Sen. Josh Hawley

Maddy summaryThe Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act would cap the U.S. retail price of prescription drugs and biological products at the average price in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Drug manufacturers must annually report their prices in the U.S. and these six countries, with the government calculating the average price for each drug. Manufacturers exceeding the cap would face a civil penalty of 10 times the price difference per unit sold. This bill directly affects drug manufacturers selling in the U.S. market, aiming to align U.S. drug pricing with international averages.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle for hunting and fishing on federal lands and waters managed by the Interior Department or Agriculture Department. It directly affects hunters and anglers using these public areas by preventing federal restrictions on lead products, except in limited cases. The exception allows restrictions only on specific federal sites where state wildlife data shows lead use is harming wildlife, and only if approved by the state's fish and wildlife agency. The bill requires federal agencies to explain in public notices how any exception meets these state approval and wildlife harm criteria.

Maddy summaryThe AMERICA Act (S 1073) establishes new rules for large digital advertising companies to increase transparency and competition in digital advertising markets. It prohibits companies with over $20 billion in annual digital advertising revenue from owning both a digital advertising exchange and a brokerage service, or from owning a brokerage while also being a buyer or seller of ad space. Companies with over $5 billion in annual revenue must act in their customers' best interests, provide detailed transparency about bid data and routing practices, and maintain separate business functions to avoid conflicts of interest. The bill creates private rights of action for harmed customers and requires annual certification of compliance to the Attorney General. It directly affects major digital advertising companies and their business customers who buy or sell digital advertisements.

Maddy summaryS 1134, the Creating Efficiency in Foreign Facility Inspections Act, changes how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts drug facility inspections outside the United States. It requires the FDA to generally avoid notifying foreign drug manufacturers in advance of inspections, unless required by the host country's law or needed to protect public health. The bill also limits advance notice to the minimum necessary time and requires manufacturers to waive host country advance-notice requirements if they prevent inspections. This directly affects FDA inspection practices and foreign drug manufacturers operating in countries with inspection notification laws. The changes apply to routine surveillance inspections but exclude preapproval or for-cause inspections.

Maddy summaryThe Rural Hospital Support Act (S 1110) changes how Medicare calculates payments for two types of rural hospitals: sole community hospitals (the only hospital in their area) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (which rely heavily on Medicare for revenue). It recalculates payments using a 2016 base year instead of previous periods, potentially increasing reimbursements for eligible hospitals if this results in higher payments. The bill also extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program and low-volume hospital payment increases beyond 2024, while prohibiting adjustments to these payments for years before 2015. This directly affects eligible rural hospitals by increasing their Medicare funding and providing long-term program stability.

Maddy summaryS 1076 expands the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) authority to seek specific remedies for consumer harm caused by unfair or deceptive business practices. It allows the FTC to request restitution for consumer losses, contract rescission, refunds, or return of property within a 3-year window after the violation occurs. The bill also clarifies that courts can order disgorgement of unjust profits (offset by prior restitution), while requiring the FTC to prove a reasonable consumer would have known the practice was deceptive and relied on it. These changes directly affect consumers harmed by deceptive business actions and streamline the FTC's process for seeking relief, including referrals to the Attorney General for additional damages under the Clayton Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires abortion providers to offer patients specific disposal options for fetal remains after an abortion, including taking the remains or having the provider arrange interment or cremation. Providers must obtain patient consent in writing for disposal choices and retain these records. If patients choose provider disposal, providers must arrange final disposition (interment or cremation) within 7 days, with penalties including fines up to $50,000 for documentation failures or criminal charges for non-compliance. Annual reports on procedures and disposal methods are also mandated for providers and the Secretary of Health.

Maddy summaryS 1048 designates nine specific Mexican drug cartels - including the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and Gulf Cartel - as foreign terrorist organizations under existing law (Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act). This designation would enable federal authorities to use new legal tools, such as prosecuting drug traffickers who fund these groups, freezing cartel assets, and imposing penalties on financial institutions that fail to block their funds. The bill also creates an interagency task force led by the Director of National Intelligence to coordinate intelligence, strategy, and enforcement across agencies like Homeland Security and the Treasury. This directly targets the cartels’ operations and funding streams, aiming to disrupt the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 127) condemns the March 27, 2023, shooting at Nashville's Covenant School - a Christian school - as a hate crime targeting Christians. It honors the six victims (three students and three staff members) and extends condolences to their families. The resolution also calls for unity against hate and reaffirms support for religious freedom and safety. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new laws or allocate funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals upfront origination fees for new Federal Direct student loans. It directly affects borrowers who take out these loans after March 27, 2022, by eliminating the initial fee charged when the loan is issued. The key provision removes section 455(c) of the Higher Education Act, which previously required these fees for loans under part D of title IV. The change applies to all new direct loans disbursed or consolidation applications received on or after the effective date, meaning borrowers no longer pay this specific fee.