Sen. Susan M. Collins

Maddy summarySenate Resolution SRES 454 designates November 8, 2023, as "National STEM Day" to recognize the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in U.S. education and the workforce. The resolution highlights statistics about STEM job growth, underrepresentation of women and minorities in STEM fields, and low high school preparedness for STEM coursework. It urges Americans to observe the day through educational activities but does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes. This is a symbolic gesture focused on raising awareness, not implementing concrete legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Chief Resilience Officer in the Executive Office of the President to coordinate federal climate adaptation and resilience efforts across government agencies. It establishes a Partners Council with representation from state and local governments, tribal nations, Freely Associated States, non-profits, and the private sector to advise on improving federal support for community resilience. The bill requires a National Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and Implementation Plan within two years, along with an Adaptation and Resilience Clearinghouse to improve access to climate adaptation resources. The law mandates regular assessments of federal resilience efforts and has a sunset provision ending its requirements by September 30, 2033.

Maddy summaryThis bill redesignates the National Peer-Run Training and Technical Assistance Center for Addiction Recovery Support as a "Center of Excellence" under federal law. It adds new requirements for the center to support peer support specialists through professional development, integrate services into nonclinical settings, and bridge evidence-based practices with real-world applications. The bill establishes a 5-year pilot program (ending September 2028) to create regional centers of excellence, tailored to local needs, with a report to Congress recommending whether to make the program permanent or expand it. Funding increases from $1 million annually (2019-2023) to $2 million annually (2024-2028) for these initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the federal loan repayment program for healthcare professionals working in substance use disorder treatment. It directly affects clinicians and providers by making loan repayments tax-free under the Internal Revenue Code and increasing annual funding from $25 million to $50 million for fiscal years 2024-2028. Key provisions include adding a tax exemption for repayment amounts (amending Section 781(b)(3)) and extending the program with higher funding levels. The changes aim to support workforce retention in a critical healthcare sector by reducing financial barriers for treatment professionals.

Maddy summaryThe Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act creates 40,000 new employment-based immigrant visas for healthcare workers by recapturing unused visas from fiscal years 1992-2021, with 25,000 reserved for professional nurses and 15,000 for physicians. These visas are exempt from country caps and issued based on priority date, but must be applied for within three years of the bill’s enactment and only for applicants not already eligible under existing visa allocations. The bill also requires employers to attest that hiring foreign workers won’t displace U.S. workers and mandates expedited processing for these applications without additional fees. This policy directly affects nurses and physicians seeking to immigrate for healthcare roles in the U.S., along with their eligible family members.

Maddy summaryThe Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023 establishes the Iran Sanctions Enforcement Fund, initially funded with $150 million, to cover expenses related to seizures and forfeitures of property connected to sanctions violations by Iran or its designated proxies like Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The fund will pay for law enforcement costs including investigations, detention, equipment, and rewards for informants, with priority given to seizing oil and petroleum products that fund terrorist activities. The bill also creates an Export Enforcement Coordination Center within Homeland Security to better coordinate federal agencies' efforts on sanctions enforcement. Annual reports to Congress will detail fund usage, seizures, and financial status, with the fund required to repay the Treasury $150 million by 2034 unless waived for national security reasons.

Maddy summaryS 3180, the Working Waterfront Preservation Act, creates a federal grant program to protect and improve waterfront areas used by coastal industries. It authorizes $20 million annually (2024-2028) for competitive grants to eligible entities like coastal states, local governments, nonprofits, or industry participants to fund projects that enhance access to or permanently protect working waterfronts. Grants cover up to 50% of project costs for improvements like docks, access points, or climate-resilient upgrades, but cannot be used for eminent domain. The program specifically supports commercial fishing, aquaculture, recreational fishing, and boatbuilding industries in coastal communities, requiring state approval and alignment with existing coastal laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthi group in Yemen) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment, reversing a 2021 Biden administration decision that removed the designation. It mandates the President to impose existing sanctions under two executive orders: blocking assets of designated terrorists (E.O. 13224) and restricting travel for Yemeni nationals linked to terrorism (E.O. 13780). The sanctions directly target Ansarallah, its members, agents, affiliates, and any foreign entities owned or controlled by the group. This would restrict U.S. financial transactions with the Houthis and their networks, while also affecting Yemeni nationals subject to travel bans under the applicable sanctions.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) existing snow survey and water supply forecasting program to cover the Northeastern United States. It specifically defines the Northeast as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and any additional states designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. The key provision requires the Secretary of Agriculture to extend this program's services to the newly defined northeastern region. This affects water resource management in those states, providing improved snowpack and water supply data for communities and agencies. The bill does not create new funding or alter existing program operations, only broadening its geographic scope.

This resolution designates October 2023 as National Farm to School Month and recognizes support for policy improvements to farm to school programs in legislation reauthorizing child nutrition programs. This resolution also (1) encourages schools, early care and education organizations, and local educational agencies to use local farm products in meals; and (2) encourages schools, early care and education organizations, farmers and farm groups, local businesses, nonprofit institutions, churches, cities, state governments, and other local groups to raise awareness of farm to school efforts in their communities.