Sen. Kevin Cramer

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 492) honoring the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It expresses the Senate's condolences for her passing and recognizes her lifetime of humanitarian work, including her advocacy for mental health care, founding of caregiver support programs, and service with The Carter Center. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is purely a commemorative statement. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 52) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that determined lead emissions from aircraft using leaded fuel endanger public health and welfare. If approved, it would nullify the EPA's October 2023 rule (88 Fed. Reg. 72372), preventing it from taking effect. The rule directly affects aircraft operators and manufacturers using leaded aviation fuel, as it would have required addressing lead emissions under the Clean Air Act. The resolution, introduced by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, uses a statutory process to halt the EPA's finding without creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Banking Act provides legal protections for banks and financial institutions that serve state-legal marijuana businesses and related service providers. It creates a "safe harbor" preventing federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for offering services to these businesses, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The bill also allows income from state-legal marijuana businesses to be considered "legal income" for mortgage qualification purposes and establishes guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. Similar protections are extended to hemp-related businesses and service providers, without requiring banks to serve these businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to change how oil and gas companies calculate taxable income for certain drilling costs. It allows companies to disregard depreciation and depletion expenses recorded on their financial statements when computing taxable income, specifically for intangible drilling and development costs. This directly affects oil and gas producers who use these accounting methods. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022.

Maddy summaryS 3366, the Farmers Freedom Act of 2023, clarifies that "prior converted cropland" must be defined using the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule. This directly affects farmers who converted wetlands to cropland before 2008, ensuring their land remains excluded from certain federal water pollution regulations. The bill mandates the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to adopt the specific 2020 regulatory definition for this term, maintaining current regulatory status for affected agricultural land. It does not create new rules but preserves existing exemptions for prior converted cropland under the Clean Water Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state and federal governments from denying contracts, funding, or licenses to child welfare service providers (including religious organizations and individuals) who decline to provide services conflicting with their sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions. It specifically protects providers from adverse actions like refusing to renew contracts or canceling funding when their religious objections prevent them from offering certain services, such as foster care placements or adoption assistance. The law allows affected providers to sue for violations and requires states that violate the law to forfeit 15% of their federal child welfare funding. It applies to all federally funded child welfare services under Title IV of the Social Security Act, covering services like foster care, adoption support, and family preservation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $50 million annually (2023-2027) for the VA to award grants to states to improve outreach and assistance for veterans and their families (including spouses, children, and parents) regarding veterans' benefits. States must use funds to hire more veterans service officers, expand outreach programs, or provide training, with priority for areas lacking officers, high veteran suicide rates, or frequent crisis line referrals. Grantees must submit detailed plans ensuring equitable distribution across urban/rural areas and addressing needs of underserved veterans (e.g., Native American, elderly, women veterans), while tracking benefit application timelines and outcomes. The VA will monitor performance, require remediation plans for underperforming states, and report annually to Congress.

Maddy summarySRES 470 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating November 16, 2023, as "National Rural Health Day." It commemorates rural communities' contributions to health care and acknowledges the unique challenges rural health providers and patients face, including access barriers and hospital closures. The resolution recognizes the efforts of rural health care workers and the millions they serve, while expressing a commitment to future policy improvements for rural health care. It does not create new laws, funding, or direct obligations - it serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of rural health issues.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 471) expresses formal support for National Adoption Day (observed November 18, 2023) and National Adoption Month (November 2023). It promotes awareness about children in foster care awaiting adoption, celebrates adoption success stories, and encourages U.S. citizens to support efforts securing permanent, safe homes for all children. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight adoption needs. It specifically references foster care statistics (e.g., 114,000 children awaiting adoption) to underscore its purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 43) is a joint resolution seeking to block a Department of Education rule that would have improved income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans. It targets a specific rule (88 Fed. Reg. 43820, July 10, 2023) affecting borrowers in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. If passed, the resolution would make this rule void, preventing it from taking effect. The resolution uses a specific procedural mechanism under Title 5 of U.S. Code to achieve this disapproval. It directly impacts student loan borrowers who rely on income-driven repayment options.