Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill changes school lunch rules to allow schools to serve whole milk as part of the National School Lunch Program. It amends the law to explicitly include "whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free" milks as acceptable options. Crucially, it clarifies that milk fat in fluid milk provided under this rule will not count toward the meal's saturated fat limit for compliance purposes. This directly affects school nutrition programs nationwide by expanding milk choices and simplifying meal planning around fat content.

Maddy summaryS 1907, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023, increases penalties for crimes committed against licensed firearm businesses. It amends federal law to impose a maximum 20-year prison term for knowingly violating firearm licensing rules or attempting to do so. If a burglary or robbery occurs on a licensed dealer’s, manufacturer’s, or importer’s business premises, the law mandates minimum sentences of 3 years for burglary and 5 years for robbery. This bill directly affects federal firearms licensees by strengthening criminal penalties for attacks on their business locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to oppose any increase in the Chinese renminbi's weight within the IMF's currency basket (used to value Special Drawing Rights), unless China meets four specific conditions. These conditions require China to comply with IMF rules, not have recently manipulated its currency (per U.S. trade laws), implement policies for the renminbi to be "freely usable," and adhere to international debt and export credit standards. The U.S. position on this issue would remain in effect for 10 years from enactment. The bill directly affects U.S. voting at the IMF and China's potential inclusion in the IMF's currency basket.

Maddy summarySRES 242 is a Senate resolution commending the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on the 90th anniversary of the 1933 TVA Act. It recognizes the TVA’s historic role in improving river navigation, controlling floods, providing affordable electricity, and promoting economic development across seven states (Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia). The resolution honors the TVA’s mission since its founding during the Great Depression and requests that a copy be delivered to its leadership for display. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryS 1843 (End Child Trafficking Now Act) requires adults (18+) entering the U.S. with minors under 18 to prove a family relationship through documents or a witness, with DNA testing as a last resort if proof is insufficient. If an adult refuses DNA testing or fails to provide valid proof, they may be denied entry and the minor treated as an unaccompanied child. The bill also creates a new federal crime ("recycling of minors") for adults who repeatedly use a minor they aren’t related to for illegal entry, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This directly affects adults traveling with minors, immigration officers, and law enforcement handling entry-related trafficking cases.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of DIPG Awareness Day. DIPG refers to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a terminal childhood brain cancer.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 226) designates May 20, 2023, as "Kids to Parks Day" to promote outdoor recreation for children. It recognizes the annual event's goals of encouraging families to visit public parks, fostering appreciation for nature, and supporting healthy, active lifestyles for young people. The resolution has no binding requirements or new policies - it is a symbolic observance sponsored by Senators Wyden, Hyde-Smith, Daines, Capito, Collins, Hirono, Booker, and Heinrich.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax reporting rules for third-party settlement organizations (like payment processors) by raising the threshold for mandatory reporting. It exempts transactions where either the amount per transaction is under $10,000 or the total number of transactions in a year is under 50. This directly affects payment processors handling numerous small-value transactions, reducing their administrative burden. The change applies to transactions settled after December 31, 2022, and aims to simplify compliance with IRS reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 18) disapproves a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have expanded the "public charge" standard for immigration. The rule, published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2022, aimed to deny visas or green cards to immigrants who might rely on public benefits like housing or food assistance. By passing this resolution, Congress blocks the rule from taking effect, meaning immigrants applying for visas or permanent residency would not face this specific eligibility barrier. The resolution directly affects non-citizens seeking to enter or remain in the U.S. under immigration processes.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Tax Certainty Act permanently extends the 20% tax deduction for qualified business income (QBI), which currently applies to owners of pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The bill achieves this by amending the tax code to remove an expiration date (via striking subsection (i) of Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code). This change directly affects small business owners who rely on the QBI deduction to reduce their taxable income. The key provision eliminates uncertainty about the deduction’s future, ensuring continued eligibility without requiring future legislative action.