Sen. Ted Budd

Maddy summaryThis bill amends key labor laws to strengthen worker protections and clarify union election processes. It requires employers to provide voter lists for union elections with only one employee-chosen contact detail (like email or phone), mandates secret ballot elections for union representation, and restricts union dues from funding non-representational activities without written employee consent for at least 35 days. The bill also clarifies joint employment standards, making it harder for companies to avoid responsibility for workers' pay and conditions, and adds tribal sovereignty protections to labor law definitions. These changes directly affect employers, unions, and employees in collective bargaining contexts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Health Service Act to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to temporarily restrict people and property entering the U.S. from specific foreign countries. It directly affects border crossings from nations identified as sources of significant fentanyl smuggling that poses a serious public health danger. The key provision allows the Secretary to prohibit or limit these entries for a set period, based on their determination that such restrictions are necessary to avert the risk of fentanyl introduction. The measure focuses on public health protection related to fentanyl trafficking, not broader immigration policy.

Maddy summarySRES 161 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April 22-30, 2023, as "National Park Week." It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but formally recognizes the National Park System's significance. The resolution highlights the parks' historical value, visitor impact (312 million visits in 2022), and economic contributions ($42.5 billion in 2021). It encourages public engagement with national parks but contains no funding, regulatory changes, or policy mechanisms. As a procedural resolution, it serves purely to honor the parks' legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle for hunting and fishing on federal lands and waters managed by the Interior Department or Agriculture Department. It directly affects hunters and anglers using these public areas by preventing federal restrictions on lead products, except in limited cases. The exception allows restrictions only on specific federal sites where state wildlife data shows lead use is harming wildlife, and only if approved by the state's fish and wildlife agency. The bill requires federal agencies to explain in public notices how any exception meets these state approval and wildlife harm criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal list of drugs needed to address national security threats like chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to maintain this list, considering factors like public health needs and input from the Defense Department, and to periodically update it based on current threats. Drug developers seeking faster FDA review for these countermeasures must align with the list, which will be publicly accessible. The program's deadline for review is extended from 2023 to 2029, and a report on its effectiveness will be required by 2027. The bill directly affects pharmaceutical companies developing medical countermeasures and federal agencies managing national health security.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or specific Chinese entities linked to China's military or defense sectors. It defines "Chinese entities of concern" as institutions involved in military-civil fusion, defense industry work, or receiving funding from China's military leadership. Starting 12 months after enactment, schools with such relationships would lose eligibility for DHS funds unless they terminate those ties. The bill directly affects higher education institutions hosting Confucius Institutes or partnering with the defined Chinese entities.

Maddy summaryThe Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2023 establishes new funding streams to prevent species from needing Endangered Species Act protection and aid recovery of already-listed species. It provides $850 million in 2024 (increasing to $1.3 billion annually after 2027) to states, territories, and tribes through a new Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount, with 15% required for endangered species recovery. The bill also creates a Tribal Wildlife Conservation Account ($97.5 million annually) and an Endangered Species Recovery Fund ($187.5 million annually), with funds to be used for habitat conservation, species management, invasive species control, and conservation education. States must use funds to implement their Wildlife Conservation Strategies, and all funding must supplement, not replace, existing conservation programs. The legislation requires annual reporting to Congress on how funds are used and progress on conservation goals.

Maddy summaryThe Rural Hospital Support Act (S 1110) changes how Medicare calculates payments for two types of rural hospitals: sole community hospitals (the only hospital in their area) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (which rely heavily on Medicare for revenue). It recalculates payments using a 2016 base year instead of previous periods, potentially increasing reimbursements for eligible hospitals if this results in higher payments. The bill also extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program and low-volume hospital payment increases beyond 2024, while prohibiting adjustments to these payments for years before 2015. This directly affects eligible rural hospitals by increasing their Medicare funding and providing long-term program stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the gross receipts threshold for most nonprofits from $5,000 to $50,000 before they must file detailed annual reports with the IRS. It exempts certain organizations, like those focused solely on investments (not lobbying or political activity), from reporting donor names and addresses. The changes apply to tax years beginning after the bill's enactment, reducing reporting burdens for smaller nonprofits and protecting donor privacy for qualifying groups. These provisions directly affect thousands of local nonprofits and community organizations that previously faced higher administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program to allow funding for airport projects that boost resilience against natural disasters. It makes eligible for funding specific upgrades to runways, taxiways, and aprons designed to maintain operations during events like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or wildfires. Airports seeking this funding must have an emergency management plan and maintain facilities suitable for disaster response, including acquiring emergency communication equipment and infrastructure. The bill also adds new criteria for planning related to disaster preparedness, such as building infrastructure to support emergency operations. These changes aim to help airports recover faster after natural disasters by prioritizing resilience in infrastructure investments.