Sen. Roger F. Wicker

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grant programs to expand education and training for health professionals in palliative care and hospice services. It establishes requirements for training programs to emphasize interprofessional team-based care, patient and family engagement, and addressing gaps in care for individuals with serious or life-threatening illnesses. The bill prioritizes programs serving rural areas, medically underserved populations, pediatric patients, and racial/ethnic minorities, and authorizes $15 million annually for 2024-2028 to support these initiatives. It also includes provisions for disseminating palliative care information to patients, families, and health professionals through federal agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal compensation program for poultry farmers whose operations are restricted in "control areas" designated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) due to animal health threats. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to pay affected farmers an amount calculated as their average income from the five most recent flocks multiplied by the number of flocks they were prohibited from raising during the control period. Compensation is capped to avoid double payments - covering only the difference between the calculated amount and any existing state or other compensation received. Payments must be issued within 60 days of a farmer’s request, and farmers who already received compensation for destroyed animals under existing law are excluded.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 36) seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule (88 Fed. Reg. 12842, March 1, 2023) that would have removed religious exemption provisions from the Equal Opportunity Clause requirements for federal contractors. If approved, it would prevent the rule from taking effect, meaning federal contractors would continue to be required to comply with the Equal Opportunity Clause without the religious exemption previously allowed. The bill directly affects federal contractors subject to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) regulations. It is a procedural disapproval measure under Title 5, U.S. Code, not a new policy change.

Maddy summarySJRES 11 is a joint resolution seeking to cancel an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that set new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses. The rule, published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2023, would have required manufacturers to meet specific pollution control measures for new vehicles. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under the Congressional Review Act to nullify the EPA rule, meaning it would have no legal effect if enacted. If passed, the EPA's emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles would be voided, removing requirements for manufacturers to comply with those specific pollution controls.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 280) designates May 2023 as National Foster Care Month to raise public awareness about challenges faced by children in foster care. It encourages Congress to develop policies improving outcomes for these children, without specifying new laws or funding. The resolution highlights issues like educational instability, lengthy stays in care, and the need for family reunification support, but does not create binding requirements. It focuses on recognition - honoring foster parents, youth resilience, and child welfare workers - rather than enacting policy changes. As a procedural resolution, it serves as a symbolic call to action, not a legislative measure with concrete policy effects.

Maddy summarySRES 267 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating June 18-24, 2023, as "National Women’s Sports Week." It celebrates the anniversary of Title IX (enacted June 23, 1972), which prohibits sex discrimination in education and athletics. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but encourages observing the week through events honoring female athletes, coaches, and the expansion of women’s sports opportunities since Title IX’s passage. It has no direct impact on legislation or funding.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 272) commemorates the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24, 2022, *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization* decision, which overturned *Roe v. Wade*. It expresses the Senate's support for the Court's ruling that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion and affirms the return of abortion regulation authority to state legislatures. The resolution celebrates the decision as a step toward protecting "unborn life" and commits to supporting families and "proclaiming the humanity of the unborn." As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any individuals directly.

Maddy summaryS 2210, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, requires the President to submit a detailed report to Congress before terminating, waiving, or significantly altering U.S. sanctions on Iran. Congress then has 30 days (or 60 days during summer months) to review the proposal through committee hearings and decide whether to approve or disapprove it via joint resolution. During this review period, the President cannot implement the sanction change without Congressional approval. The bill directly affects the executive branch's ability to modify Iran sanctions policy and gives Congress formal oversight authority over major foreign policy shifts related to Iran.

Maddy summaryS 2172, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2023, modifies federal tax law to exclude loan repayments received by dental school faculty from taxable income. It directly affects dental school faculty participating in federal or state loan repayment programs funded under section 748(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act. The key provision amends the Internal Revenue Code to create this tax exclusion for repayments under such programs, while requiring a GAO report to track whether participants remain full-time faculty in dental schools or affiliated clinics after receiving funds. This change aims to reduce financial barriers for dental educators without altering program eligibility or funding levels.

Maddy summaryS 2118, the "Real Emergencies Act," prohibits the President from declaring national emergencies, major disasters, or public health emergencies based on climate change. It specifically blocks the use of climate change as a justification under three key laws: the National Emergencies Act, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, and the Public Health Service Act. The bill does not affect past emergency declarations but restricts future declarations where climate change is cited as the primary reason. This directly impacts the executive branch's authority to invoke emergency powers for climate-related events.