Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Defense to provide temporary housing for military members and their dependents who wait more than 10 days for on-base housing after a permanent move. The temporary housing must match the family's size and cost no more than the member's standard housing allowance. Within 180 days of enactment, the Department must submit a detailed report to Congress on waitlist numbers, wait durations, contributing factors, and reasons for waits exceeding 10 days. It directly affects service members and families facing extended housing wait times during relocations. The bill focuses on setting a clear timeline for temporary housing and creating transparency through mandatory reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all flags of the United States displayed on federal property or procured by federal agencies to be 100% made in the United States, defined as manufactured entirely from U.S.-produced materials. It directly affects federal agencies, including military departments and legislative/judicial branches, by prohibiting the use of federal funds for foreign-made flags and mandating U.S. manufacturing for display and procurement. The law applies to flags displayed on federal property starting two years after enactment and for flag procurement 90 days after enactment. Additionally, the bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to study country-of-origin labeling enforcement for flags and submit recommendations within one year.

Maddy summaryThe Counting Veterans' Cancer Act of 2023 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to share cancer diagnosis data for veterans with state cancer registries that are part of federal programs like the CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's SEER Program. This addresses the underreporting of veterans' cancer cases (approximately 26,500 unreported in 2017) by ensuring VA medical data is included in national cancer statistics. The bill mandates that the VA share data without requiring separate agreements with each state and directs the CDC to help state registries share veteran cancer diagnosis data with the VA. The goal is to create a more complete national cancer dataset for public health research and planning, without changing veterans' healthcare benefits or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every U.S. military installation with privatized housing to have a dedicated military tenant advocate employed by the military department. It directly affects service members and their families living in privatized military housing by establishing standardized support. Key provisions include mandating uniform training for advocates on tenant rights, dispute resolution, and housing laws, plus public outreach to inform residents about advocate roles. The bill also prohibits preferential hiring for advocates from housing providers or management offices to ensure impartiality.

Maddy summaryS 1975, the Discharge Review Board Accountability Act of 2023, requires the Comptroller General to study how military discharge review boards implement "liberal consideration" for veterans seeking discharge upgrades. The study will assess whether boards follow guidance from the 2017 Kurta memorandum and 2014 Hagel memorandum, examine data on cases referencing these policies, and identify barriers to proper implementation. It mandates a report to Congress within 180 days of the bill's enactment, focusing on compliance with existing rules rather than changing discharge procedures. This bill does not alter military discharge policies but aims to evaluate current practices affecting veterans seeking upgraded discharges.

Maddy summaryThe Veterans' COLA Act of 2023 increases compensation rates for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for survivors of certain disabled veterans, effective December 1, 2023. These increases will be calculated using the same percentage as the Social Security Act's cost-of-living adjustment for that year. The bill affects veterans receiving disability compensation under section 1114 of Title 38, as well as survivors receiving dependency and indemnity compensation under sections 1311, 1313, and 1314. Specific provisions include adjustments to wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowances, and survivor benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs will publish the adjusted rates in the Federal Register by the date required for Social Security Act adjustments.

Maddy summaryS 305 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins (gold, silver, and half-dollar denominations) to mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($5 to $35 per coin) that will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with proceeds paid directly to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The coins will be sold from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and the surcharge structure ensures no net cost to taxpayers by covering production expenses through sales. This bill directly affects the U.S. Mint (in coin production), the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (as recipient of funds), and the public (as potential buyers).

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day to highlight naloxone's role in reversing opioid overdoses. It recognizes that opioid overdoses caused over 79,770 U.S. deaths in 2022 and emphasizes naloxone as a life-saving medication that can prevent fatalities when administered promptly. The resolution encourages public education about naloxone use and urges federal, state, and local entities to expand access and distribution efforts. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness about overdose prevention.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to exclude certain payments received by property owners from state-run disaster mitigation programs from taxable income. It directly affects homeowners who receive funds from state or state-regulated programs to make property improvements (like reinforcing roofs or fire-resistant landscaping) specifically designed to reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. The key provision creates a new tax exclusion for "qualified catastrophe mitigation payments" made for these sole purposes, meaning such payments won't be counted as income. The change applies to taxable years beginning after 2020, with an option for retroactive tax filings to claim the exclusion.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the income limit for deducting mortgage insurance premiums on federal income taxes. It increases the cap from $100,000 (or $50,000 for married filing separately) to $200,000 (or $100,000), making the higher limit permanent. The change directly affects middle-income homeowners who pay mortgage insurance and itemize deductions. The provision applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, and modifies Internal Revenue Code Section 163(h)(3)(E).