Sen. Mike Braun

American Financial Markets Integrity and Security Act This bill generally prohibits investments in sanctioned entities, certain Chinese military companies, and entities reasonably believed to be involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. These entities may not sell securities to U.S. markets. Investment companies, insurance companies, and retirement plans are prohibited from investing in these entities. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to enter into or renew a contract with these entities. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence—in addition to the Department of Defense as under current law—are allowed to add entities to the list of Chinese military companies. Additionally, the Office of Commercial and Economic Analysis of the Air Force must (1) report on the strategic importance to the Chinese government of inflows of U.S. dollars to China through capital markets, and (2) make recommendations to mitigate any related national security and economic risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 123) modifies IRS reporting requirements for third-party payment networks. It sets new thresholds requiring reporting only for transactions exceeding $20,000 in total value or 200 individual transactions, reducing reporting burdens for smaller payments. The bill directly affects payment processors (like PayPal or credit card companies) that handle transactions for businesses. Additionally, it rescinds unobligated IRS enforcement and operations funds from prior legislation, effective upon enactment. The key policy change simplifies reporting obligations for lower-volume transactions while reducing specific IRS funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes the voluntary Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program permanent, allowing employers to self-audit wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and pay back wages to affected employees. It directly affects private-sector employers and government entities that inadvertently violate FLSA minimum wage or overtime rules, as well as employees owed unpaid wages. Key provisions require employers to submit detailed self-audit reports, correct violations, and pay owed wages, while employees can accept a settlement (waiving future lawsuits) or decline it to pursue claims themselves. The program aims to resolve wage disputes faster than traditional enforcement, with the Department of Labor overseeing settlements and ensuring employers act in "good faith" without prior FLSA violations.

Maddy summaryThe Educational Choice for Children Act creates tax credits for individuals and corporations that contribute to scholarship organizations providing educational scholarships. Individuals can claim a credit up to 10% of their adjusted gross income or $5,000, while corporations can claim up to 5% of taxable income. Scholarships are available to students in households earning no more than 300% of the area median income and can be used for public or private school expenses, including religious schools. The bill establishes a $10 billion annual cap on total contributions with funds allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and requires scholarship organizations to verify student income and distribute scholarships to multiple students. It also prohibits government control over scholarship organizations and schools, ensuring maximum freedom for these organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the FDA from approving new abortion drugs and restricts existing approved drugs to in-person administration by certified healthcare providers. It requires providers to be certified in pregnancy assessment, ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, and emergency care capabilities, and mandates that drugs can only be dispensed in clinics, offices, or hospitals. The bill also imposes new reporting requirements for adverse events (like hospitalizations or severe infections) and requires providers to document risks to patients before prescribing. These provisions apply to all drugs defined as "abortion drugs" under the bill, which includes any substance intended to terminate pregnancy (excluding specific medical exceptions).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal funding for gain-of-function research on certain viruses. It directly affects universities and research institutions that conduct such research, banning new federal grants for them. The law defines gain-of-function research as work that could make influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses more dangerous or contagious in any organism. Federal agencies must stop awarding new grants to institutions performing this specific type of research.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. government to prioritize payments for Social Security benefits, military pay, veterans' benefits, Medicare, and debt held by the public if the national debt reaches its legal limit. It mandates that the Treasury automatically increase the debt ceiling by the amount needed to cover these priority payments during any two-week period where revenue would otherwise fall short. The law directly affects Social Security recipients, active-duty military personnel, veterans, Medicare beneficiaries, and holders of U.S. Treasury debt. Key provisions include automatic debt limit adjustments based on revenue projections and holding excess funds for future payment periods. The bill aims to prevent default on these critical obligations without requiring new congressional action during debt limit crises.

Maddy summarySRES 14 is a procedural resolution amending a Senate rule to align terminology with how the House of Representatives handles budget-related communications. It updates references from "Senator" to "Member of Congress" and adds "message from the House of Representatives" to requirements for identifying spending items in budget documents. This change ensures Senate committees consistently treat House amendments and messages as equivalent to Senate amendments when processing budget-related items. The resolution affects only internal Senate procedural rules, not substantive policy or constituent impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funds from covering abortions in most circumstances, including health benefits plans, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or when a pregnancy endangers a woman's life. It specifically bars the use of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for health plans that cover abortion, requiring insurers to disclose abortion coverage details separately in marketing materials. The law applies to all federal health programs and ACA marketplace plans, ensuring taxpayer dollars aren't used for abortion services or coverage. It does not affect private insurance plans purchased with non-federal funds or separate abortion coverage options.

Maddy summaryThe EPIC Act (S 87) ends future retirement coverage for Members of Congress under two federal retirement systems: the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System. Effective upon enactment, Members would no longer have government contributions or payroll deductions for retirement after that date, though all retirement benefits earned before enactment remain preserved. Current Members covered by these systems may opt to remain in them by notifying their pay office within 90 days. The bill does not affect participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, and the Vice President is excluded from these changes.