Sen. Rick Scott

Maddy summarySRES 851 is a Senate resolution designating November 2, 2024, as National Bison Day. It encourages the American public to observe the day with ceremonies and activities to recognize bison's cultural, historical, and economic significance. The resolution highlights bison's role in Indigenous traditions, conservation efforts, and U.S. heritage, as detailed in its preamble. It does not create legal obligations but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of bison's importance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to include per-citizen cost estimates in its budget analyses. Specifically, it mandates that CBO estimates for any bill or resolution must show the pro rata cost to each U.S. citizen for changes in total federal spending and debt if the measure passes. The key mechanism adds a new requirement to CBO's reporting process, breaking down the financial impact of legislation on individual taxpayers. This change affects how budget scores are presented to Congress and the public, making cost impacts more transparent at the individual level.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal anti-discrimination law to explicitly include antisemitism as a protected category under Title VI, requiring colleges and universities receiving federal funds to address antisemitic harassment. It defines antisemitism broadly to cover both verbal and physical acts targeting Jewish individuals or institutions, and clarifies that "deliberate indifference" to severe, pervasive harassment constitutes discrimination. Colleges found repeatedly violating these standards face escalating fines - 10% for a second violation within five years, and 33% for a third - applied to their federal funding. The law does not create new rights but strengthens enforcement of existing protections against antisemitism in campus environments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. government agencies from purchasing biotechnology equipment or services from specific foreign companies tied to national security threats. It bans contracts with entities like BGI, MGI, and Wuxi Apptec (and their affiliates) that pose risks through ties to foreign adversaries, particularly regarding genetic data collection. Exceptions cover intelligence activities, overseas health care for military personnel, and publicly available genetic data. The ban takes effect 60-180 days after implementing guidance is issued, with limited waivers allowed for national security or overseas health care needs.

Maddy summaryS 5110, the "Stopping Adversarial Tariff Evasion Act," clarifies how U.S. tariffs apply to goods made by entities tied to specific adversarial countries. It directly affects importers and manufacturers dealing with goods produced by entities owned, controlled, or operated by entities from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela under Maduro, or Syria. The bill requires that any article made by such entities - defined as having 25%+ ownership by these countries through direct or indirect means (including joint ventures or financial arrangements) - be treated as originating from the adversarial country for tariff purposes. This applies to enforcement actions under trade agreements, injury determinations, and national security safeguards, closing loopholes that might allow tariff evasion through third-party manufacturing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. government to actively pursue the extradition of specific fugitives from the United States who are believed to be living in Cuba, including Joanne Chesimard (convicted of murdering a trooper) and William Morales (linked to bombings). It mandates an annual report from the Secretary of State to Congress detailing efforts to secure their return and determining if Cuba is fulfilling its extradition treaty obligations. The bill also prohibits using certain U.S. law enforcement funds for programs in Cuba until Cuba complies with these extradition requirements. The bill directly affects U.S. diplomatic and law enforcement efforts regarding Cuba and the return of fugitives facing U.S. criminal charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 5124 (Protect our Presidents Act), requires the U.S. Secret Service to provide presidential and vice-presidential candidates with security protection equivalent to that given to the sitting president. It specifically covers major party candidates who have accepted nominations at national conventions, their spouses, and the president-elect or vice president-elect. The Secret Service must report to congressional committees every 15 days during election years - detailing threat levels, security costs, personnel assigned, and any unmet security needs for each candidate. Candidates may decline the enhanced protection if they choose. The bill focuses on standardizing security protocols for candidates during elections, not on altering existing protections for current officeholders.

Maddy summaryThe STOP MADURO Act (S 5126) authorizes a $100 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro Moros, directly affecting individuals who provide actionable intelligence. It specifies that this reward must be funded exclusively from assets already frozen under existing U.S. sanctions against Maduro and his regime, including those blocked under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act and Venezuela-related executive orders. The bill does not impose new sanctions but repurposes funds from current asset freezes to incentivize cooperation. This provision targets informants who can aid U.S. law enforcement in pursuing Maduro, who faces prior criminal charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

Maddy summaryThe Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2024 would require federal agencies to submit detailed reports to Congress before implementing new regulations, including cost-benefit analyses, economic impact assessments, and information about how the public can access the supporting data. Major regulations (those with significant economic effects) would need congressional approval through a joint resolution within 70 legislative days, while nonmajor regulations would follow a simpler disapproval process. The bill would also require agencies to publish all guidance documents online and create a regulatory budget system to track regulatory costs. This would increase transparency in the regulatory process and give Congress more formal oversight over federal regulations. The bill would affect all federal agencies that issue regulations and would require them to comply with these new review procedures.

Maddy summarySRES 823 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2024) and celebrating the cultural contributions and achievements of Latinos in the United States. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups; instead, it urges the public to observe the month through activities honoring Latino heritage. The resolution highlights Latinos' economic impact (e.g., $3.4 trillion purchasing power), demographic significance (19.5% of U.S. population), and historical military service, but these statistics serve as context, not policy changes. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal force and is intended to raise awareness, not alter government programs or funding.