Sen. Katie Boyd Britt

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 2024 as National Foster Care Month to raise public awareness about challenges faced by children in foster care. It specifically highlights issues like the 368,530 children currently in foster care, the need for stable placements, and barriers to successful transitions to adulthood for youth aging out of the system. The resolution encourages Congress to develop policies that improve outcomes for these children, including supporting foster parents and preventing unnecessary entry into the system. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but aims to prompt legislative action through recognition and advocacy.

Maddy summaryS 4401, the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act, requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that the net cost of federal regulations to small businesses remains at or below zero each fiscal year. It directly affects small business concerns defined under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632) by mandating the SBA Administrator to offset regulatory costs through rulemaking. Key provisions include requiring the SBA to submit annual reports to Congress detailing all federal regulations impacting small businesses, disaggregated by agency, covering the preceding and following fiscal years. The bill focuses on measuring and reducing the financial burden of federal rules on small businesses through SBA oversight and transparency.

Maddy summaryS 4405, the Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act, repeals Section 136 of the Clean Air Act, which previously provided incentives for reducing methane emissions in the natural gas and petroleum industry. This bill directly affects natural gas and oil companies that participated in the methane emissions reduction program under the repealed section. The bill also rescinds any unobligated funds allocated for that program before its enactment. The legislation removes an existing federal incentive program without creating new taxes or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to periodically review and update its definition of "small entity" for regulatory purposes. It directly affects businesses, organizations, and governmental entities subject to SEC rules who qualify as "small entities" under current definitions. The law mandates the SEC to conduct studies every 6 years (within 1 year of enactment, then every 5 years), report findings and recommendations to Congress, and adjust its rules based on the study results. Additionally, it requires the SEC to update all dollar thresholds in the definition annually using the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 58) seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Energy rule establishing new energy efficiency standards for consumer furnaces. It targets the specific rule published in the Federal Register on December 18, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 87502), which set requirements for furnace manufacturers. If passed, the resolution would nullify this rule, preventing it from taking effect and requiring the Department of Energy to withdraw the standards. The resolution directly affects furnace manufacturers and consumers by halting the implementation of these new efficiency requirements.

Maddy summaryThe VALID Act prohibits airlines from using three specific Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents or the CBP One mobile app as valid identification for air travel. It bans air carriers (including foreign carriers) from operating flights if they actively facilitate transportation using the CBP One app, DHS Form I-385 ("Notice to Report"), or DHS Form I-862 ("Notice to Appear"). The law directly affects airlines that might rely on these documents for passenger identification during domestic or international flights. This creates a permanent requirement that airlines must verify passengers using only standard, approved identification methods for boarding. The bill does not alter the legal status of the documents themselves but restricts their use in air travel verification.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states receiving federal Medicaid funds to not prohibit in vitro fertilization (IVF) services. It amends the Social Security Act to make it a condition of Medicaid funding that states and local governments cannot ban IVF, affecting Medicaid-covered fertility treatments. The law explicitly states no individual or organization must provide IVF services (Section 4) and allows states to enforce health/safety standards (Section 5). It directly impacts states administering Medicaid programs and ensures IVF remains accessible where states choose to cover such services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 86) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding endangered species protections. The rule, published April 5, 2024, aimed to update regulations for interagency cooperation on endangered and threatened wildlife conservation. The resolution would block this rule from taking effect by invoking a statutory process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code that allows Congress to reject federal agency regulations. If passed, the rule would have no legal force, maintaining existing regulatory standards instead of implementing the new provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 88) seeks congressional approval to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that sets emissions standards for coal- and oil-fired power plants. Specifically, it aims to disapprove the EPA's rule on "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants" for these plants, which was published in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024. If passed, the rule would have no legal effect, preventing the EPA from enforcing these specific emissions limits on affected power plants. The bill directly affects the EPA's regulatory authority and the operations of coal- and oil-fired electricity generators.

Maddy summarySRES 697 is a commemorative resolution designating the week of May 12-18, 2024, as "National Police Week" in the U.S. Senate. It aligns with the 1962 law authorizing the President to designate this week, honoring law enforcement officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty. The resolution expresses support for officers, recognizes their service in protecting communities, and encourages public observance to honor their mission and sacrifices. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is purely ceremonial.