Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summarySRES 284 is a Senate resolution expressing support for designating June 2023 as "National Dairy Month." It recognizes the dairy industry's role in providing essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D for a healthy diet, its economic impact (supporting $793 billion in U.S. economic activity and 3.2 million jobs), and dairy producers' environmental stewardship. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the industry's contributions. It was introduced by multiple senators and refers to nutritional guidelines emphasizing dairy's health benefits.

Maddy summaryS 2244, the USDA Spending Accountability Act of 2023, requires Congress to specifically authorize any use of funds by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) under its general powers. The bill mandates that unobligated CCC funds designated for operations not specifically authorized by Congress must be transferred to the Treasury and permanently rescinded. This procedural change directly affects the CCC's ability to manage its budget, ensuring only congressionally approved activities can use its funds. It does not create new programs or alter policy for farmers or consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grant programs to expand education and training for health professionals in palliative care and hospice services. It establishes requirements for training programs to emphasize interprofessional team-based care, patient and family engagement, and addressing gaps in care for individuals with serious or life-threatening illnesses. The bill prioritizes programs serving rural areas, medically underserved populations, pediatric patients, and racial/ethnic minorities, and authorizes $15 million annually for 2024-2028 to support these initiatives. It also includes provisions for disseminating palliative care information to patients, families, and health professionals through federal agencies.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 36) seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule (88 Fed. Reg. 12842, March 1, 2023) that would have removed religious exemption provisions from the Equal Opportunity Clause requirements for federal contractors. If approved, it would prevent the rule from taking effect, meaning federal contractors would continue to be required to comply with the Equal Opportunity Clause without the religious exemption previously allowed. The bill directly affects federal contractors subject to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) regulations. It is a procedural disapproval measure under Title 5, U.S. Code, not a new policy change.

Maddy summarySJRES 11 is a joint resolution seeking to cancel an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that set new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses. The rule, published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2023, would have required manufacturers to meet specific pollution control measures for new vehicles. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under the Congressional Review Act to nullify the EPA rule, meaning it would have no legal effect if enacted. If passed, the EPA's emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles would be voided, removing requirements for manufacturers to comply with those specific pollution controls.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 272) commemorates the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24, 2022, *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization* decision, which overturned *Roe v. Wade*. It expresses the Senate's support for the Court's ruling that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion and affirms the return of abortion regulation authority to state legislatures. The resolution celebrates the decision as a step toward protecting "unborn life" and commits to supporting families and "proclaiming the humanity of the unborn." As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any individuals directly.

Maddy summaryS 2133 establishes a 4-year demonstration program testing whether Medicare-covered medically tailored home-delivered meals and nutrition therapy reduce hospital readmissions for high-risk patients. The program would select at least 20 hospitals (prioritizing rural and underserved areas) to provide, for 12 weeks to one year, meals designed by dietitians and medical nutrition therapy to Medicare beneficiaries with diet-impacted conditions like diabetes or heart failure who are at high risk of readmission. These services would be covered without patient cost-sharing (no deductibles or copays), and hospitals must screen patients using validated tools to confirm eligibility. The program will be evaluated for impacts on hospital readmissions, healthcare costs, and patient satisfaction, with reports to Congress after 3 and 6 years.

Maddy summaryS 2210, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress before terminating, waiving, or significantly altering U.S. sanctions on Iran. Congress then has 30 days (or 60 days during summer months) to review the proposal through committee hearings and decide whether to approve or disapprove it via joint resolution. During this review period, the President cannot implement the sanction change without Congressional approval. The bill directly affects the executive branch's ability to modify Iran sanctions policy and gives Congress formal oversight authority over major foreign policy shifts related to Iran.

Maddy summaryS 2118, the "Real Emergencies Act," prohibits the President from declaring national emergencies, major disasters, or public health emergencies based on climate change. It specifically blocks the use of climate change as a justification under three key laws: the National Emergencies Act, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, and the Public Health Service Act. The bill does not affect past emergency declarations but restricts future declarations where climate change is cited as the primary reason. This directly impacts the executive branch's authority to invoke emergency powers for climate-related events.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how crop insurance is structured under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. It allows farmers to have separate insurance coverage units for land used in "fallow" systems (land left unplanted) versus "continuous" systems (land planted with crops each year). Starting with the 2024 crop year, the federal crop insurance program must offer these distinct units in all counties. This directly affects farmers managing land under these different cropping practices, enabling tailored insurance coverage based on their specific farming methods.