Sen. Tom Cotton

Maddy summaryThe APEX Act (S 1850) gives the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) authority to oversee how reference prices for aluminum premiums are set and reported in markets. It requires the CFTC to ensure these pricing mechanisms are fair and transparent, but explicitly states the CFTC cannot set or control actual aluminum prices. The bill mandates the CFTC to consult with the Attorney General on antitrust concerns related to these reference prices and allows the Attorney General to review CFTC regulations to confirm they align with antitrust laws. This directly affects markets and companies involved in setting or reporting aluminum premium reference prices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public secondary schools to grant military recruiters access to career fairs upon request, with schools needing to respond within 60 days. It also mandates colleges to provide military recruiters with lists of students (17+) who didn't return after the previous semester, including their contact details and reasons for not returning. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Defense to study expanding the Army's Future Soldier Preparatory Course to other military branches and assess its effectiveness in meeting fitness and academic standards. The changes directly affect schools and colleges that must adjust their recruitment policies, while the study aims to inform future recruitment strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill redefines "equity" within the Department of Defense as the opportunity for qualified individuals to participate in programs, prohibits mandatory adoption of beliefs about racial or ethnic superiority, and bans race-based distinctions in military personnel decisions. It directly affects active-duty service members, military dependents, and DoD civilian employees by requiring all promotions, assignments, and training to be based solely on individual merit and performance. Key provisions ban DoD directives compelling adherence to certain beliefs, prohibit training suggesting racial superiority, and mandate that demographic data collection for reporting remains the only exception to race-based distinctions. The bill focuses on ensuring military decisions prioritize merit over identity, aligning with the bill's stated findings about military readiness and equal opportunity.

Maddy summarySRES 224 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating May 2023 as "ALS Awareness Month." It recognizes the challenges of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells, noting that about 5,000 Americans are diagnosed annually and there is no cure. The resolution affirms the Senate's commitment to supporting ALS patients and caregivers, including access to treatments, research into causes, and reducing the disease's physical, emotional, and financial burdens. It does not create new laws or policies but serves to raise public awareness and honor efforts by families, researchers, and caregivers.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Tax Certainty Act permanently extends the 20% tax deduction for qualified business income (QBI), which currently applies to owners of pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The bill achieves this by amending the tax code to remove an expiration date (via striking subsection (i) of Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code). This change directly affects small business owners who rely on the QBI deduction to reduce their taxable income. The key provision eliminates uncertainty about the deduction’s future, ensuring continued eligibility without requiring future legislative action.

Maddy summaryThe "No START Treaty Act" declares that the New START Treaty with Russia is no longer in U.S. national security interests due to Russia's non-compliance (including refusing inspections) and China's rapid nuclear expansion, directing the U.S. to withdraw from the treaty. It mandates a 90-day report from the Secretary of Defense assessing U.S. nuclear deterrence capabilities and proposing specific improvements, such as increasing bomber alert status and restoring submarine missile capacity. The bill sets strict conditions for future arms control agreements, requiring limits on China's nuclear arsenal, robust verification for both China and Russia, and coverage of non-strategic weapons and emerging systems like hypersonic weapons. Additionally, it prohibits unilateral U.S. nuclear reductions without a treaty meeting these conditions and blocks funding for the New START Treaty or successor agreements that fail to satisfy these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires K-12 schools receiving federal funds to obtain parental consent before accommodating a student's gender identity (e.g., changing names/pronouns or facilitating gender transition) or withholding such information from parents. It prohibits schools from pressuring families toward gender transition, hiding details about a student's gender identity, or facilitating social transitions (like using gendered facilities) without parental knowledge. Schools must publicly post policies ensuring compliance and face potential loss of federal funding or lawsuits if they violate these rules. The bill directly affects all elementary and secondary schools receiving federal education funding, focusing on parental involvement in decisions about students' gender identity.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Medicare reimbursement rate increases for ground ambulance services through 2028. It adjusts specific payment percentages for ambulance providers: maintaining a 26.7% rate increase for "super rural" ambulance services and setting 4.3% and 3.4% increases for other ground ambulance services during 2025-2028. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries using ground ambulance services and the ambulance providers who serve them, particularly in rural areas. The bill modifies existing Social Security Act provisions to adjust payment rates without altering Medicare eligibility or coverage rules. It provides temporary rate adjustments to help sustain ambulance service availability during this period.

Maddy summarySRES 215 is a Senate resolution designating May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. It supports raising public awareness about the dangers of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills, which are often disguised as legitimate medications and contribute to overdose deaths. The resolution encourages existing law enforcement efforts to combat counterfeit pill distribution and acknowledges the severe impact of fentanyl on young people, citing statistics on rising overdose deaths. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the issue through congressional support.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 14-20, 2023, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. It recognizes 444 officers killed in 2022 (including specific names listed in the resolution) and acknowledges 32 officers killed in 2023, while expressing support for law enforcement personnel. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement officers and promoting awareness of their essential service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing laws.