Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 427) calls on Congress, schools, and state/local educational agencies to acknowledge dyslexia's significant impact on learning and to address it. It designates October 2023 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month" to promote recognition of dyslexia as a common learning disability affecting reading, spelling, and language processing. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but urges educational institutions to prioritize early screening and evidence-based interventions for students with dyslexia. It references the First Step Act's federal definition of dyslexia and emphasizes the need for early support to help affected individuals succeed.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 49 seeks congressional disapproval of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that would have established a new standard for determining when two or more companies are considered "joint employers" under labor law. The rule, published in October 2023, would have affected businesses with complex employment structures, such as franchisors and contractors, by altering how joint employer liability is assessed for wage, hour, and union representation matters. If passed, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving the previous standard for joint employer determinations. The bill was introduced by Senators Cassidy, Manchin, Braun, McConnell, Marshall, Cramer, Capito, and Paul and referred to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 458) is a symbolic expression of Senate concern, not a binding law. It denounces China's economic and political engagement in Latin America, citing its growing trade ties, infrastructure investments, debt financing, and media activities. The resolution urges increased U.S. investment and diplomatic engagement in the region while condemning Chinese state media operations and supporting countries that maintain ties with Taiwan. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups directly but reflects the Senate’s position on U.S. strategic interests in Latin America.

Maddy summarySRES 408 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning Hamas for its October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,400 Israelis and abducted nearly 200 hostages. The resolution demands Hamas immediately release all hostages, provide medical care, and cease using them as human shields, while calling on the U.S. to lead global efforts for their safe return. It specifically references Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities, the Nova music festival, and the execution of civilians, citing international law violations. As a symbolic resolution (not a law), it does not impose legal requirements or directly affect any individuals or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Chief Resilience Officer in the Executive Office of the President to coordinate federal climate adaptation and resilience efforts across government agencies. It establishes a Partners Council with representation from state and local governments, tribal nations, Freely Associated States, non-profits, and the private sector to advise on improving federal support for community resilience. The bill requires a National Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and Implementation Plan within two years, along with an Adaptation and Resilience Clearinghouse to improve access to climate adaptation resources. The law mandates regular assessments of federal resilience efforts and has a sunset provision ending its requirements by September 30, 2033.

Maddy summaryS 3254, the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2023, expands eligibility for tax-advantaged health accounts to include parents of the account holder or their spouse. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals using Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs), and Archer MSAs to cover medical expenses for their parents, not just spouses. This change applies to expenses incurred after December 31, 2023, directly affecting caregivers who use these accounts to pay for their parents' medical costs. The policy modifies existing tax rules without creating new government programs or altering benefit amounts.

Maddy summaryThe PRINTS Act requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to collect fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 if they suspect trafficking during entry into the United States. It criminalizes using a minor (not a relative or guardian) to gain entry, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill also mandates sharing fingerprints of unaccompanied children with Health and Human Services and requires monthly public reporting on child trafficking apprehensions. These provisions aim to improve trafficking identification and enforcement through standardized data collection and criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the federal government to establish national benchmarks for drug prices paid to non-retail specialty pharmacies (such as mail-order or specialized handling pharmacies) under Medicaid. It mandates monthly surveys of these pharmacies' actual drug acquisition costs - separately by pharmacy type (e.g., mail-order vs. special handling) and affiliation with pharmacy benefit managers - to create accurate payment rates. States must require all applicable non-retail pharmacies to participate in these surveys, with public reporting of response rates, sampling data, and price concessions. The bill prohibits states from using this survey data to set reimbursement rates for retail pharmacies and allocates $5 million for the Inspector General to study pricing variations and potential conflicts in pharmacy networks.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates U.S. customs manifest rules to require more detailed public disclosure of cargo information while strengthening privacy protections. It mandates that publicly available manifests include the country of origin, country of last transit, and tariff classification for all cargo, and requires shipping companies to remove personal data like Social Security numbers, addresses, and passport details before disclosure. The bill also adds a new checkbox to indicate whether shipments are destined for private individuals or businesses. These changes directly affect shipping companies, customs officials, and individuals whose personal information may appear on cargo manifests.

Maddy summaryThe Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act creates 40,000 new employment-based immigrant visas for healthcare workers by recapturing unused visas from fiscal years 1992-2021, with 25,000 reserved for professional nurses and 15,000 for physicians. These visas are exempt from country caps and issued based on priority date, but must be applied for within three years of the bill’s enactment and only for applicants not already eligible under existing visa allocations. The bill also requires employers to attest that hiring foreign workers won’t displace U.S. workers and mandates expedited processing for these applications without additional fees. This policy directly affects nurses and physicians seeking to immigrate for healthcare roles in the U.S., along with their eligible family members.