Sen. Jerry Moran

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to support veterans pursuing careers in agriculture. It authorizes $5 million annually (2025-2029) for competitive grants to eligible entities like land-grant universities, state agriculture departments, nonprofits, and community organizations. These grants fund training, classroom education, curriculum development, workshops, and field experiences focused on farm and ranch business management for veterans. Recipients must provide a 1:1 match of non-federal funds, and the program specifically targets helping veterans gain skills to start or expand farming operations.

Maddy summarySRES 697 is a commemorative resolution designating the week of May 12-18, 2024, as "National Police Week" in the U.S. Senate. It aligns with the 1962 law authorizing the President to designate this week, honoring law enforcement officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty. The resolution expresses support for officers, recognizes their service in protecting communities, and encourages public observance to honor their mission and sacrifices. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it is purely ceremonial.

Maddy summarySRES 694 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating May 2024 as "Renewable Fuels Month." It expresses support for recognizing renewable fuels' role in reducing carbon emissions, lowering consumer fuel prices, supporting rural economies, and decreasing reliance on foreign energy sources. The resolution highlights existing benefits of renewable fuels (like ethanol and biodiesel) based on economic data and environmental impact statistics, but does not create new policy or funding. As a symbolic gesture, it has no direct legal effect or impact on affected communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 83) seeks to block a rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that redefined who qualifies as a "dealer in firearms" under federal law. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2024, would have changed how the ATF identifies and regulates firearm sellers. If passed, the resolution would make the rule invalid, preventing it from taking effect and leaving current dealer regulations unchanged. This directly affects firearm dealers (particularly small businesses and hobbyists) and the ATF’s enforcement authority under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 692) designates May 7, 2024, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day to raise public attention about the dangers of counterfeit fentanyl pills. It highlights alarming statistics, including that illicit fentanyl was involved in 81% of drug-induced deaths among youth aged 14-23 in 2023 and that only 36% of teens were aware of fentanyl in fake pills. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but urges increased awareness and supports law enforcement efforts against counterfeit pills. It directly aims to educate families and young people about the risks of fake pills marketed as legitimate medications.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates rules for rural emergency hospitals (REHs) under Medicare. It requires REHs to maintain specific specialized units (like psychiatric, rehab, or obstetric units) and adds a 5% payment increase for diagnostic lab tests starting in 2025 to cover higher costs. The bill also allows facilities converting to REH status to later revert to critical access hospital status while retaining necessary provider status and deems REHs as health professional shortage areas for staffing purposes. These changes directly affect rural hospitals seeking or operating as REHs, improving their eligibility, funding, and service capabilities.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 682) condemns the Biden Administration's decision to pause specific weapons shipments to Israel, including 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, as reported on May 7, 2024. It demands the administration immediately resume military aid to Israel to support its defense against threats from Hamas and Iran. The resolution reaffirms the U.S. historical commitment to providing military assistance to Israel, citing over $158 billion in aid since World War II. As a symbolic Senate resolution, it does not change policy but formally opposes the pause in weapons transfers.

Maddy summaryThe MOMS Act establishes a federal website called "pregnancy.gov" that will provide a searchable directory of resources for pregnant and postpartum women, including medical care, housing assistance, nutrition support, and parenting services, with features to locate resources by ZIP code and language preference. It creates a grant program to fund nonprofit organizations that help women carry pregnancies to term and provide services like adoption referrals, mental health support, and childcare assistance, while prohibiting funding for abortion-related services or organizations that provide or support abortions. The bill also amends child support laws to allow enforcement of support obligations for unborn children, beginning from the month of conception with the mother's consent, and requires that all resources listed on the website comply with specific criteria excluding certain organizations. The website must be available in multiple languages and will include user feedback mechanisms to identify resource gaps in communities. This legislation aims to improve access to prenatal and postnatal care, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas, through these coordinated resource and support systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. government to strengthen enforcement of existing sanctions against Iran by targeting Chinese entities involved in evading oil sanctions. It mandates a 120-day strategy report detailing how China’s oil refining, transportation, and storage networks enable Iran’s oil smuggling, including specific assessments of Chinese refineries and smuggling patterns. The bill also directs the President to impose new sanctions within 180 days on Chinese companies and individuals facilitating Iran’s oil trade, expanding current sanctions to cover storage, shipping, and refining operations. The focus is on disrupting the flow of Iranian oil revenue that funds Iran’s government and its proxies, directly affecting Chinese oil companies and their supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes sanctions on foreign entities that knowingly facilitate Iranian petroleum trade. It targets foreign port owners, vessel operators, refineries, and related individuals (including family members or entities owned by them) involved in transactions with Iranian oil, such as docking vessels carrying Iranian crude or conducting sea-to-sea transfers of petroleum products. Sanctions include banning sanctioned vessels from U.S. ports for up to two years, blocking U.S. assets of targeted entities, and denying visas to involved individuals. The bill also requires a detailed report on Iranian petroleum exports within 120 days, analyzing export volumes, revenue, and key participants.