Sen. Josh Hawley

Maddy summarySRES 115 is a Senate resolution designating April 2023 as "Countering International Parental Child Abduction Month" to raise public awareness about the issue. It urges Congress to educate the public on the emotional, psychological, and physical harm caused to children and parents when children are abducted across international borders. The resolution references statistics showing over 9,800 U.S. children were abducted internationally between 2010-2020 and notes U.S. legal frameworks like the Hague Convention and the Sean and David Goldman Act. It does not create new laws or funding but emphasizes symbolic recognition and public education efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the President to annually calculate U.S. trade with China by comparing total imports from China to total exports to China. If imports exceed exports (creating a trade deficit), the President must impose a 25% additional tariff on all goods imported from China. This tariff applies on top of any existing duties and remains in effect until the trade deficit is eliminated (imports equal or fall below exports). The policy directly affects U.S. importers of Chinese goods by increasing their costs until the trade balance improves.

Maddy summaryS 1542, the DRUG Act, prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from charging fees tied to drug prices or rebates for services provided to health plans or insurers, effective January 1, 2026. Instead, PBMs may only charge a fixed "flat service fee" agreed upon in writing, not linked to drug costs or patient usage. The bill also bans PBMs from reimbursing affiliated pharmacies more than independent ones, charging health plans different amounts than they pay pharmacies, or steering patients to affiliated pharmacies through higher out-of-pocket costs. Violations trigger $10,000 daily civil penalties enforced by the HHS Secretary with Labor and Treasury. This directly affects PBMs, health insurers, employer health plans, and pharmacies, aiming to reduce cost-shifting and promote fair reimbursement practices.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 200) expresses support for designating April 30-May 6, 2023, as "National Small Business Week" to honor small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States. It recognizes that small businesses (over 33 million nationwide supporting 62 million jobs) are vital to the U.S. economy and highlights their resilience. The resolution specifically calls for celebrating their contributions, acknowledging challenges they face, and supporting efforts to improve access for underserved small businesses. As a symbolic gesture - not a law - it does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes small business impact.

Maddy summarySRES 106 is a 2023 U.S. Senate resolution condemning China's implementation of the Hong Kong national security law and related actions. It specifically criticizes the law's use to suppress dissent, target figures like pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai and Cardinal Zen, and undermine Hong Kong's autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework. The resolution urges governments to hold China accountable, supports Hong Kong residents' fundamental freedoms, and calls for dropping all national security law charges against detainees. It does not create new laws or impose direct consequences but serves as a symbolic expression of congressional concern about Hong Kong's political rights and rule of law.

Maddy summaryThe RESTART Act (S 1449) streamlines environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act by setting page limits (150 pages for standard environmental impact statements, 300 for complex projects) and strict timelines (2 years for final environmental impact statements, 1 year for environmental assessments). It limits judicial review by requiring lawsuits to be filed within 60 days of publication and setting 180-day deadlines for courts to resolve cases. The bill also modifies Clean Water Act permitting requirements and includes specific provisions expediting approval for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. These changes primarily affect federal agencies conducting environmental reviews, project sponsors seeking permits, and states involved in environmental permitting processes.

Maddy summaryThe SPUR Act (S 1456) streamlines oil, gas, and mineral development on federal lands by requiring quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales, allowing states to assume permitting authority for these activities, and limiting environmental review delays for energy projects. The bill reduces royalty rates for oil and gas leases to a minimum of 12.5 percent during its 5-year implementation period, prohibits the President from delaying energy leasing without congressional approval, and expedites LNG export approvals with a 45-day decision deadline. It directly affects oil and gas companies seeking permits, state governments that may take over permitting authority, and federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. The legislation aims to increase domestic energy production by making federal leasing and permitting processes faster and more predictable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large corporations (those with over $500 million in annual worldwide revenue) to annually audit their entire supply chains - including suppliers and on-site service providers like cleaners or food workers - for violations of U.S. child labor laws. Companies must document findings, implement policies to prevent child labor (including worker interviews and third-party verification), and publicly report results on their websites or upon consumer request. The Labor Secretary will review non-compliance and can impose fines up to $100 million for reporting failures or $500 million for retaliation against workers reporting violations. The law aims to increase transparency and accountability for child labor risks across corporate supply chains.

Maddy summaryS 1419, the ERASER Act, requires federal agencies to repeal at least three existing regulations before issuing a new rule that affects businesses, states, or local governments. For major rules (those with significant economic impact), agencies must also demonstrate the new rule's cost does not exceed the cost of the repealed rules, with certification from the Office of Management and Budget. The bill applies to rules created through standard notice-and-comment rulemaking but excludes internal agency management rules. It aims to streamline regulations by mandating cost-neutral or cost-reducing rule changes, with the Government Accountability Office required to report on the number and economic cost of existing regulations every five years.

Maddy summaryThe College Transparency Act requires the development of a new, secure data system to collect and share detailed, aggregate information about college students' enrollment, progression, costs, financial aid, and post-graduation outcomes like earnings and employment. This system will make publicly accessible, non-personally identifiable information through an easy-to-use website to help students and families make informed college decisions. Institutions participating in federal student aid programs must submit data to the system, while the bill prohibits collecting sensitive information like health data, discipline records, or exact addresses. The law also includes strong privacy protections, requires data minimization, and prohibits using the data for federal rankings or selling it to third parties. The system aims to reduce reporting burdens on institutions while improving transparency about college outcomes.