Sen. Ted Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to create standardized, publicly accessible maps and data about ocean access rules. It mandates publishing specific details on Federal waterway restrictions (like motorboat limits, speed zones, and anchoring rules) and fishing area closures (including seasonal bans and no-catch zones) on a single government website. The data must be updated regularly and organized for easy use by recreational boaters, anglers, and commercial fishing operations. The law also requires coordination with states, tribes, and other agencies to ensure the data aligns with existing fishing and navigation regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the FAA from requiring medical certificates for pilots operating unmanned aircraft (drones). It specifically removes the current requirement for first-class, second-class, or third-class medical certificates for drone pilots, which are currently mandated for manned aircraft pilots. The bill directs the FAA to consider recommendations from a specific committee when developing medical qualification standards for drone operations. This change directly affects drone operators, particularly those with physical disabilities who may not require the same medical accommodations as manned aircraft pilots.

Maddy summaryS 3735, the Protecting Innovation in Investment Act, blocks the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a specific proposed rule about conflicts of interest involving predictive data analytics. The bill targets the SEC's August 2023 proposed rule (88 Fed. Reg. 53960) and any substantially similar rule, preventing it from becoming law. This directly affects broker-dealers and investment advisers who would have been subject to the rule's requirements. The bill does not create new regulations but stops the SEC from moving forward with this specific proposal. It focuses solely on halting the enforcement of the named rule, with no additional policy changes.

Maddy summarySJRES 59 is a joint resolution that would disapprove a rule by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) treating its Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121) as a binding regulation. The SEC had submitted this rule for congressional review under the Congressional Review Act, and the resolution would block it from taking effect. If enacted, the disapproval would prevent SAB 121 from being enforced as a regulation, meaning public companies would not be required to follow it as a legal rule. The bill directly affects the SEC's regulatory authority and the accounting practices of public companies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a comprehensive report on maternal health care access for military families within two years. The report will analyze staffing shortages (like obstetricians and nurses), challenges in accessing care (including wait times and travel), and continuity issues during military relocations. It will also track funding and out-of-pocket costs over a decade, identifying gaps in facilities located in "maternity care deserts." The bill directly affects military service members' spouses and dependents who rely on TRICARE or military medical facilities for prenatal, birthing, and postpartum care. Its key mechanism is mandating this detailed assessment to inform future improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) starting from its enactment date, ending all U.S. financial support for the agency in fiscal year 2024 and prior years. It also bans entry to the United States for individuals affiliated with UNRWA (except U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or those covered by a specific UN headquarters agreement) and revokes tax-exempt status for UNRWA USA under U.S. tax law. These provisions directly affect UNRWA's operations, its staff and partners, and individuals linked to the agency seeking U.S. entry or tax benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. funding to the United Nations (including all agencies and entities) until three conditions are met: UNRWA is abolished, the State Department certifies comprehensive counterterrorism vetting of UN personnel in UNRWA's region, and the UN certifies it has eliminated antisemitic or violent content from educational materials. It directly affects U.S. contributions to the UN, which totaled over $7 billion to UNRWA since 1949, and requires a 180-day transition report detailing how UNRWA's services would be replaced by other UN programs or bilateral aid. The bill mandates strict oversight of UN educational content and vetting standards for all UN staff and facilities. The legislation reflects congressional concerns about UNRWA's alleged ties to terrorism and antisemitism, as noted in the bill's findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) funding deadline from September 30, 2023, to December 31, 2023, ensuring continued operations. It directly affects homeowners and businesses with flood insurance policies, as well as federal flood risk management activities. The key change adjusts two specific deadlines in the law to provide an additional three months of program funding without altering the program's structure or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 531) formally designates January 21-27, 2024, as "National School Choice Week." It recognizes existing annual events celebrating parental choice in K-12 education options, including public schools, charters, private schools, and homeschooling. The resolution encourages parents to learn about educational choices and urges the public to participate in awareness events during this week. It does not create new laws, funding, or regulations - it is a symbolic recognition of an established observance.

Maddy summaryS.1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023, repeals the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die after the bill's enactment. It also modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption (adjusted for inflation) and creating a new tax rate schedule for gifts. This bill directly affects high-net-worth individuals who would have paid estate or gift taxes on large transfers of wealth. The changes take effect after the bill's passage, with the exemption adjusted annually for inflation.