Sen. Ted Budd

Maddy summaryS 2090, the *Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act of 2023*, modifies federal clean air rules to restrict state vehicle emission standards. It adds a new requirement that state rules cannot "directly or indirectly limit the sale or use of new gas-powered cars," effectively blocking states from enforcing policies that would phase out internal combustion engine vehicles. The bill also mandates the EPA to cancel existing state emission waivers (like California’s) if those waivers don’t meet this new standard. This directly affects states with their own vehicle emission rules and the EPA’s authority to approve them under the Clean Air Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes a date reference in existing law regarding the CDC Director's appointment timeline. It amends Section 2101(b) of the 2022 pandemic preparedness law by replacing "January 20, 2025" with "the date of enactment of the CDC Accountability Act of 2023." This procedural adjustment directly affects the timing for appointing the CDC Director under the referenced law. The bill does not create new policies or alter substantive responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThe Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act of 2023 allows parents to claim the child tax credit for unborn children in two specific scenarios: for the tax year immediately before a child's birth (if a Social Security number is provided on the return), or for the year of a miscarriage or stillbirth (if a government-issued certificate is submitted). It requires a new certificate of miscarriage or stillbirth, issued by the National Center for Health Statistics, which must include a health care provider's certification (excluding abortion centers) and a parent's sworn statement. The credit applies to the biological mother or her husband on a joint return and covers children born alive, stillborn, or miscarried after the bill's enactment. This change makes the credit accessible earlier in pregnancy and for pregnancy loss, without altering the standard credit amount for children born alive.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds multi-cancer early detection screening tests to Medicare Part B coverage, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries. It creates a new coverage category for FDA-approved blood tests (like those analyzing cell-free DNA) that screen for multiple cancer types simultaneously, as defined in the bill. Medicare would cover these tests once every 12 months, and the bill clarifies that this change does not impact existing coverage for standard cancer screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies. The policy change ensures beneficiaries can access these new screening options without unnecessary delays after FDA approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 351 (Down East Remembrance Act), is a ceremonial renaming measure. It designates six specific creeks in North Carolina with new names (Noah Styron Creek, Hunter Parks Creek, Kole McInnis Creek, Stephanie Fulcher Creek, Jacob Taylor Creek, and Daily Shepherd Creek) based on their geographic coordinates. The bill requires all future references in U.S. federal laws, regulations, maps, and official documents to use these new names instead of the previous designations. It does not change any laws, regulations, or affect any people or policies - it solely updates official records for these waterways.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act of 2023 amends a federal law to prohibit the slaughter of horses and other equines (such as donkeys) for human consumption. It extends an existing ban on slaughtering dogs and cats for food to include equines, closing a gap in current law. The key change modifies Section 12515 of the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act to replace "dog or cat" with "dog, cat, or equine" in the prohibition language. This directly affects meat processors and businesses that might have engaged in slaughtering equines for human consumption, making such activity illegal under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state and local governments from imposing additional production standards on agricultural products grown in another state but sold in interstate commerce, unless those standards already apply under federal law or the state where production occurs. It directly affects farmers, distributors, and businesses operating across state lines by preventing states from creating new barriers to interstate agricultural trade. Key provisions include creating a federal legal right for affected parties to challenge such state regulations in court, with automatic preliminary injunctions to halt enforcement pending resolution. The law also sets a 10-year limit for filing lawsuits and specifies where cases can be heard.

This resolution celebrates the 246th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. flag, recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable part of life for the people of the United States for generations, and defends the constitutionality of the pledge.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new annual and aggregate limits for federal unsubsidized student loans for graduate and professional students, effective July 1, 2024. It increases annual loan limits to $20,500 for regular graduate students and $40,500 for professional students (like law or medical students), with total lifetime limits of $65,000 and $130,000 respectively (including undergraduate borrowing). The bill also ends eligibility for Federal Direct PLUS loans for graduate and professional students starting July 1, 2024, with institutions required to notify students of this change by July 30, 2024. Existing borrowers who received loans before July 1, 2024, may continue using prior limits for the 2024-2025 academic year if they haven’t graduated.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows volunteer pilots operating charitable flights for 501(c)(3) organizations to be reimbursed for actual operational costs (like fuel, rental fees, or lodging) without triggering commercial aviation regulations. It defines "covered flights" as those conducted by volunteer pilots meeting specific safety certifications (e.g., private pilot license, 500+ hours) and ensures reimbursement does not constitute "compensation" under federal law. The bill exempts compliant pilots and organizations from certain FAA operating rules (e.g., air carrier requirements) and prohibits enforcement actions against good-faith compliance until regulations are finalized. It directly affects volunteer pilot organizations and individual pilots arranging flights for charitable purposes under IRS 501(c)(3) status.