Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Defense from using military funds to cover travel, lodging, meals, or transportation expenses related to abortions for service members or their dependents, except in cases where the pregnancy endangers the mother’s life, results from rape, or results from incest. It also terminates a 2022 Department of Defense memo that allowed access to abortion-related care and bans using medical convalescent leave or administrative absences for abortion-related travel under the same limited exceptions. The bill directly affects active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their dependents who might seek abortion care. It modifies existing travel and leave regulations under U.S. Code titles 37 and 10 to restrict these benefits, aligning with existing federal law that limits abortion funding. The policy change removes prior allowances for abortion-related travel expenses and leave under military benefits programs.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe CRP Flexibility Act of 2023 (S 2412) allows farmers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to cut hay during the primary bird nesting season under specific emergency conditions. It directly affects CRP participants in counties facing severe drought (D2 or higher on the U.S. Drought Monitor), experiencing at least 40% forage loss, or when the Secretary determines emergency use won't damage habitat. The bill amends existing rules to permit emergency haying "during or outside" the nesting season in these situations, replacing previous restrictions. This change provides flexibility for farmers to access forage during natural disasters while maintaining habitat protections.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage for obesity treatment. It allows more healthcare providers - including nurse practitioners, dietitians, and clinical psychologists - to offer intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, with requirements for coordination with primary care physicians. It also adds Medicare Part D coverage for FDA-approved medications used to treat obesity or manage weight in adults with related health conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure). These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries with obesity, aiming to improve access to proven treatment options. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on implementation progress.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends deadlines for the U.S. Department of the Interior to create regulations under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. It changes the timeline from 21 months to 35 months for one regulatory step and from 30 months to 47 months for another. These extensions directly affect federally recognized tribes and agencies implementing Title IV of the Act, which governs tribal self-governance and education funding. The change provides more time for the Interior Secretary to finalize these regulations without altering the underlying policy requirements.
Maddy summaryThe Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2023 updates and extends the 1996 law providing housing assistance to Native American tribes and communities, extending funding authorization through 2034. Key provisions include streamlining environmental review processes to give tribes more control over projects funded with multiple federal sources, expanding student housing assistance to include college housing, and creating new programs for Indian veterans and drug elimination in housing communities. The bill also increases procurement exemptions from $5,000 to $10,000 and requires reports to specific congressional committees. These changes directly affect Native American tribes, tribal housing entities, and low-income Native American residents who rely on these housing programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 461) updates eligibility rules for certain irrigation districts to access existing pumping power from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. It specifically adds districts located in a defined "test area" or within a 28,000-acre area analyzed but not developed under prior rules to the list of eligible recipients. Districts must enter into a contract with the Secretary of the Interior to receive power, subject to established terms and rates. The bill is procedural, modifying program eligibility without creating new funding or altering core program requirements.
Maddy summarySRES 269 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating July 22, 2023, as "National Day of the American Cowboy." It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but encourages the general public to observe the day through ceremonies and activities. The resolution highlights the cultural significance of cowboys, citing their embodiment of values like honesty and work ethic, their economic contributions through ranching, and their role in American traditions and media. This is a ceremonial designation with no direct policy impact or funding changes.
Maddy summaryS 535 (Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act) modifies federal permitting requirements for oil and gas drilling on lands where the federal government owns less than half the minerals. It exempts drilling permits within certain "spacing units" from federal review if the federal government owns under 50% of the minerals and doesn't control the surface land. Companies must still notify the Interior Secretary about state drilling permits within 5 days of submission and 45 days after approval. The bill does not change royalty payments owed to the federal government for production on qualifying lands.
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 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.