Sen. John Hoeven

Maddy summaryS 535 (Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act) modifies federal permitting requirements for oil and gas drilling on lands where the federal government owns less than half the minerals. It exempts drilling permits within certain "spacing units" from federal review if the federal government owns under 50% of the minerals and doesn't control the surface land. Companies must still notify the Interior Secretary about state drilling permits within 5 days of submission and 45 days after approval. The bill does not change royalty payments owed to the federal government for production on qualifying lands.

Maddy summarySJRES 11 is a joint resolution seeking to cancel an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that set new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses. The rule, published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2023, would have required manufacturers to meet specific pollution control measures for new vehicles. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under the Congressional Review Act to nullify the EPA rule, meaning it would have no legal effect if enacted. If passed, the EPA's emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles would be voided, removing requirements for manufacturers to comply with those specific pollution controls.

Maddy summaryS 2210, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress before terminating, waiving, or significantly altering U.S. sanctions on Iran. Congress then has 30 days (or 60 days during summer months) to review the proposal through committee hearings and decide whether to approve or disapprove it via joint resolution. During this review period, the President cannot implement the sanction change without Congressional approval. The bill directly affects the executive branch's ability to modify Iran sanctions policy and gives Congress formal oversight authority over major foreign policy shifts related to Iran.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the funding threshold for minor construction projects at VA medical facilities from $20 million to $30 million. It requires the VA Secretary to adjust this amount every two years based on inflation, construction costs, and other economic factors, using either existing or new calculation methods. Projects under $30 million will now qualify as "minor" construction, streamlining approval processes without changing the actual construction work. The adjustment mechanism ensures the threshold remains aligned with current construction market conditions.

Maddy summaryS 2118, the "Real Emergencies Act," prohibits the President from declaring national emergencies, major disasters, or public health emergencies based on climate change. It specifically blocks the use of climate change as a justification under three key laws: the National Emergencies Act, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, and the Public Health Service Act. The bill does not affect past emergency declarations but restricts future declarations where climate change is cited as the primary reason. This directly impacts the executive branch's authority to invoke emergency powers for climate-related events.

Maddy summarySRES 263 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating June 19, 2023, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to recognize June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. It honors the historical significance of this date, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern U.S. after the Civil War. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges this observance as part of U.S. history and heritage, supporting nationwide recognition of the event. It affects all Americans by affirming a shared historical moment in the nation's journey toward freedom.

This resolution designates June 2023 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2023, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress. The resolution also encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.

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 amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to expand disaster assistance for livestock producers. It adds unweaned cattle to the definition of livestock, includes leaseholders as eligible producers, and adjusts payment calculations for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program based on national corn prices and county grazing seasons (e.g., 8+ months of grazing triggers 8 monthly payments). The Emergency Assistance program now explicitly covers drought and includes transportation costs for feed/water, while clarifying coverage for winter grazing losses. These changes directly affect ranchers and farmers facing weather-related disasters by expanding eligibility and tailoring payments to regional conditions.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing services to be provided from home and other locations, and expanding who can offer telehealth services. The bill repeals the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health and allows telehealth use in hospice care recertification. It also includes program integrity measures to address inappropriate billing patterns and requires posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology vendors by making telehealth more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved populations, those with mobility challenges, and individuals in areas with healthcare workforce shortages.