Sen. Jerry Moran

Maddy summaryS 654 establishes a new External Provider Scheduling Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve appointment scheduling for veterans using the Veterans Community Care Program. The program requires real-time technology allowing VA schedulers to view and book appointments with community care providers, directly affecting veterans who rely on non-VA care due to VA wait times. Key provisions mandate reducing referral-to-appointment wait times (measured in days) and scheduler processing time (days/hours), with full VA medical center implementation required by September 30, 2025. The VA must also submit annual progress reports to Congress through 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans, effective December 1, 2025. The increases will match the percentage rise in Social Security benefits for that year, as determined under the Social Security Act. It directly affects veterans receiving disability payments and surviving family members eligible for survivor benefits under current law. The adjustment ensures these benefits keep pace with inflation, as required by the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment formula.

Maddy summaryS 3267, the ASAP Act, would require Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias starting January 1, 2028. The bill defines these tests as FDA-cleared or approved blood, genomic, or imaging-based screenings for pre-symptomatic or early-stage detection. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+ who may be at risk for Alzheimer's, ensuring coverage for these specific tests once approved. The key provision adds these screenings to Medicare's payment system under Section 1833(h)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends and expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which helps employers hire from targeted groups like veterans, long-term welfare recipients, and individuals in high-unemployment areas. It extends the program through 2030 (from 2025), increases the credit rate to 50% for certain new hires (up from 40%), adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to key dollar amounts, and expands eligibility to include military spouses and people receiving SNAP benefits without an age limit. Employers hiring from these groups will see higher tax credits for qualifying wages, with new rules specifically for agricultural workers, summer youth employees, and veterans. The changes apply to workers hired after December 2025.

Maddy summaryS 2379, the "Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act," creates a new program to improve safety for state and local judges and court staff. It authorizes the State Justice Institute to fund eligible national nonprofits (with specific expertise in judicial security, courthouse design, and court operations) to establish State Judicial Threat Intelligence and Resource Centers. These centers will provide safety training, monitor threats, coordinate with law enforcement, develop standardized reporting systems, and create a national database for sharing threat information. The bill also requires an annual report to Congress on the number and types of threats faced by judges and court staff.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 16, 2025, and October 16, 2026, as "World Food Day" for the United States. It encourages Americans to observe these dates with activities raising awareness about global hunger and malnutrition. The resolution reaffirms U.S. commitment to combating food insecurity through humanitarian aid and investment in resilient agriculture. It does not create new laws or funding, serving only as a symbolic observance.

Maddy summarySRES 501 is a ceremonial Senate resolution recognizing November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month. It encourages the American public to observe the month through programs and activities that celebrate Native American cultural contributions, heritage, and history. The resolution does not create new legal obligations or funding, serving solely as a symbolic acknowledgment of Native American communities' enduring impact on U.S. society.

Maddy summaryThis resolution permits Senate staff, members, and officers to collect non-monetary holiday donations (clothing, toys, food, housewares) from each other within Senate buildings during the holiday season. The donations must support charities serving people in need or military families and must comply with Senate rules and federal law. It expires at the end of the first session of the 119th Congress. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but modifies Senate building collection rules.

Maddy summarySRES 495 is a ceremonial Senate resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War (marking the 1975 fall of Saigon) and honoring U.S. veterans who served in the conflict. It formally acknowledges the sacrifices of over 58,000 veterans who died, 300,000 wounded, and 1,545 missing in action, while commending efforts like the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to account for missing service members. The resolution urges public observance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, reaffirms respect for veterans’ service, and highlights memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to veterans and their families.

Maddy summaryThe NET Act (S 503) amends the Communications Act to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assess how the availability of network equipment impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications services during specific reporting periods. This change specifically adds a new requirement for the FCC to evaluate this impact, using data already available to the Commission. The bill does not impose new data collection requirements on telecom providers beyond what was previously mandated under Section 13 of the Communications Act. It primarily adjusts existing FCC reporting procedures through technical amendments to the law.