Sen. Jerry Moran

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - 223 women who served as Army Signal Corps telephone operators in WWI. They connected 26 million calls in France, worked 12-hour shifts under combat conditions, and were denied veteran benefits for 60 years despite wearing uniforms and facing combat hazards. The medal recognizes their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and the decades-long struggle for recognition as soldiers. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and place it in the Smithsonian for public display at institutions like the National WWI Museum.

Maddy summarySRES 851 is a Senate resolution designating November 2, 2024, as National Bison Day. It encourages the American public to observe the day with ceremonies and activities to recognize bison's cultural, historical, and economic significance. The resolution highlights bison's role in Indigenous traditions, conservation efforts, and U.S. heritage, as detailed in its preamble. It does not create legal obligations but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of bison's importance.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 853) is a symbolic Senate expression of support for designating September 20 as National Service Dog Day. It does not create new laws or policies but encourages public awareness about service dogs' role in assisting veterans and individuals with disabilities. The resolution asks the President to issue a proclamation urging Americans to learn about service dogs' history and benefits, and to support organizations that provide them free of charge. It directly affects no individuals or entities through binding requirements, serving only as a non-binding recognition gesture.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the military to provide each service member with a standardized "competency record" upon separation or retirement. The record details their specific training, certifications, dates, and qualifications - replacing vague service records with clear, employer-friendly documentation. The Secretary of Defense must create a uniform format within one year and report to Congress on implementation and employer feedback within two years. It directly affects transitioning service members seeking civilian jobs by making their military skills easier for employers to understand.

Maddy summarySRES 839 is a Senate resolution designating September 2024 as "National Student Parent Month." It expresses the Senate's support for student parents - individuals attending college while caring for children - and recognizes their contributions to higher education. The resolution does not create new policies or funding but formally acknowledges the challenges they face, such as balancing education, work, and caregiving responsibilities. It aims to raise awareness about this group, who make up roughly 1 in 5 postsecondary students (nearly 4 million people).

Maddy summaryThe Empowering Main Street in America Act of 2024 would make it easier for small businesses and startups to access capital by expanding securities exemptions and revising investor rules. It increases the revenue threshold for "emerging growth companies" from $1 billion to $2 billion (adjusted for inflation), maintains a $500,000 micro-offering cap with inflation adjustments, and creates new pathways for retail investors to qualify as accredited investors through education-based certification. The bill also requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to publish detailed economic data on capital markets and consider costs and benefits when creating new regulations. These changes would directly affect small businesses seeking funding, investors, and the SEC's regulatory approach to capital markets.

Maddy summaryThe Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2024 would require federal agencies to submit detailed reports to Congress before implementing new regulations, including cost-benefit analyses, economic impact assessments, and information about how the public can access the supporting data. Major regulations (those with significant economic effects) would need congressional approval through a joint resolution within 70 legislative days, while nonmajor regulations would follow a simpler disapproval process. The bill would also require agencies to publish all guidance documents online and create a regulatory budget system to track regulatory costs. This would increase transparency in the regulatory process and give Congress more formal oversight over federal regulations. The bill would affect all federal agencies that issue regulations and would require them to comply with these new review procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grants to help homeowners build or add secondary living spaces (accessory dwelling units, or ADUs) to existing single-family homes. It directly affects homeowners with properties at least 25 years old, requiring them to live in the main home or an ADU for 5 years (or until death) and limiting household income to 150% of local median income. Grants cover up to 50% of an ADU's cost, capped at $100,000 (adjusted for inflation), with a total $200 million in funding authorized. The bill prohibits using funds for property purchases, political activities, or short-term leases under six months.

Maddy summaryThe Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023 requires the Department of Defense to establish a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Education within one year of enactment. This agreement will automatically count military service time (beginning October 1, 2007) for current and former active-duty service members and military civilian employees toward the public service loan forgiveness program under the Higher Education Act. It eliminates the need for these individuals to submit separate documentation to have their service periods verified. As a result, eligible military personnel can more easily qualify for student loan forgiveness without additional administrative steps.

Maddy summarySRES 818 is a Senate resolution celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly known as the GI Bill). The resolution honors the historical impact of the GI Bill, which provided World War II veterans with educational benefits, home loans, and healthcare, leading to expanded higher education access and economic growth. It does not create new legal requirements or benefits but symbolically recognizes this milestone and encourages public reflection on the Act’s role in shaping the U.S. middle class.