Sen. Kevin Cramer

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to immediately revert to the previous mortgage pricing structure (effective April 30, 2023) by eliminating the "recalibrated" fee system for single-family mortgages. It directly affects lenders and borrowers by banning fees based on debt-to-income ratios and mandating that future fee adjustments must align with risk-based pricing principles. The bill also mandates a 14-month GAO study to analyze the previous pricing changes' methodology, economic impacts on borrowers and lenders, and effects on affordable housing. This reverses recent FHFA policy changes without altering the underlying regulatory framework for mortgage enterprises.

Maddy summaryThe Driving for Opportunity Act of 2023 (S 2313) provides federal grants to states that repeal laws allowing driver’s license suspensions for unpaid civil or criminal fines and fees (e.g., traffic tickets, child support). It directly affects millions of people - particularly in rural areas without public transit - who face license suspensions for non-driving-related debt, trapping them in poverty by blocking access to jobs and essential services. The bill’s key mechanism is funding states to reinstate licenses and vehicle registrations suspended for these reasons, with requirements to maximize eligibility, assist those in transportation-limited areas, and report on program outcomes. States must first repeal such suspension laws to qualify for grants, which cover costs of reinstatement and must be reported on annually. The law aims to reduce a widespread "poverty trap" while redirecting law enforcement resources from non-safety-related suspensions.

Maddy summaryThe Ensuring Sound Guidance Act requires investment advisors and retirement plan fiduciaries to prioritize financial factors (like risk and return) in investment decisions, unless clients or participants provide written consent to consider non-financial goals such as environmental or social objectives. If non-financial factors are used, advisors must disclose expected and actual financial impacts over a three-year period. The bill also mandates three studies: one on state/local pension plans potentially subordinating financial interests to non-financial goals, one on climate change disclosures in municipal bonds, and one on rules preventing payments to officials for municipal securities business. These studies aim to assess financial risks and regulatory effectiveness without advocating for specific outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a provision in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to change how military separation information is shared with veterans' organizations. It requires service members separating from the military to actively choose to opt-out of having their contact information shared with state veterans agencies, rather than having to explicitly opt-in to prevent sharing. The key change reverses the default: information will no longer be automatically transmitted unless the service member indicates they want to opt-out under the new provision. This directly affects veterans separating from active duty service. The bill focuses on clarifying privacy options for service members regarding their personal information.

Maddy summaryThe SAVES Act creates a new Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that train and provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, capped at $2 million per organization, require nonprofits to be accredited by groups like Assistance Dogs International, offer specific training and aftercare for veterans and dogs, and ensure equal access for women veterans. Eligible veterans must be enrolled in VA healthcare and have disabilities including blindness, mobility issues, PTSD, or military sexual trauma. The program requires annual evaluations of grant effectiveness and is funded with $10 million yearly from 2024 through 2028. It specifically defines "service dogs" as those trained for disability-related tasks, excluding emotional support animals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 3-year pilot program allowing enrolled veterans to choose any provider within the VA's "covered care system" (including VA facilities and contracted providers) for hospital, medical, and extended care - regardless of their local Veterans Integrated Service Network. It removes previous restrictions requiring veterans to first seek care at their local VA facility or prove non-VA care isn't "feasibly available." Veterans must select a primary care provider to coordinate their care, with specialty and mental health providers also chosen freely. After the pilot, the program's rules become permanent, requiring the VA to offer this choice universally without prior location or availability barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to certify improvements to its electronic health record system (EHR) before expanding its implementation. Specifically, the VA cannot start new EHR program activities or implement the system at new facilities until it provides written certification to Congress that: (1) the system meets minimum uptime/stability standards, and (2) workflow customization issues are resolved. The VA must also certify that staff and infrastructure at each facility are ready for the EHR, with this requirement ending once certification is achieved across all facility complexity levels. Additionally, the VA must submit detailed reports to Congress within 30 days and quarterly thereafter on system stability, readiness standards, and deviations from national workflow guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 5-year pilot program at five VA medical centers to reduce veteran suicides through structured training. It requires VA staff at these sites to complete a 10-week curriculum based on the Zero Suicide Institute's model, focusing on suicide screening, safety planning, treatment protocols, and data collection. The program directly affects veterans receiving care at the selected VA facilities and their healthcare providers, who must implement standardized suicide care practices. Annual reports will track progress on key metrics like suicide risk screenings, safety planning, and outcomes compared to non-participating VA centers.

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 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.