Sen. Josh Hawley

Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.

Maddy summaryS 3624, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, restricts U.S. federal funding for organizations that perform, promote, or support abortions internationally. It prohibits federal funds from being provided to foreign or domestic groups (including NGOs and multilateral organizations) that conduct abortion services, provide related counseling or referrals, develop abortion tools, or financially support such activities. The bill also blocks funding for groups that fail to maintain strict separation between abortion-related work and other programs receiving U.S. aid. This directly affects foreign aid recipients and domestic organizations administering international programs that involve abortion-related services.

Maddy summaryThe Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2024 clarifies that states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy centers and similar life-affirming programs that provide services like counseling, parenting classes, baby supplies, and referrals to health or housing resources - without offering or referring for abortions. It directly affects pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes currently receiving TANF funding in states such as Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, and Ohio. The bill amends federal law to explicitly permit TANF funding for these programs and prohibits the federal government from discriminating against them or imposing unwarranted requirements. It also establishes legal remedies, including lawsuits for damages, if the government violates these provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Pregnancy Center Support Act of 2024 would create a federal tax credit for individuals and businesses donating to qualifying pregnancy centers, covering 50% of contributions up to $10,000 per person ($20,000 for joint returns). To qualify, centers must be tax-exempt non-profits (501(c)(3)) that provide free services like counseling, medical support, and material aid to pregnant women without performing or promoting abortions. The credit aims to reduce the tax burden on donors supporting centers that help women choose childbirth over abortion through services such as prenatal care, housing assistance, and adoption referrals. This bill directly affects donors and pregnancy centers meeting these specific criteria, with the credit applying to donations made after the law’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts health savings account (HSA) and similar account reimbursements for abortions, except in specific cases. It amends tax code provisions to exclude most abortion expenses from qualified HSA distributions, Archer MSAs, health flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and retiree health accounts. Exceptions allow reimbursement for abortions resulting from rape or incest, or when a physician certifies the pregnancy poses a life-threatening physical condition to the woman. The changes apply to expenses incurred after December 31, 2024. The bill directly affects individuals using these tax-advantaged health accounts seeking abortion coverage.

Maddy summaryS 3604, the Safeguarding Charity Act, clarifies that tax exemptions under IRS Section 501(c) or 401(a) do not count as "Federal financial assistance" for regulatory purposes. The bill amends U.S. Code to explicitly exclude tax-exempt status from definitions of federal assistance in all federal laws, rules, or regulations. This directly affects tax-exempt charities and nonprofits that rely on IRS 501(c) status, ensuring their tax exemptions are not treated as government funding when applying federal programs or requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the federal tax code to exclude abortion costs from medical expense deductions. It prevents taxpayers from deducting abortion expenses on their federal income tax returns, directly affecting individuals who pay for abortions. The bill includes exceptions for abortions needed to save a woman's life (due to pregnancy-related conditions), or in cases of rape or incest, as certified by a physician. The policy change applies to taxable years starting after the bill's enactment. This alters how abortion expenses are treated for tax purposes but does not affect access to abortion services.

Maddy summarySRES 524 is a non-binding Senate resolution congratulating the University of Missouri Tigers football team for winning the 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. It recognizes their 11-2 season record, 8th-place national ranking, and specific achievements like Cody Schrader winning the Burlsworth Trophy. The resolution directs the Senate to send a copy to the University of Missouri chancellor, athletic director, and head coach Eliah Drinkwitz. This is purely ceremonial and does not create any legal obligations or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe Mandatory Removal Proceedings Act (S 3587) requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately start removal proceedings for non-citizens whose visas are revoked due to security concerns. It removes the previous discretion of the Secretary to decide whether to proceed, mandating automatic removal when a visa revocation occurs under specific security grounds outlined in immigration law. This policy directly affects foreign nationals with visas revoked on security-related grounds, such as those posing threats to national security. The bill changes the procedural step after visa revocation without altering the grounds for revocation itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. arbitration law to explicitly include human trafficking disputes in the scope of cases eligible for arbitration. It defines "human trafficking dispute" to cover cases involving conduct prohibited under federal law (Title 18 Chapter 77) or state/tribal anti-trafficking laws. The bill updates two key sections (401 and 402) of the U.S. Code to add "human trafficking dispute" alongside existing categories like sexual assault and harassment disputes. This change directly affects victims of human trafficking who might pursue arbitration for related civil claims. The amendment ensures these cases are treated consistently with other covered disputes under federal arbitration procedures.