Sen. Elissa Slotkin

Maddy summaryHR 6899 requires the Army's Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology to submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment about the Army's light tactical wheeled vehicles. The report must cover the Army's current and future vehicle needs, risks in obtaining these vehicles from defense suppliers, planned development or acquisition efforts, and associated funding details. This bill does not change existing policies but mandates a specific information-gathering process for Congress. It directly affects Army procurement officials and congressional defense committees by requiring them to receive and review this detailed vehicle assessment.

Maddy summaryHR 6898 requires the Secretary of Defense to assess the Department of Defense's capabilities for using directed energy (like lasers and microwaves) to counter drone threats at military installations. The assessment must evaluate 12 key factors, including technical effectiveness, safety for people and equipment, integration with existing security systems, cost, and ease of deployment. Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Department must complete this evaluation and submit a report to Congress detailing findings and recommending changes to equipment, procedures, or laws. This bill directly affects how U.S. military bases defend against drone attacks, focusing on concrete technical and operational requirements without proposing new policies.

Maddy summaryHR 6900, the Continuing to Serve Act, expands the SkillBridge program to help military service members transition to civilian careers. It directly affects active-duty service members by broadening eligible employers to include private, public, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The bill requires the military to annually inform service members about program eligibility and application processes, and to run public awareness campaigns targeting potential employers to increase participation and diversify employer types. These changes aim to improve access to civilian job opportunities for transitioning service members through clearer program outreach and expanded employer partnerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan within one year of enactment to ensure the military health system has a 180-day supply of essential medications during conflicts or supply disruptions. The plan must specifically address stockpiling these medications and reduce reliance on foreign sources for key medicine ingredients (active pharmaceutical ingredients). It directly affects the military health system by targeting vulnerabilities in medication supply chains. The bill mandates these specific actions but does not create new stockpiles or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 6897 establishes a three-year pilot program for the Department of Defense to evaluate using synthetic biology for domestic manufacturing of specific strategic pharmaceutical ingredients and materials. It targets "covered" active pharmaceutical ingredients and "covered key starting materials" that are not sufficiently available domestically and are deemed critical to U.S. national security. The program, to launch by January 2025, aims to reduce reliance on foreign sources for these items by testing novel technologies. The pilot will end three years after the bill's enactment, with no further action specified.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress by March 30, 2024, detailing Department of Defense restrictions on former employees working for countries deemed adversarial to U.S. interests. The report must include the current policy on such restrictions, the specific Department positions affected, and any documented cases where former employees violated these rules. It does not change existing laws but mandates transparency about current employment safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to expedite processing for Afghan nationals who aided U.S. missions in Afghanistan and face Taliban threats. It specifically targets special immigrant visa applicants and refugee referrals approved under Priority 2 Designation, including those still in Afghanistan or in third countries. The bill requires the State Department, in coordination with Homeland Security, to surge consular capacity (e.g., adding staff at embassies) to reduce processing times while maintaining security vetting. It does not change eligibility but mandates faster processing for already-approved cases. The law applies directly to Afghan nationals with U.S. government ties who remain at risk.

Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Pilot Program Act of 2023 or the CTPAT Pilot Program Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to carry out a pilot program that assesses whether allowing certain entities to participate in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) would enhance port security, combat terrorism, prevent supply chain security breaches, or otherwise satisfy the goals of CTPAT. Such entities are (1) non-asset-based third-party logistics providers that arrange international freight transportation and are licensed or bonded by specified federal agencies; or (2) asset-based third-party logistics providers that facilitate cross-border activity, are licensed or bonded by specified federal agencies, and execute logistics services using their own warehousing assets and resources. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of CTPAT.

Maddy summaryHR 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk as an option during lunch. It amends the school lunch law to explicitly permit schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk alongside reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk choices for students. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust meal regulations to account for saturated fat from whole milk, ensuring it doesn't count against meal fat limits. This change directly affects participating schools and the students who receive school lunches, expanding their milk beverage options.

Maddy summaryHR 6802, the RAPID Reserve Act, requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a reserve of critical drugs and their key ingredients to prevent shortages. It directs the Secretary to award contracts to eligible manufacturers or distributors (with strong quality records and domestic/OECD manufacturing capacity) to maintain a 6-month reserve of both the finished drug and its active ingredient, regularly replenished with new supply. During public health emergencies or shortages, the Secretary can direct the transfer of reserves between manufacturers or allocate reserves to address critical needs. The program, funded with $500 million for fiscal year 2024, targets drugs with vulnerable supply chains - such as those with geographic manufacturing concentration or few producers - to strengthen domestic drug security.