Sen. Mike Braun

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to declassify specific information about the origin of COVID-19 within 90 days of enactment. It mandates the release of details including research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, activities involving the People’s Liberation Army, and medical records of researchers who fell ill in autumn 2019. The bill directs the Director to submit an unclassified report to Congress containing this information, with only minimal redactions for security reasons. It directly affects the Director of National Intelligence and the public by requiring transparency about potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the pandemic’s origins. The legislation is procedural in nature, focusing on declassification rather than new policy measures.

Maddy summaryS 864, the TASK Act, requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to mandate reporting by publicly traded U.S. companies with operations in China. It directly affects these companies by requiring them to disclose: (1) supply chain sourcing linked to products imported from Xinjiang using forced labor; (2) transactions with companies on U.S. government blacklists (like the Commerce Department’s Entity List or Treasury’s Chinese Military-Industrial Complex list); and (3) annual details about whether Chinese Communist Party committees operate in their Chinese facilities and the committee’s role in business decisions. The bill creates specific, annual disclosure obligations focused on supply chain transparency and foreign ownership ties. This policy change shifts reporting requirements to address specific supply chain and foreign entity risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies U.S. tax code to boost research and development (R&D) investment by businesses. It allows companies to immediately deduct R&D costs (instead of amortizing them over 5 years) and expands refundable tax credits for small businesses, raising the annual credit cap from $250,000 to $750,000 by 2032. Small businesses with gross receipts under $15 million can now qualify for higher credit rates (up to 20% of R&D costs) and may exclude years with no R&D expenses when calculating credits. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 2022, directly benefiting R&D-focused startups and small businesses.

Maddy summaryS 852, the STOP CCP Act of 2023, bans U.S. investors (including citizens, residents, and U.S.-based entities) from buying or selling stocks in Chinese companies operating in defense or surveillance technology sectors. It requires the Treasury Secretary to expand the existing sanctions list to include companies supporting China's military-industrial complex and their successors or affiliates. The bill also mandates that if sanctions apply under one law, they must apply under all relevant laws unless the President specifically waives them and reports the reason to Congress within 20 days. This law directly affects U.S. investors and financial institutions managing portfolios containing securities of targeted Chinese entities.

Maddy summaryS 854, the SAFE Act, requires companies listing securities on U.S. exchanges to disclose specific ties to the Chinese government. It directly affects issuers seeking initial listings or filing annual reports, mandating them to report: (1) any Chinese government financial support (like subsidies or tax benefits), (2) conditions attached to that support (such as export requirements), (3) Chinese Communist Party committees within the company, and (4) officers/directors with Chinese government ties. The Securities and Exchange Commission must implement these rules within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. The law aims to increase transparency about foreign government influence on U.S.-listed companies.

Maddy summaryS 875 prohibits federal funding for individuals or entities that have agreements, partnerships, or advertising relationships with social media companies headquartered in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or Venezuela. It directly affects organizations receiving federal funds (like schools, nonprofits, or local governments) that do business with platforms from these countries. The law blocks funding if the social media company meets specific criteria, such as having over 1 million monthly active users and enabling user-generated content sharing. Exceptions include platforms focused solely on product reviews or emergency alerts. This bill imposes a concrete funding restriction based on the country of origin of the social media company involved.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 20) seeks to block a 2023 rule from the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that classified certain firearms with stabilizing braces as rifles under federal law. If passed, it would nullify the rule, meaning firearms equipped with these braces would no longer be subject to the rule’s classification requirements. The resolution uses the congressional disapproval process under Title 5, U.S. Code, to stop the rule from taking effect, directly affecting firearm manufacturers and owners who use stabilizing braces on weapons.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget within ten years of ratification, meaning total spending (excluding debt payments) must equal total revenue (excluding borrowing). It allows temporary budget deficits during emergencies with a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress, but mandates prompt repayment of any resulting debt. If ratified, this would fundamentally change federal budgeting rules, affecting all future government spending and revenue decisions. The amendment applies broadly to the federal government, not specific groups or programs.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 110) honoring the late James George Abourezk, the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. Senate (1973-1979) from South Dakota. It commemorates his legacy, including his work re-establishing the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and co-authoring key Native American rights legislation like the Indian Child Welfare Act. The resolution directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and send a copy to his family, acknowledging his service as a representative and advocate for Native American communities. As a procedural resolution, it has no legislative effect beyond commemoration.

Maddy summarySRES 107 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), proposed by Congress in March 1972, expired when its 7-year ratification deadline passed without enough states approving it. It affirms that Congress has no constitutional authority to alter the terms of a proposed amendment after it is submitted to states or after it expires. The resolution cites legal precedents, including Supreme Court rulings and a 2020 Department of Justice opinion, stating that ratification deadlines are binding and cannot be extended retroactively. It concludes that any future effort to adopt the ERA would require a new congressional proposal, not modifications to the 1972 version. This resolution does not change current law or affect ongoing state ratification efforts for a new ERA proposal.