Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin

Maddy summarySRES 838 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating November 17, 2024, as "National Warrior Call Day." It aims to raise awareness about veteran and military member mental health by emphasizing the importance of peer-to-peer connections during transition from service. The resolution cites statistics showing high veteran suicide rates (33.9 per 100,000 in 2021) and encourages all Americans to reach out to veterans or active-duty personnel for support. It does not create new laws or funding but urges public engagement through "making a warrior call" to prevent isolation. This resolution directly affects public awareness and voluntary actions, not specific individuals or programs.

Maddy summarySRES 840 designates the week of September 15-21, 2024, as "Telehealth Awareness Week" to recognize telehealth's role in expanding healthcare access, especially for rural and underserved communities. The resolution urges efforts to raise public awareness about telehealth benefits, highlight resources for providers and patients, and promote continued access to telehealth services across diverse settings. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic Senate statement supporting existing telehealth practices. The resolution references Medicare data showing widespread telehealth use and satisfaction among beneficiaries. This procedural resolution was introduced by Senators Schatz, Wicker, Cardin, Thune, Warner, and Hyde-Smith.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 833) calls for multi-stakeholder action to counter disinformation, propaganda, and misinformation in Latin America and the Caribbean. It urges social media companies to improve detection of Spanish-language disinformation, expand partnerships with local fact-checkers, and boost digital literacy efforts, while also encouraging governments in the region to strengthen media independence and coordinate regional responses. The resolution specifically highlights threats from foreign actors like China, Russia, and Venezuela, and requests U.S. agencies to increase support for independent media and information integrity initiatives in the region.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 835) is a symbolic Senate statement recognizing the Quad - a partnership between the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan - and welcoming their upcoming Leaders Summit in September 2024. It highlights the Quad’s work on maritime security, pandemic response (including delivering 400 million vaccines), infrastructure development, and technology cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region, while affirming the group’s role in supporting a rules-based international order.

Maddy summaryThe BRIDGE Act establishes a "Russians in Exile Affairs Unit" to support Russian and Belarusian individuals who have fled persecution for pro-democracy activities. It authorizes $40 million annually from 2025-2028 to fund independent media and civil society organizations providing reliable information to Russian-speaking populations. The bill includes provisions to help these individuals with travel documents, banking access, and communication challenges, while also creating mechanisms to recognize expired Russian and Belarusian passports. It codifies certain sanctions against the Russian Federation and aims to facilitate engagement with pro-democracy activists outside Russia who face credible threats of persecution.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies existing U.S. sanctions against specific Russian entities into law, maintaining current restrictions imposed under nine executive orders (e.g., those targeting Russian aggression in Ukraine, energy pipelines, and harmful foreign activities). It directly affects Russian individuals and organizations listed under these orders, requiring ongoing sanctions unless terminated by the President. Key mechanisms include requiring presidential certification to Congress for termination (based on verified cessation of harmful activities) and establishing clear exceptions for agricultural goods, medicine, medical devices, and humanitarian aid. The bill ensures sanctions remain in effect without needing new executive actions, while preserving exemptions for essential humanitarian and international obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park to honor Julius Rosenwald (a Jewish immigrant who built Sears, Roebuck and Co. and funded educational initiatives) and the Rosenwald Schools. It designates specific sites for preservation, including the San Domingo School in Sharptown, Maryland, and a Chicago headquarters at the former Sears complex, to interpret Rosenwald’s legacy and the schools’ impact on African-American education. The park will connect remaining Rosenwald Schools through a National Network administered by the National Park Service, using cooperative agreements with states and local entities for preservation and public education. The law directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a management plan and establish interpretive programs at these sites.

Maddy summarySRES 828 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the chamber’s position that every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It highlights that abortion restrictions in emergencies force providers to choose between treating patients or risking criminal charges, disproportionately harming Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. The resolution specifically notes that such bans create dangerous uncertainty for life-threatening conditions like severe hemorrhage, sepsis, or placenta previa. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new law or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryThe Caesar Act 2.0 (S 5095) expands U.S. sanctions against individuals and entities supporting the Assad regime in Syria by adding new activities to the sanctions list, including diversion of humanitarian aid and seizure of property. It requires annual reports on sanctions implementation, creates an interagency strategy to counter normalization of relations with the Assad regime, and includes provisions for humanitarian assistance to areas of Syria not controlled by the regime. The bill also addresses Captagon trafficking and mandates briefings on efforts to secure the release of American hostages held in Syria. These provisions directly affect foreign entities, governments, and individuals engaging with or supporting the Assad regime, as well as U.S. agencies responsible for sanctions and humanitarian aid.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 2024 as "National Voting Rights Month" to highlight historical and ongoing voting rights issues in the U.S. It encourages all Americans to support voting access and urges Congress to pass specific voting rights legislation, including the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act. The resolution also recommends that schools teach about voting history, voter suppression, and current voting restrictions. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new laws but aims to raise awareness about voting rights challenges.