Sen. Kevin Cramer

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 41) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific immigration rule issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2023, addressed "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" in immigration processing. The resolution would formally block the rule from taking effect by directing Congress to disapprove it under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This action directly affects how USCIS and immigration courts implement certain immigration pathways.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate resolution expresses the chamber's support for nuclear power as a clean, reliable energy source critical to achieving a secure, low-emission grid. It commits the Senate to promoting nuclear energy development, including establishing domestic uranium production, strengthening the nuclear supply chain, and cultivating a skilled workforce. The resolution also highlights nuclear energy as an export opportunity for U.S. manufacturing expertise. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect policy implementation.

Small Business Growth Act This bill increases from $1 million to $2.5 million the limitation on expensing of depreciable business assets. It also increases the asset threshold amount used to reduce the expensing limitation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to maintain all northern border ports of entry (between the U.S. and Canada) open for equal or more hours daily than they operated before the pandemic. It directly affects CBP operations and travelers/businesses using these ports, mandating that hours return to pre-COVID-19 levels. The key provision specifies that operating hours must match those in effect immediately before the March 2020 public health emergency declaration related to the pandemic. The bill does not change border security policies but reverses pandemic-era reductions in port availability.

Maddy summaryS 2671, the DRIVE Act, prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from requiring large trucks (over 26,000 pounds gross weight) operating in interstate commerce to install speed limiting devices. This directly affects commercial trucking companies and operators transporting goods across state lines with qualifying vehicles. The bill prevents the agency from creating a new rule mandating these devices, effectively maintaining the current regulatory status for such vehicles. The legislation focuses solely on blocking this specific requirement, without altering other safety regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2647, SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023) provides federal funding to improve stillbirth data collection, research, and education. It authorizes $5 million annually for states to collect stillbirth data using existing health records while protecting privacy, $1 million for developing standardized data collection guidelines and public educational materials, and $3 million for specialized training programs in perinatal pathology and stillbirth research. The bill directly affects state health departments, medical professionals (like obstetricians and pathologists), and families impacted by stillbirth through improved data systems and educational resources. Key provisions require standardized data reporting, consultation with affected families and healthcare providers, and mandatory reports on program progress within five years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe INDEX Act requires investment advisers managing passively managed funds (like index funds) to follow voting instructions from the fund's actual investors for non-routine corporate proposals (e.g., major mergers, governance changes). It applies when an adviser controls over 1% of a company's voting shares through such funds, mandating they distribute voting materials and wait 5 business days for instructions. Advisers may still vote freely on routine matters (e.g., board elections) or use a "mirror voting" exception for majority-approved proposals. This directly affects retail investors in index funds and the advisers managing them, ensuring investor preferences shape votes on significant corporate issues.

Maddy summaryThe Safer Supervision Act of 2023 reforms federal post-prison supervision by requiring courts to conduct individualized assessments before imposing supervision terms and considering early termination. It establishes a presumption for early termination after 50% of the supervision term (66.6% for certain offenses) if defendants demonstrate good conduct and pose no public safety risk, while requiring courts to consider offense nature, criminal history, and victim input. The bill also ensures crime victims’ rights apply in termination hearings and allows courts to appoint counsel for defendants seeking early release. Additionally, it mandates a GAO study on post-release supervision and a report on pay parity for probation officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Secretary from requiring any State, clinic, or provider to counsel or refer for abortions as a condition for receiving Title X family planning funding. It directly affects Title X-funded clinics and health centers that provide reproductive health services. The key provision explicitly adds that no entity receiving Title X funds may be compelled to offer or facilitate abortion services. This changes existing requirements by removing mandatory abortion counseling or referral as a condition for federal funding under Title X. The bill focuses on clarifying funding rules without altering other Title X program requirements.

Maddy summarySCONRES 2 is a symbolic congressional resolution commending Iranian protesters who risked their safety to demonstrate against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, particularly following the death of Mahsa Amini after her arrest by morality police for alleged hijab violations. It specifically highlights protests in over 133 cities where demonstrators, including women removing headscarves, have faced violent crackdowns, with reports of over 500 deaths and 19,000 arrests. The resolution condemns the regime's brutality, supports internet freedom tools to bypass censorship, and urges the administration to impose human rights sanctions on officials responsible for repression. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses congressional support for protesters but does not enact new laws or policies.