning to normal funding levels once a budget is passed. During these automatic funding periods, government employees (including congressional staff) would face restrictions on travel, with limited exceptions for returning to Washington, D.C. or responding to national security events. The bill also establishes specific procedures for Congress to prioritize budget negotiations during these periods. This would affect the entire federal government and its operations during budget stalemates.

Maddy summaryS.140 updates federal theft laws to specifically address organized retail crime by raising the monetary threshold for prosecution to $5,000 in stolen goods over 12 months and expanding definitions to include coordinated theft operations. It creates a new Homeland Security Coordination Center within 90 days to unify federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts with retailers. The center will share threat intelligence, track crime trends, and produce annual public reports on organized retail crime patterns. These changes directly affect retailers facing financial losses, law enforcement agencies, and criminal organizations profiting from theft.