Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal compensation program for poultry farmers whose operations are restricted in "control areas" designated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) due to animal health threats. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to pay affected farmers an amount calculated as their average income from the five most recent flocks multiplied by the number of flocks they were prohibited from raising during the control period. Compensation is capped to avoid double payments - covering only the difference between the calculated amount and any existing state or other compensation received. Payments must be issued within 60 days of a farmer’s request, and farmers who already received compensation for destroyed animals under existing law are excluded.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 36) seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule (88 Fed. Reg. 12842, March 1, 2023) that would have removed religious exemption provisions from the Equal Opportunity Clause requirements for federal contractors. If approved, it would prevent the rule from taking effect, meaning federal contractors would continue to be required to comply with the Equal Opportunity Clause without the religious exemption previously allowed. The bill directly affects federal contractors subject to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) regulations. It is a procedural disapproval measure under Title 5, U.S. Code, not a new policy change.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 272) commemorates the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24, 2022, *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization* decision, which overturned *Roe v. Wade*. It expresses the Senate's support for the Court's ruling that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion and affirms the return of abortion regulation authority to state legislatures. The resolution celebrates the decision as a step toward protecting "unborn life" and commits to supporting families and "proclaiming the humanity of the unborn." As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any individuals directly.
Maddy summaryS 2210, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress before terminating, waiving, or significantly altering U.S. sanctions on Iran. Congress then has 30 days (or 60 days during summer months) to review the proposal through committee hearings and decide whether to approve or disapprove it via joint resolution. During this review period, the President cannot implement the sanction change without Congressional approval. The bill directly affects the executive branch's ability to modify Iran sanctions policy and gives Congress formal oversight authority over major foreign policy shifts related to Iran.
Maddy summaryThe Restore VA Accountability Act of 2023 revises disciplinary procedures for VA supervisors and management officials (excluding senior executives and political appointees). It requires the VA Secretary to use "substantial evidence" for removals, demotions, or suspensions, with decisions made within 15 business days based on specific factors like offense severity and position level. The bill limits judicial review to procedural errors (e.g., lack of evidence) and prohibits courts from reducing penalties. It also strengthens whistleblower protections by requiring Special Counsel approval for actions against employees reporting misconduct.
This resolution designates June 2023 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2023, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress. The resolution also encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Administrator of General Services from considering the legality or availability of abortion when making decisions about federal buildings. Specifically, it amends federal law to ban the GSA from factoring abortion laws into building acquisitions, construction projects, or lease agreements for government properties. The key provision adds explicit language to multiple sections of Title 40, stating the Administrator "shall not consider the legality or availability of abortion" in these decisions. It directly affects how the federal government manages its physical infrastructure, ensuring building-related decisions are not influenced by state abortion laws. The bill does not change abortion policy but restricts one specific federal agency's decision-making criteria.
Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing services to be provided from home and other locations, and expanding who can offer telehealth services. The bill repeals the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health and allows telehealth use in hospice care recertification. It also includes program integrity measures to address inappropriate billing patterns and requires posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology vendors by making telehealth more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved populations, those with mobility challenges, and individuals in areas with healthcare workforce shortages.
This resolution celebrates the 246th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. flag, recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable part of life for the people of the United States for generations, and defends the constitutionality of the pledge.
Maddy summaryThis bill sets new annual and aggregate limits for federal unsubsidized student loans for graduate and professional students, effective July 1, 2024. It increases annual loan limits to $20,500 for regular graduate students and $40,500 for professional students (like law or medical students), with total lifetime limits of $65,000 and $130,000 respectively (including undergraduate borrowing). The bill also ends eligibility for Federal Direct PLUS loans for graduate and professional students starting July 1, 2024, with institutions required to notify students of this change by July 30, 2024. Existing borrowers who received loans before July 1, 2024, may continue using prior limits for the 2024-2025 academic year if they haven’t graduated.