Sen. Kevin Cramer

Maddy summaryThis symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 69) designates February 18-25, 2023, as "National FFA Week" to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the National FFA Organization. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing future agricultural leaders through its educational programs, which serve over 850,000 students across all 50 states and territories. The resolution has no legal effect - it is a ceremonial expression of support, not a policy change. It directly affects the FFA organization and its members by highlighting their educational mission during a designated week.

Maddy summaryS 428, the FIND Act, requires federal contractors and first-tier subcontractors to certify they do not discriminate against firearm industry businesses (including manufacturers, dealers, and ammunition sellers) in their policies or practices. It mandates that contractors avoid refusing services or imposing restrictions based on bias against the firearm industry rather than objective business criteria like financial risk or legal compliance. Contracts violating this requirement face termination and potential debarment, though the rule excludes sole-source contracts. The law applies to all new federal contracts awarded after its enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax relief to new car dealers who sold inventory due to supply chain disruptions between March 2020 and January 2022. It allows dealers using the LIFO tax accounting method to avoid recognizing income from those sales in the year they occurred, instead deferring tax consequences until they replace the sold vehicles. Dealers have until 2026 to repurchase similar vehicles; if they fail to fully replace the inventory within this window, they must pay back the tax plus interest. The relief directly affects new car dealers who held LIFO inventory during the specified period and are subject to IRS tax rules.

Maddy summaryS 444 requires the U.S. Senate to approve any World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic preparedness treaty before it becomes binding on the United States. The bill mandates that agreements resulting from the WHO’s pandemic treaty negotiations (currently led by the International Negotiating Body) must be treated as treaties under the U.S. Constitution, requiring Senate ratification with a two-thirds vote. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by ensuring congressional oversight of international pandemic agreements. The bill responds to concerns about WHO’s pandemic management and aims to prevent executive agreements from bypassing Senate review.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal research program to improve the identification and remediation of abandoned oil and gas wells. It requires the Secretary to create a program within 120 days to develop better technologies for locating wells (using LiDAR, sensors, etc.), understand methane emissions from different well types, and improve plugging methods - including low-carbon materials and repurposing wells for geothermal energy or carbon storage. The program will receive $30-35 million annually from 2023-2027, with coordination involving universities, national labs, and private industry. This directly affects federal and state environmental agencies and communities near abandoned wells by addressing methane leaks and groundwater risks through research, not immediate cleanup.

Maddy summaryThis bill ends the federal requirement for foreign travelers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination when flying to the U.S. or entering through land borders with Canada. It specifically repeals CDC and DHS orders that mandated vaccination proof for air travelers and land border crossings (including ferries). The bill prohibits federal funding for enforcing these requirements and states they "shall have no force or effect" upon enactment. It directly affects international travelers entering the U.S. by air or land, removing a specific health-related travel barrier.

Maddy summaryS 438, the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act, modifies the Natural Gas Act to create an expedited process for approving natural gas exports to most countries. It directly affects U.S. natural gas exporters and foreign buyers in nations not subject to U.S. sanctions or national security designations. Key provisions include adding "any other nation not excluded" to export definitions, establishing a faster approval pathway (with no order required for Canada/Mexico), and requiring exclusions for nations under U.S. sanctions or designated by the President/Congress for security reasons. The bill aims to simplify export approvals but maintains restrictions for specific countries.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the IRS from requiring financial institutions to report new types of account activity, such as deposits, withdrawals, balances, or transaction details. It directly affects banks and other financial institutions that might otherwise be mandated to share this data. The law blocks any new reporting requirements but allows existing programs (in place when the bill passes) to continue. It does not change current IRS data collection practices under existing laws. The bill aims to limit the scope of financial data the government can access from financial institutions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 63) is a symbolic Senate measure formally celebrating Black History Month. It acknowledges the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history and society, recognizes the origins of Black History Month (beginning as Negro History Week in 1926), and encourages nationwide reflection on this history. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal Senate acknowledgment of the significance of Black History Month in February. It aims to honor the legacy of African American pioneers and promote learning about their impact on the nation.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic Senate resolution designates March 3, 2023, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to honor the value of speech and debate programs in schools. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but encourages educational institutions, businesses, and communities to recognize these programs. The resolution highlights how speech and debate education develops communication, critical thinking, and civic skills in students. It formally affirms the importance of these programs without imposing any requirements or funding changes.