Sen. Tina Smith

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 255) is a ceremonial Senate measure honoring former U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri, who died on May 13, 2025. It recognizes his 40+ years of public service, including his roles as Missouri Governor (1973-1977, 1981-1985) and U.S. Senator (1987-2011). The resolution directs the Senate to adjourn briefly as a mark of respect and transmit a copy to his family. It has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents, as it is purely commemorative.

Maddy summarySRES 214 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It celebrates the historical contributions of these communities to U.S. history and acknowledges their diverse populations, which together represent over 10% of the U.S. population. The resolution references key milestones like the 1965 Immigration Act and the 60th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Discovery mission, while noting ongoing challenges such as hate crimes. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally honors these communities' achievements and cultural significance.

Maddy summaryS 1878, the ATTAIN Mental Health Act, requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a public online dashboard within two years of enactment. This dashboard will list all federal mental health and substance use disorder grant programs, including current application status (open/closed/awarded) and deadlines, and allow users to search by location or topic. It will integrate state-level grant information where available and link directly to application pages, making it easier for schools, clinics, tribal organizations, nonprofits, and other potential applicants to find funding opportunities. The dashboard must comply with accessibility standards and be updated continuously to reflect current grant opportunities.

Maddy summaryS 1915, the "Remove the Stain Act," rescinds 20 Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. Army soldiers for their role in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, where unarmed Lakota men, women, and children were killed. The bill requires removing these soldiers' names from official military Medal of Honor rolls but does not require them to return their medals or deny them federal benefits. This action follows historical findings that the massacre involved the killing of hundreds of unarmed Native Americans, including women and children, and was described by military leaders as "brutal" and "cold-blooded." The bill directly affects the historical record of the Medal of Honor, aligning with requests from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the National Congress of American Indians.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program to improve its operation. It raises the minimum guarantee amount to $25 million per bond issue, sets an annual cap of $1 billion for all guarantees, and extends the program's deadline by four years from enactment. The changes aim to provide more predictable access to long-term capital for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving underserved communities. The bill also requires the Treasury Secretary to submit two reports on the program's effectiveness to Congress within one and three years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 240) affirms that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are core U.S. values and emphasizes the need to address ongoing discrimination across multiple sectors. It directly affects workplaces, K-12 and higher education systems, healthcare, housing, government programs, and the military by citing data on persistent inequities - such as racial disparities in housing discrimination, wage gaps, and underrepresentation in leadership. The resolution does not create new laws but encourages federal, state, and local entities to adopt inclusive policies and remove barriers to opportunity. It references evidence from agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to support its focus on systemic discrimination. The Senate calls for promoting environments where all individuals can achieve their full potential.

Maddy summaryThe SMART Prices Act (S 1836) changes how Medicare negotiates drug prices. It increases the number of drugs eligible for negotiation from 15 to 50 per year starting in 2028, shortens the time drugs must be the sole source for eligibility from 7 to 3 years, and adjusts price ceiling percentages for negotiated drugs (e.g., raising the maximum fair price from 75% to 76% for some drugs). These changes directly affect Medicare Part D beneficiaries and pharmaceutical companies by altering the negotiation process and pricing caps. The bill modifies existing Medicare drug pricing rules without creating new programs, applying to initial price negotiations beginning in 2028.

Maddy summaryThe DRIVE Act of 2025 updates how the Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses veterans for using personal vehicles for VA-related travel. It requires the VA to set mileage reimbursement rates equal to or higher than the federal government’s standard rate for employee travel (currently 41.5 cents per mile), replacing the fixed rate in current law. The bill also mandates that veterans receive these reimbursements within 90 days of submitting a valid claim. This directly affects veterans who travel for VA appointments or services using their personal vehicles.

Maddy summaryThe Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025 would establish a formal code of conduct for Supreme Court justices and require them to disclose gifts and financial interests. It creates procedures for filing complaints about justices' conduct, including a judicial investigation panel to review allegations of misconduct. The bill expands circumstances requiring justices to recuse themselves from cases, such as when they or their family received gifts from parties involved in a case. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in the Supreme Court's operations, with new disclosure requirements for parties and amici curiae in court cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic prior authorization systems by 2028 and report detailed transparency data starting in 2027. Plans must publicly disclose approval/denial rates, average processing times (including for appeals), technology use, and other metrics for covered medical services. It mandates 24-hour response standards for expedited requests and routinely approved services, with data collection to analyze access patterns and potential disparities in rural/low-income communities. These changes directly affect Medicare Advantage plans, providers, and seniors enrolled in these plans by standardizing and increasing visibility into prior authorization processes.