Sen. Kevin Cramer

Maddy summaryThis bill bars federal funding for state or local databases that track lawfully owned firearms or their owners. It directly affects states and local governments maintaining such databases, preventing them from using federal money to create or maintain these records. The law includes an exception allowing funding for databases tracking lost or stolen firearms and their owners. The key provision is a federal funding prohibition targeting databases of legal gun ownership, not the databases themselves.

Maddy summaryThe "No START Treaty Act" declares that the New START Treaty with Russia is no longer in U.S. national security interests due to Russia's non-compliance (including refusing inspections) and China's rapid nuclear expansion, directing the U.S. to withdraw from the treaty. It mandates a 90-day report from the Secretary of Defense assessing U.S. nuclear deterrence capabilities and proposing specific improvements, such as increasing bomber alert status and restoring submarine missile capacity. The bill sets strict conditions for future arms control agreements, requiring limits on China's nuclear arsenal, robust verification for both China and Russia, and coverage of non-strategic weapons and emerging systems like hypersonic weapons. Additionally, it prohibits unilateral U.S. nuclear reductions without a treaty meeting these conditions and blocks funding for the New START Treaty or successor agreements that fail to satisfy these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new program to provide educational assistance to veterans and service members for high technology training. It directly affects veterans who served at least 36 months on active duty (and haven't turned 62) and members of the Armed Forces who will become veterans within 180 days. The program provides educational assistance equal to existing VA benefits, with payments to training providers based on student enrollment, graduation, and employment outcomes in technology fields. The program is limited to 6,000 participants annually and will terminate on September 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network program to increase annual funding from $10 million to $15 million for fiscal years 2024-2028, expanding support for farmers and ranchers facing mental health challenges. It adds crisis lines to the program's services and creates new referral pathways to connect individuals with certified community clinics, rural health centers, and other approved healthcare providers. The changes directly affect agricultural workers and their families by improving access to behavioral health counseling and wellness support. Key provisions include updated funding levels and expanded partnerships with specific healthcare facilities to ensure comprehensive mental health care.

Maddy summarySRES 215 is a Senate resolution designating May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. It supports raising public awareness about the dangers of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills, which are often disguised as legitimate medications and contribute to overdose deaths. The resolution encourages existing law enforcement efforts to combat counterfeit pill distribution and acknowledges the severe impact of fentanyl on young people, citing statistics on rising overdose deaths. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the issue through congressional support.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 14-20, 2023, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. It recognizes 444 officers killed in 2022 (including specific names listed in the resolution) and acknowledges 32 officers killed in 2023, while expressing support for law enforcement personnel. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement officers and promoting awareness of their essential service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryS 1654, the Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2023, allows credit bureaus to include positive payment history for utility and telecommunications services in consumer credit reports. It directly affects consumers who pay utility bills (electric, gas) or telecom services on time, as well as utility and telecom companies that may now report these payments to credit bureaus. The bill permits reporting of payment performance under lease agreements for housing, utility payments, and telecom contracts, but only includes payment-related details - not usage data - and prohibits reporting late payments if a consumer is on a valid payment plan. A GAO study on the bill's impact is required within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and governments that provide significant financial or material support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or their affiliates. It requires the President to block transactions with those supporting these groups and to suspend U.S. aid to governments providing material support for their terrorist activities. The bill also mandates regular reports on foreign countries' efforts to disrupt Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fundraising, financing, and money laundering networks. Specific exceptions include military use and humanitarian aid for medicine and food. The bill includes a sunset provision, terminating either after 3 years or when Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are no longer designated as terrorist organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state and local governments to adopt measures divesting public funds from entities engaging in boycotts targeting Israel or businesses in Israeli-controlled territories, while requiring specific procedural safeguards. Key provisions include a 90-day notice period to affected entities, an opportunity for entities to dispute the designation, and verification requirements to prevent erroneous targeting. It explicitly states that such state actions are not preempted by federal law and includes a safe harbor for investment managers adjusting policies. The bill directly affects public pension funds, municipal investments, and government contractors that meet the defined boycott criteria. It does not create new federal mandates but clarifies that states retain authority to implement these measures under their existing legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes key restrictions on Medicare telehealth services for rural patients. It eliminates geographic limits on where telehealth can originate (allowing services from patients' homes starting January 2025), expands access to audio-only telehealth for specific services like behavioral health, and creates new payment rules for critical access hospitals and rural health clinics providing telehealth. These changes directly affect rural Medicare beneficiaries and healthcare providers in underserved areas by making telehealth more accessible and flexible. The policy changes take effect January 1, 2025, and apply to Medicare Part B services.