Sen. Mike Braun

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals with a "seriously delinquent tax debt" from working for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It directly affects current IRS employees and job applicants who owe significant unpaid taxes, defined as debts with a filed lien that aren't being paid under an agreement or under dispute. The bill requires the IRS Commissioner to verify annually that all current employees and check applicants before hiring to ensure they don't have such tax debts. Key provisions mandate these verifications and direct the Office of Personnel Management to create necessary regulations for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands whistleblower protections for employees and contractors working with federal agencies, particularly those involved in Department of Defense (DoD) or NASA contracts, as well as all federal contractors. It broadens the definition of "protected individuals" to include state/local governments, tribal entities, and personal services contractors, while explicitly prohibiting waivers of these rights through employment agreements or arbitration clauses. Key provisions allow whistleblowers to report gross mismanagement, waste, safety risks, or violations of law without fear of retaliation, and establish legal defenses against lawsuits targeting protected disclosures. The law applies to disclosures related to federal contracts, grants, or subgrants, ensuring protections for those reporting issues that affect public funds or safety.

Maddy summaryS 4770 prohibits federal agencies from entering contracts with companies that boycott Israel after January 1, 2024. It requires companies bidding on contracts over $100,000 for services or information technology to certify they are not boycotting Israel, and mandates that contracts include a prohibition on boycotts during their term. If a company violates this, agencies must notify them within 30 days and terminate the contract 30 days later unless the boycott ends. This directly affects businesses with federal contracts exceeding $100,000 for services or IT, with no impact on individual contractors or smaller contracts.

Maddy summaryS 4781, the PACE Anytime Act, allows individuals eligible for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to enroll in a PACE program at any time during a month, rather than being restricted to specific enrollment periods. This change applies to all PACE participants, with states required to opt-in to permit enrollment anytime for dual-eligible beneficiaries (those covered by both Medicare and Medicaid). The bill also requires prorated payments for PACE providers when enrollment begins mid-month, ensuring payments align with the actual enrollment period. The law takes effect January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses Congress's view that Operation Legend (a 2020 federal-local law enforcement initiative) successfully reduced violent crime in cities like Chicago, Kansas City, and Memphis. It cites claims of over 6,000 arrests, 2,600+ seized firearms, and a 6-month deployment of federal agents to 10 major cities during the 2020 crime surge. The resolution recommends future presidential administrations adopt similar policies, including deploying federal agents to high-crime cities and providing grant funding for local law enforcement to hire officers, impose stricter sentences for repeat offenders, and use bail reforms to keep dangerous individuals from re-entering communities. It does not create new law but urges consideration of this approach amid ongoing crime spikes in cities like Kansas City (185 homicides in 2023) and Chicago (11.5% violent crime rise).

Maddy summarySRES 768 is a Senate resolution passed on July 24, 2024, that congratulates the University of Notre Dame men's lacrosse team for winning the 2024 NCAA Division I National Championship. The resolution specifically recognizes their victory over Maryland on May 27, 2024, marking their second consecutive title and the first back-to-back championship for the team since 2019 and 2021. It directs the Senate to transmit a copy to the university's former president, head coach, and athletics director as a formal acknowledgment of the team's achievement.

Maddy summaryS 4727 (SOPRA) amends federal law to change how courts review agency actions. It requires federal courts to decide all legal questions about agency rules and interpretations "de novo" (from scratch), rather than giving deference to agency explanations. This directly affects courts, federal agencies, and individuals or groups challenging agency regulations in court. The key provision mandates that courts must re-examine all agency interpretations of statutes, rules, and guidance documents without relying on prior agency views. The bill does not alter agency powers but changes the judicial review process for legal challenges.

Maddy summaryS 1258, the "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2023," requires federal agencies to report annually on large-scale projects that are either significantly delayed or over budget. It applies to covered agencies (executive departments and independent regulatory agencies) and defines "covered projects" as those exceeding $1 billion over original cost estimates or being more than five years behind schedule. The bill mandates detailed reports including project descriptions, cost adjustments, schedule changes, explanations for delays or cost overruns, and details on contractor awards. This legislation focuses solely on transparency requirements for existing projects meeting specific criteria, without altering funding or project execution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires lenders using the Uniform Residential Loan Application to add a specific disclaimer below the military service question: "If yes, you may qualify for a VA Home Loan. Consult your lender regarding eligibility." It directly affects military service members and veterans applying for home loans, aiming to increase awareness of VA loan eligibility. The bill mandates this change within six months of enactment and requires a GAO study within 18 months to assess whether at least 80% of lenders include the disclaimer on the form.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2023 targets "product hopping" by pharmaceutical manufacturers, which occurs when companies discontinue an original drug to make way for a follow-on product and prevent competition from cheaper generics or biosimilars. The bill prohibits two types of anti-competitive conduct: "hard switches" (discontinuing a drug or withdrawing approval) and "soft switches" (taking actions to disadvantage the original drug relative to a follow-on product). It gives the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules, including seeking remedies like disgorgement of profits from anti-competitive behavior. This legislation directly affects drug manufacturers, particularly those producing reference drugs and follow-on products, with the goal of increasing competition in the pharmaceutical market and lowering prescription costs.