Sen. John Kennedy

Maddy summaryS. RES. 810 is a Senate resolution supporting the designation of September 11-17, 2024, as "Patriot Week." It encourages schools, government agencies, and the public to observe the week by studying U.S. history, founding documents, and symbols while honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks. The resolution emphasizes that understanding the nation's foundational principles is essential for preserving the United States as a free society. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create legal requirements or obligations.

Maddy summarySRES 800 is a symbolic Senate resolution introduced on August 1, 2024, by a bipartisan group of senators. It condemns the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally and honors three individuals affected: Corey D. Comperatore (who died shielding his family), David Dutch (critically injured), and James Copenhaver (critically injured). The resolution calls for national unity and civility following the violent incident. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but expresses the Senate's stance on the event.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 802) designates August 2024 as "National Catfish Month" to recognize the U.S. catfish industry. It highlights the industry's economic impact - supporting nearly 10,000 jobs and generating over $1.9 billion in annual output - and emphasizes that U.S. farm-raised catfish is the largest domestic seafood product by weight. The resolution also acknowledges workers in the industry and the sustainability of U.S. catfish production. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect but serves to honor the industry's contributions.

Maddy summarySJRES 104 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule that established new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars (for model years 2027 and beyond) and heavy-duty trucks (for model years 2030 and beyond). The rule, published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2024, would have required automakers to meet stricter emissions targets. If passed, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving current fuel economy standards. Introduced by multiple senators on July 30, 2024, it follows the congressional review process under Title 5, U.S. Code.

Maddy summaryThe NFIP Extension Act of 2024 extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2025, preventing its expiration. It updates funding deadlines and program expiration dates in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 from 2023 to 2025. This directly affects homeowners, businesses, and communities in flood-prone areas who rely on NFIP policies for coverage. The bill maintains the existing program structure without changing eligibility or benefits. If enacted after September 30, 2024, the extension applies retroactively to that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires lenders using the Uniform Residential Loan Application to add a specific disclaimer below the military service question: "If yes, you may qualify for a VA Home Loan. Consult your lender regarding eligibility." It directly affects military service members and veterans applying for home loans, aiming to increase awareness of VA loan eligibility. The bill mandates this change within six months of enactment and requires a GAO study within 18 months to assess whether at least 80% of lenders include the disclaimer on the form.

Maddy summarySRES 765 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma following his death on July 9, 2024. The resolution commemorates his 28-year Senate service (1994-2023) and 52 years in public office, highlighting his work on defense policy, aviation legislation, infrastructure projects, and support for military bases in Oklahoma. This procedural resolution expresses the Senate's condolences and formally recognizes his legacy, rather than enacting any policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 100) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that sets new air pollution standards for specific chemical manufacturing industries. It directly targets the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Group I & II Polymers and Resins Industry by requesting Congress disapprove the EPA's rule published in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 42932, May 16, 2024). The resolution uses a statutory process (under chapter 8 of title 5, U.S. Code) to formally reject the rule, which would prevent it from taking effect. If passed, the EPA rule establishing emission limits for hazardous air pollutants and new source performance standards would have no legal force. This is a procedural disapproval effort, not a new environmental policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 4597 (FDIC Discrimination Relief Act of 2024), helps current and former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) employees who faced discrimination between 2015 and 2023. It removes the requirement to first use internal administrative processes before filing a lawsuit and extends the deadline for filing claims related to discrimination under key laws (like the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination Act, and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act) to one year after the bill’s enactment. Employees can now pursue civil lawsuits or administrative remedies within 180 days of enactment, with the lawsuit deadline paused during administrative proceedings. The bill ensures the U.S. government cannot claim immunity in these cases and allows for attorney fees for successful plaintiffs.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain foreign workers in seafood processing from annual visa caps under the H-2B program. It specifically applies to aliens working as fish roe processors, fish roe technicians, supervisors of fish roe processing, or general fish processors. The exemption removes numerical limits for these roles, defined as handling, preparing, freezing, or manufacturing fish (including roe, finfish, mollusks, and crustaceans) but excluding harvesting, transport, or retail work. The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to create this specific visa exemption for the seafood processing industry.