Sen. Ted Budd

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring working dogs, including $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar coins, to be sold starting January 1, 2025. A surcharge of $35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin, and $5 per half-dollar coin will be added to the sale price, with all surcharge funds directed to America’s VetDogs to support its service dog programs for veterans and people with disabilities. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued for one year (2025), with production limited to specified quantities (50,000 gold, 500,000 silver, 750,000 half-dollars). The bill does not create new government programs but uses commemorative coin sales to fund existing service dog initiatives.

Maddy summaryS 716, the "Solving the Border Crisis Act," directs the immediate resumption of border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, requiring completion by September 30, 2024, using existing funds. It mandates minimum staffing levels for border operations, including 10,000 full-time employees in enforcement, 25,000 Border Patrol agents, and 25,000 CBP officers. The bill also requires mandatory detention funding through DHS fees, terminates pandemic-related border entry suspensions after a 120-day window, and modifies asylum processing to prioritize returning aliens to Mexico or detaining them for credible fear assessments. These provisions directly affect border security operations, immigration enforcement, and the processing of individuals arriving at the southern border.

Maddy summaryS 723, the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2023, requires Medicare and Medicaid to cover "prescription digital therapeutics" (PDTs) starting in 2024. PDTs are defined as FDA-cleared software-based treatments for medical conditions, such as apps for diabetes management or mental health therapy. The bill establishes new payment rules for these digital treatments, including setting payment rates based on actual market pricing and requiring manufacturers to report private payor pricing and usage data annually. This directly affects Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries seeking digital health tools and manufacturers of PDTs, who must comply with reporting requirements and face penalties for noncompliance. The law aims to integrate evidence-based digital health solutions into mainstream coverage under federal health programs.

Maddy summaryThe Stopping Border Surges Act (S 685) makes significant changes to immigration policy affecting unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. It requires specialized interviews for unaccompanied children with officers trained in child trafficking cases, mandates custody transfers to Health and Human Services within 30 days for children not meeting certain criteria, and shortens the asylum application window from one year to six months. The bill also adds new requirements for credible fear interviews, creates penalties for asylum fraud including potential fines and up to 10 years in prison, and modifies family detention standards to limit release of minors with parents who are not lawfully present in the U.S. These provisions aim to streamline immigration processes while adding safeguards against potential fraud and abuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins honoring the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the worst maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively) that will fund the Sultana Historical Preservation Society. The funds must be used to build, operate, and maintain a museum in Marion, Arkansas, to preserve the disaster’s history through exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs. The coins, sold only in 2023, are legal tender but will not circulate; the surcharge revenue directly supports the museum’s development and operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. Treasury regulations to require the Secretary of the Treasury to consider terrorism facilitation when designating foreign financial institutions as "of primary money laundering concern." It specifically directs the Treasury to evaluate whether institutions knowingly provide banking services to entities designated under federal anti-terrorism regulations or facilitate payments for acts of terrorism defined in the Taylor Force Act (22 U.S.C. 2378c-1). The measure targets foreign banks that maintain correspondent accounts with U.S. banks while allegedly enabling terrorist financing through dollar transactions. It directly affects foreign financial institutions operating with U.S. correspondent banking relationships. The policy change focuses on strengthening anti-terrorism financial oversight by expanding the criteria used in Treasury designations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to clarify which preventive health services count as covered under insurance plans for chronic conditions. It defines "preventive care" for chronic diseases as services that are low-cost, supported by medical evidence showing they prevent worsening of the condition or costly complications, and have documented clinical evidence of effectiveness. The law also creates a presumption that an individual has a diagnosed chronic condition if they receive preventive care customarily prescribed for that condition. This change directly affects health insurers and Medicare/Medicaid programs by expanding coverage for specific preventive services aimed at reducing long-term healthcare costs.

Maddy summarySRES 91 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing support for negotiating a tax treaty between the United States and Taiwan. It recognizes Taiwan as the U.S.'s eighth-largest trading partner (supporting over 188,000 American jobs) and notes the U.S. lacks an income tax treaty with Taiwan despite having agreements with 66 other countries. The resolution encourages the President to begin negotiations and work with Congress on a formal agreement, while also promoting broader U.S.-Taiwan trade and investment ties. This resolution directly affects U.S. economic relations with Taiwan but does not create new law or policy.

Maddy summarySRES 57 is a Senate resolution honoring David Ferdinand Durenberger, a former U.S. Senator from Minnesota (served 1978-1989). It commemorates his life and career, highlighting his role as the lead Republican sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act and his work protecting Minnesota's natural resources like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resolution directs the Senate to formally recognize his passing and transmit a copy to his family. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on constituents.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor Navy pilot Everett Alvarez, Jr., for his service as a Vietnam War POW and subsequent public service. It directs the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore to arrange for the medal's presentation, specifying it must bear his name and image. Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. The bill is purely ceremonial, recognizing Alvarez's 8+ years as a prisoner of war and his post-military career. It does not create new policies or affect any government programs.