Sen. Mike Braun

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 summaryThe Maximizing America's Prosperity Act of 2023 establishes new annual spending limits for the federal government, capping total spending at specific percentages of potential GDP from 2024 through 2033. These limits gradually decrease from 20.7% of potential GDP in 2024 to 17.5% for 2033 and beyond. The bill requires the President's budget to comply with these limits and mandates annual reports from the Office of Management and Budget and Congressional Budget Office on spending projections. It also creates a point of order to prevent Congress from approving budget resolutions that exceed these spending limits, directly affecting all federal agencies and programs that receive budgetary resources.

Maddy summaryS 2168, the "No Default Act," automatically implements spending cuts and suspends the debt ceiling during a defined debt crisis period to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on obligations. During such a crisis (when the Treasury cannot issue new debt due to the ceiling), it permanently cuts 1% of each federal agency's discretionary spending account every 30 days until the crisis ends. The bill also temporarily suspends the debt ceiling limit for the duration of the crisis and requires the Office of Management Budget to report on the cuts to Congress every 30 days, with the GAO reviewing these reports within 90 days. This directly affects federal programs funded through discretionary appropriations (like defense, education, and infrastructure) by mandating automatic reductions during debt ceiling standoffs.

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 summaryS 2173, the Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2023, clarifies that trademark licensing relationships between franchisors (or trademark owners) and related companies do not create employment relationships under labor laws. It specifically states that franchisors or trademark owners cannot be deemed employers simply because they license a mark or exercise limited control over its use to maintain quality, reputation, or uniformity. The bill explicitly excludes personnel-related policies (like hiring, pay, or work schedules) from being considered "control over the mark" under this provision. This protects franchisors and trademark owners from unintended labor law obligations tied to standard licensing practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve the search engine visibility of Medicare’s Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare) to make it easier for the public to find. Specifically, the Secretary must update website optimization practices quarterly using search engine best practices, user research, and industry guidelines. It also mandates two reports to Congress: one within 90 days detailing current website analytics (like page views and traffic sources), and a follow-up report a year later comparing data and suggesting further actions. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries and healthcare providers who rely on this website to compare care quality and make informed healthcare decisions.

Maddy summaryThe 21st Century Worker Act establishes a new classification system for service providers, determining whether they are employees or independent contractors under federal law. It creates specific criteria for mandatory classification (such as substantial economic relationships for employees or licensed professions for independent contractors) and allows some service providers to elect their classification with written agreements requiring counter-signatures from service recipients. The bill amends key federal laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act and tax code to align with these new definitions, imposing penalties for non-compliance with classification requirements. This affects workers and businesses across various industries who provide services for compensation, changing how they're treated under labor and tax laws. The legislation also requires a GAO study to identify other federal laws that need to be updated to match these new definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide detailed annual reports to health plan sponsors about drug pricing, spending, and rebates for plans covering large employers (50+ employees). It mandates full pass-through of rebates from drug manufacturers to health plans, prohibits PBMs from charging patients more than pharmacies are paid for drugs (spread pricing), and requires detailed reporting on drug costs, formulary decisions, and comparative pricing data between in-house and independent pharmacies. The reports must include information about drug spending, out-of-pocket costs for patients, wholesale acquisition costs, and pricing differences across pharmacy channels. These requirements apply to group health plans and health insurance issuers for plan years beginning in 2025, with some provisions for small employers as well.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends rules for orphan drug exclusivity under U.S. drug law. It changes the definition of "rare disease or condition" to specifically refer to the "approved use or indication" for which a drug was initially approved. This means exclusivity periods now apply to specific medical uses (e.g., treating a particular symptom of a rare disease), not just the broad disease name. The change affects drug manufacturers developing new treatments for rare diseases and the FDA in evaluating exclusivity claims, applying to all drugs designated under current law regardless of when they were approved.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new pathway for generic drug manufacturers to enter the market faster under specific conditions. It allows subsequent applicants to receive "effective approval" 180 days after a first applicant begins marketing a drug, but only if 33 months have passed since the first application and the first applicant hasn't started marketing within 75 days of approval. If a subsequent applicant fails to begin marketing within 75 days of approval, their application reverts to "tentative approval" and they lose eligibility for that pathway unless they prove an unforeseen event prevented marketing. The bill directly affects generic drug manufacturers seeking FDA approval for drugs where a first applicant has delayed commercialization.