Sen. John Cornyn

Maddy summaryS. Res. 591 is a Senate resolution introduced on March 19, 2024, that formally reaffirms the U.S.-Canada partnership as a strategic asset for economic and national security. It highlights key economic ties, including $1.3 trillion in annual bilateral trade supporting 7.5 million U.S. jobs, and security cooperation on border management, defense, energy, and critical minerals. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but expresses the Senate’s commitment to deepening collaboration across these areas. The resolution was sponsored by Senators Cramer, King, and others, citing shared democratic values and mutual security interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to expand the definition of "aiding the enemy." Specifically, it adds "provides military education, military training, or tactical advice to" after "gives intelligence to" in the relevant section. The change directly affects military personnel, contractors, and others subject to the UCMJ who might share such information with foreign adversaries. This is a technical legal amendment clarifying what constitutes aiding the enemy under military law, without creating new penalties or programs.

Maddy summaryS 3970 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to repay active-duty service members for contributions they made toward their Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits. It amends 38 U.S.C. §3327(f)(3) to establish a repayment process, effective August 1, 2023. The bill also adjusts a date in the housing loan fee table (38 U.S.C. §3729(b)(2)), changing it from November 14, 2031, to November 28, 2031. This directly affects current service members who paid into their education benefits and veterans applying for home loans under the housing program.

Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act This bill prohibits payment under Medicare for a prosthesis, custom-fabricated orthosis, or off-the-shelf orthotics that is delivered via a drop shipment (i.e., shipped to an individual who does not have training in how to properly fit or care for the device). It also specifically allows for payment of replacements of custom-fitted devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Transportation Secretary to evaluate current space launch regulations (part 450) for delays and uncertainty, then report findings and propose improvements. It creates a committee for industry input on rule changes and modifies licensing to accept reasonable safety plans while assigning dedicated staff to applicants. For remote sensing, it clarifies that technical instruments (e.g., for spacecraft health) aren't considered remote sensing and speeds up license reviews. The bill directly affects commercial space companies launching rockets or operating satellites.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 64) seeks to block a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule published in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 4128, January 22, 2024) that implements provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act related to preventing digital discrimination. It requests Congress disapprove the rule under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, which would prevent the rule from taking effect. The resolution directly affects the FCC's ability to enforce digital discrimination prevention measures under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. If passed, the rule would have no legal force or effect, halting the FCC's regulatory action on this specific issue.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 65) seeks to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have revised national air quality standards for tiny air particles (particulate matter), which are pollutants linked to health issues like asthma and heart disease. The EPA rule, published on March 6, 2024, proposed updating these standards to tighten pollution limits. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, maintaining the current standards without changes. This directly affects the EPA’s ability to implement the proposed revisions to air quality regulations, impacting public health protections and industry compliance requirements.

Maddy summaryS 3934, the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act of 2023, establishes a 3-year Medicare demonstration project to test how shared savings payments for biosimilar drugs could lower costs. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (older adults and disabled individuals) and healthcare providers who prescribe or dispense biosimilar biological products under Medicare Part B. Key provisions include adding extra payments to providers when biosimilar drugs cost less than reference drugs (without increasing patient cost-sharing), requiring a cost-savings certification from Medicare’s chief actuary, and extending payment eligibility for biosimilars through 2032. This aims to incentivize wider use of lower-cost biosimilars while maintaining current Medicare beneficiary cost structures.

Delivering Unified Access to Lifesaving Services Act of 2024 or the DUALS Act of 2024 This bill creates a program to provide integrated care for individuals who are fully eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (i.e., dual-eligible individuals). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must develop a set of models for states to provide integrated care coordination for dual-eligible individuals; states must choose one of these models and implement the model within four years of their selection. Benefits must include clinical health services, behavioral health services, and long-term services and supports. Care coordination plans must be based on individualized health risk assessments and involve interdisciplinary health care teams. Each individual must be assigned a care coordinator to help the individual with respect to benefits and health care decisions.  The bill provides funds for states and the CMS to implement this program. It also provides funds for outreach and other activities to raise awareness about the program. The bill also modifies Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), including by allowing those under age 55 to enroll in PACE if they are eligible for Medicare. (PACE is a program under Medicare and Medicaid that provides in-home and community services for certain individuals as an alternative to nursing home care.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to create a strategy within 90 days for better sharing information between the government and private companies. The strategy must help U.S. companies competing on energy projects abroad - especially those involving critical minerals - by sharing intelligence about foreign adversaries' threats like economic espionage, disinformation campaigns, and deceptive tactics that undermine U.S. interests. It also mandates a plan for implementing this strategy within 30 days after the strategy is developed, focusing on both sending threat information to companies and receiving threat reports from them. The bill directly affects U.S. energy and mineral companies operating internationally.