Sen. James Lankford

Maddy summaryS 5183, the "BE GONE Act," amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felonies" by adding "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence." This change directly affects non-citizens (immigrants without citizenship) convicted of these specific crimes, making them subject to mandatory deportation under current immigration law. The bill adds these offenses to the existing list of serious crimes triggering deportation, without creating new penalties or programs. It is a definitional change within existing immigration enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryS 5212, the Enhanced Energy Recovery Act, modifies tax credits for carbon dioxide capture and storage under IRS Section 45Q. It expands eligible uses to include carbon dioxide used as a "tertiary injectant" in oil or gas recovery projects (where it's injected to extract more oil while being stored underground). The bill sets a base tax credit of $17 per ton of captured carbon for 2025-2026, with future credits adjusted for inflation starting in 2027. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, directly affecting companies capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide for storage or oil recovery.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax deduction for small oil and gas producers to cover costs of cleaning up wells. It allows eligible producers (with 500 or fewer employees) to deduct up to $35,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) for cash payments into special remediation accounts. These accounts must cover costs like capping, closing, and cleaning oil/gas wells, including labor, materials, and regulatory compliance. The deduction applies only to funds used strictly for well remediation, with penalties for misuse. It directly affects small energy producers meeting the employee and well-deduction criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a process for establishing Medicare payment rates for pediatric medical devices. It requires the Secretary to set national payment rates (relative value units) for qualifying pediatric technologies upon manufacturer request, using available data like pricing and claims information. Manufacturers must submit requests by May 1 each year to have rates established for the following year's Medicare physician fee schedule. The bill specifically targets devices already covered under Medicare, approved by the FDA, and designed for pediatric use, without changing existing coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the REPLACE Act (S 5281), requires the President to waive fees for replacing lost critical documents like passports or driver's licenses after a major disaster. It directly affects individuals or households in a federally declared disaster area where the President provided direct assistance for individuals (under Stafford Act Section 408) and their critical documents were destroyed. The key provision mandates that the President, after consulting with the affected state's Governor, must automatically grant these fee waivers to qualifying survivors. It also requires the State Department and USCIS to publish waiver availability online and submit annual reports to Congress detailing the number of waivers granted and associated costs.

Maddy summaryThe Visa Integrity Preservation Act of 2024 (S 5291) requires in-person interviews with consular officers for certain non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S. who are deemed inadmissible under specific immigration grounds. It directly affects applicants for visas who are currently in the U.S. without legal status and face inadmissibility due to violations listed in Section 212(a)(6) or (9) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The key mechanism amends existing law to mandate these in-person interviews as part of the visa application process for this group. This change applies to consular officers processing visa applications for individuals meeting these criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - 223 women who served as Army Signal Corps telephone operators in WWI. They connected 26 million calls in France, worked 12-hour shifts under combat conditions, and were denied veteran benefits for 60 years despite wearing uniforms and facing combat hazards. The medal recognizes their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and the decades-long struggle for recognition as soldiers. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and place it in the Smithsonian for public display at institutions like the National WWI Museum.

Maddy summarySRES 848 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 23-27, 2024, as "National Hazing Awareness Week." It does not create new laws or requirements but formally recognizes the issue of hazing in college settings. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about hazing, which directly affects college students participating in campus organizations, as highlighted by statistics showing 55% of students in extracurricular activities reported experiencing hazing. The bill encourages nationwide observance through education and prevention efforts, emphasizing that awareness should extend beyond a single week.

Maddy summarySRES 842 designates the week beginning October 20, 2024, as "National Character Counts Week" in recognition of the importance of character development in youth. The resolution calls upon schools, families, community organizations, and the public to observe this week by promoting core character values like trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship through educational activities and events. This is a symbolic Senate resolution with no legal requirements, aiming to encourage voluntary focus on character education across communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. government agencies from purchasing biotechnology equipment or services from specific foreign companies tied to national security threats. It bans contracts with entities like BGI, MGI, and Wuxi Apptec (and their affiliates) that pose risks through ties to foreign adversaries, particularly regarding genetic data collection. Exceptions cover intelligence activities, overseas health care for military personnel, and publicly available genetic data. The ban takes effect 60-180 days after implementing guidance is issued, with limited waivers allowed for national security or overseas health care needs.