Sen. Elissa Slotkin

Maddy summaryThis bill, officially titled the "Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act of 2024" (though nicknamed the "SWAT Act"), creates a $6.5 million fund within the USDA to address the spotted wing drosophila fruit fly pest. It directly affects fruit growers of berries, cherries, and stone fruits by funding research and mitigation efforts to combat this invasive species, which causes an estimated 20% revenue loss across targeted crops. The fund will support cooperative agreements and grants for research and pest control activities over five years (enactment year plus four subsequent years). The bill does not change existing regulations but allocates specific federal funding to address a documented agricultural threat.

This resolution supports the designation of National FFA Week. It also (1) recognizes the important role of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) in developing the next generation of globally conscious leaders who will change the world; and (2) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Give the Gift of Blue program, which has donated more than 17,000 FFA blue jackets to FFA members in need.

Maddy summaryHR 9337, the "Don’t STEAL Act," requires employers to pay employees the full wage rate specified in their employment contracts (including collective bargaining agreements) if it exceeds the minimum rate under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This directly affects workers engaged in commerce or production for commerce, ensuring they receive agreed-upon higher wages. The bill adds criminal penalties for willful wage theft, including fines and up to 5 years in prison for violations exceeding $1,000, with penalties based on severity and business size. It also directs fines collected from violations to fund the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division enforcement efforts. The law applies to unpaid wages or overtime violations occurring 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 9292 requires the Secretary of the Army to provide Congress with a detailed briefing by December 31, 2024, on the future role and structure of Army Multi-Domain Task Forces. The briefing must cover key elements including lessons from past experiments, wartime operational concepts, plans for joint storage facilities, how reserve components (like the National Guard) might support these units, and timelines for non-operational task forces with their challenges. This bill directly affects Congress (specifically the Armed Services Committees) and the Army's planning process for these military units. It mandates a specific review of operational plans without altering existing military structure or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 9293 requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to provide a briefing to congressional defense committees on challenges related to U.S. information operations. The briefing must cover concrete steps taken by the Department of Defense, in partnership with the intelligence community, to address specific issues like gaps in understanding the information environment and audience analysis. This bill directly affects the congressional defense committees and DoD officials responsible for preparing the briefing. It does not change existing law or policy but mandates a formal update on ongoing efforts to improve information operations integration across the government.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense's Chief Information Officer to provide Congress with a briefing on cloud security options for the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability program by February 1, 2025. The briefing must detail cloud-specific security applications that could be added to this military cloud system. It specifically directs the information to the Senate and House Committees on Armed Services. The bill does not create new policies or funding - it only mandates a procedural review of security measures for an existing defense technology program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to prioritize purchasing cleaning products certified as PFAS-free by the Safer Choice program or equivalent third-party certifications. It directly affects the DoD, which buys cleaning supplies for military facilities nationwide. The key mechanism mandates that the Secretary of Defense only procure such certified products "to the maximum extent practicable," shifting procurement toward verified safer alternatives. The policy change focuses on updating DoD purchasing practices without creating new product standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program for the Department of Defense to use commercial facilities for handling classified information, specifically targeting non-traditional defense contractors who face high costs and complexity in obtaining facility clearances. The program would establish shared spaces for sensitive work and standardize security protocols to professionalize protections for these facilities and the experts working with them. It directly addresses the current burden on contractors who struggle to compete for classified contracts due to lengthy clearance processes. The pilot aims to test whether these changes make it easier for non-traditional contractors to access and perform classified work.

Maddy summaryHR 9291 requires the Secretary of the Army to brief Congress by February 1, 2025, on efforts to deploy passive multi-static radar technology for mobile drone detection systems. The briefing must cover the Army’s integration plans for this technology into existing counter-drone systems, assessment of detection capability gaps, and related research activities. This bill directly affects the Army’s counter-drone program and informs Congress about progress on a specific technological capability for defending against unmanned aerial systems. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as required.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress by January 1, 2025, detailing recruitment and retention data for three existing fellowship programs: the McCain Strategic Defense Fellows Program, the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF), and the Boren Fellowship. The report must include specific metrics like the number of fellows entering each program, how many were hired into DOD after their fellowship, promotion paths available, demographic details of participants, and career development opportunities. It focuses on transparency around how these programs connect fellows to civilian careers in national security roles. The bill itself does not create new programs or change existing fellowship terms, but mandates oversight of current initiatives.