Sen. Mike Braun

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal grant programs to combat invasive species threatening U.S. forests. It creates two main grant types: research grants ($3M-$10M annually) for universities and agencies to study forest restoration methods like biological control and genetic resistance, and implementation grants ($25M annually) for projects planting native trees and restoring habitats. Eligible entities must provide matching funds (20% for research, 10% for implementation) and meet specific criteria like addressing high-risk forest areas. The bill also mandates a National Academy of Sciences study to improve federal coordination on invasive species threats, with reports to Congress on funding and research progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, a U.S. Army soldier who saved approximately 200 Jewish-American soldiers during WWII by refusing Nazi orders to separate them. It directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented posthumously to Edmonds' family (specifically to Christopher Waring Edmonds). The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to the public to offset costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure with no direct policy impact on current laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryS 1250, the Drug-price Transparency for Consumers Act of 2023, requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer advertisements. This applies to drugs covered by Medicare or Medicaid, excluding those with a WAC under $35 per 30-day supply. The bill mandates clear display of the list price in ads, with manufacturers facing $100,000 penalties for noncompliance. It aims to give consumers upfront price information before they discuss prescriptions with doctors, helping them compare costs and make informed choices.

Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act of 2023 This bill allows the adjusted basis of certain assets (including any common stock in a C corporation, any digital asset, and tangible property used in a trade or business) to be indexed for inflation for the purpose of determining the gain or loss of a taxpayer (other than a corporation) who has held the asset for more than three years. The bill sets forth rules for applying the inflation adjustment to short sales; regulated investment companies; real estate investment trusts; other pass-through entities, including partnerships, S corporations, and common trust funds; dispositions between related persons; and improvements to property or contributions of capital. The Internal Revenue Service may disallow an adjustment if any person transfers cash, debt, or any other property to another person for the principal purpose of securing or increasing the adjustment allowed by this bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 10) seeks to block a specific rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding reproductive health services for veterans. It requests Congress disapprove the rule (published September 2022) under a process in federal law that allows Congress to halt agency regulations. If approved, the VA rule would be nullified and could not take effect, meaning the VA could not enforce its provisions on reproductive health services for veterans. The bill directly affects the implementation of this VA policy for veterans receiving care at VA facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new framework for "industry-recognized apprenticeship programs" under federal law. It creates a process for the Secretary of Labor to recognize private or public entities (standards recognition entities) that can approve apprenticeship programs meeting specific standards. Programs must include paid work, on-the-job learning, mentorship, classroom instruction, written training plans, safety components, and provide industry-recognized credentials. The bill directly affects employers, training providers, and apprentices by setting minimum quality standards for these programs and streamlining recognition. Existing registered apprenticeship programs remain unaffected by this new framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) position at the State Department. The envoy will represent the U.S. as a dialogue partner with PIF and coordinate U.S. policy with like-minded democracies in the region. The bill requires the President to appoint the envoy (with Senate confirmation) and mandates a 180-day report detailing plans to recruit and retain diplomatic staff for Pacific Island posts. It directly affects U.S. diplomatic operations in the Pacific and aims to strengthen engagement with PIF member nations, including the Freely Associated States.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends key labor laws to strengthen worker protections and clarify union election processes. It requires employers to provide voter lists for union elections with only one employee-chosen contact detail (like email or phone), mandates secret ballot elections for union representation, and restricts union dues from funding non-representational activities without written employee consent for at least 35 days. The bill also clarifies joint employment standards, making it harder for companies to avoid responsibility for workers' pay and conditions, and adds tribal sovereignty protections to labor law definitions. These changes directly affect employers, unions, and employees in collective bargaining contexts.

Maddy summarySRES 161 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April 22-30, 2023, as "National Park Week." It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but formally recognizes the National Park System's significance. The resolution highlights the parks' historical value, visitor impact (312 million visits in 2022), and economic contributions ($42.5 billion in 2021). It encourages public engagement with national parks but contains no funding, regulatory changes, or policy mechanisms. As a procedural resolution, it serves purely to honor the parks' legacy.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1184 requires the U.S. Comptroller General to study sister city partnerships between American local governments (like cities or counties) and foreign communities from countries scoring 45 or lower on Transparency International’s 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index. The study will examine partnership criteria, activities, transparency of contracts, economic risks, and potential security concerns like foreign espionage or coercion. It will assess how these partnerships affect freedom of expression, U.S. economic security, and whether they enable foreign malign activities. The Comptroller General must submit findings and recommendations to Congress within six months.