Sen. Mike Braun

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal financial regulators (like the Federal Reserve or SEC) to analyze how new rules would affect food, electricity, and fuel prices before implementing them. Specifically, it mandates that regulators provide detailed, multi-year price impact estimates - broken down by Consumer Price Index categories - when proposing rules affecting agricultural or energy supply chain businesses. Regulators cannot adopt such rules if the analysis shows price increases, unless the annual Consumer Price Index growth is below 4.5%. The law directly affects businesses in food/energy supply chains and the federal agencies that write financial regulations.

Maddy summaryThe Build the Wall Now Act (S 422) requires the immediate resumption of border barrier construction along the U.S.-Mexico border that was underway or planned before January 20, 2021, prohibiting cancellation of existing contracts and directing use of previously appropriated funds for this purpose. The bill mandates honoring agreements with states, local governments, and tribes related to border barrier construction and amends existing law to change definitions of border barriers and construction requirements. It grants the Secretary of Homeland Security broad waiver authority to bypass numerous environmental, historical, and other legal requirements that would otherwise apply to border barrier construction. This legislation directly affects border communities, environmental regulations, and the Department of Homeland Security's operations along the southern border.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 7) seeks congressional disapproval of a 2023 rule defining "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS), which would have changed how federal agencies regulate wetlands and waterways. It targets a rule jointly issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and other agencies (88 Fed. Reg. 3004, Jan. 18, 2023), directly affecting landowners, developers, and environmental regulators by altering jurisdiction over water resources. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule under a specific disapproval process in Title 5 of U.S. Code, preventing it from taking effect. The resolution does not create new regulations but aims to block an existing federal rule. This is a procedural step, not a new law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring publicly traded companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions related to the production, manufacturing, or harvesting of agricultural products. It specifically blocks disclosure requirements for emissions from "upstream activities" (initial production stages) and "downstream activities" (processing, delivery, and end-use) in the agricultural supply chain. The law directly affects agricultural businesses that are publicly traded companies by exempting them from existing SEC reporting rules on certain emissions data. Key provisions define agricultural products and clarify which emissions sources are excluded from disclosure mandates. This is a procedural policy change that removes a specific reporting obligation, not a new regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish regular, science-based physical activity recommendations for the American public. Starting by December 2029, and every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary must issue reports covering general guidelines and specific advice for groups like children or people with disabilities. Federal agencies must consider these reports when developing their own physical activity guidance, though the reports themselves are non-binding for individuals. The law ensures recommendations stay updated with current research, with an initial update due by 2034.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 12) seeks congressional disapproval of the District of Columbia Council’s approval of the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-789). It directly affects D.C. residents and local government, as the resolution targets the District’s newly enacted criminal code. The mechanism is a formal congressional disapproval under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, requiring passage by both chambers to block the D.C. law from taking effect. The resolution does not alter the D.C. code itself but aims to halt its implementation through federal action.

Maddy summarySRES 45 is a non-binding Senate resolution introduced on February 9, 2023, by a group of senators expressing the Senate's view that the current migration levels at the U.S. southern border constitute a crisis. This resolution does not create new laws or policies, nor does it directly affect any individuals or groups - it serves solely as a symbolic statement of the Senate's position. It contains no concrete policy mechanisms or implementation plans, as resolutions of "sense" are typically used for expressing opinions rather than enacting change. The resolution was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but has no legal effect.

Maddy summaryThe SWAT Act of 2023 establishes a $6.5 million fund within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support research and mitigation efforts targeting the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive insect pest causing significant damage to fruit crops. This bill directly affects fruit farmers growing berries, cherries, and stone fruits (like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and plums), which have experienced up to 20% revenue losses due to the pest. The fund, administered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will provide grants for research and control activities over five fiscal years. The legislation authorizes $6.5 million annually for the first five years following enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Democracy in Design Act requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to ensure all new federal public buildings adhere to the "Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture" established in a 1962 report. It mandates the GSA to create new design regulations within 180 days of enactment, setting minimum standards for federal building aesthetics and functionality. These regulations must be developed through a standard federal process, including public notice and comment periods. The bill directly affects the GSA's design decisions for government buildings nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Medicare payment rules for outpatient surgery centers to improve quality transparency and patient affordability. It requires Medicare to publish side-by-side quality comparisons for surgery centers and hospitals on Medicare.gov, and limits patient copayments for these services to the inpatient hospital deductible amount. The bill also mandates that Medicare explain in writing why certain surgical procedures are excluded from coverage, citing specific federal criteria. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries receiving outpatient surgeries and the surgery centers providing those services.