Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto

Maddy summarySRES 435 is a Senate resolution designating October 30 through November 4, 2023, as "National Veterans Small Business Week." It formally recognizes the contributions of veterans who own small businesses, highlighting their role in the economy (over 1.7 million veteran-owned businesses employing 2.9 million people). The resolution expresses support for veterans' entrepreneurship, encourages policies reducing regulatory burdens for small businesses, and thanks veterans for their service through business ownership. This is a symbolic recognition with no new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryS 3144, the Protecting Survivors from Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect data on brain injuries caused by domestic or sexual violence. The bill mandates HHS, through the CDC, to gather this data via existing surveys for at least two years, focusing on prevalence, circumstances, and privacy protection. It directs HHS to submit a report within three years analyzing the data and outlining steps to increase awareness, improve services, and address this public health issue. This law directly affects survivors of domestic and sexual violence by aiming to improve understanding and resource allocation for brain injuries resulting from such violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Labor to submit annual reports to Congress detailing violations of child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The reports must include specific data on violations - such as the number of cases, industries involved, ages and genders of affected child workers (defined as under 18), penalties assessed, and criminal prosecutions. It directly affects children working in violation of labor standards and aims to improve transparency in enforcement. The reports will help Congress monitor trends and inform future policy on child labor accountability.

This resolution recognizes October 2023 as National Women's Small Business Month, honoring the role of women small business owners and entrepreneurs and encouraging the support and creation of women-owned small businesses.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsperson within the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor facilities housing immigrant children, investigate claims of abuse or neglect, and advocate for children's best interests. The bill requires detailed monthly data collection on children in custody, including facility locations, length of stay, and demographics, to be made publicly available. It mandates legal representation for unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings, improves access to post-release services, and requires home studies before releasing children to sponsors. The bill directly affects unaccompanied immigrant children in federal custody, the Department of Health and Human Services, and facilities housing these children, while also establishing new standards for facility compliance and preventing family separation.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes several key changes to land management in Southern Nevada. It expands the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area from 48,438 to 57,728 acres and creates a right-of-way for the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build water pipelines and related infrastructure. The bill also designates approximately 736,188 acres as the Southern Paiute Wilderness, withdrawing it from public land laws, mining, and mineral leasing while preserving certain activities like wildfire management. Additionally, it clarifies military activities at the Nevada Test and Training Range and amends land transfer processes for Clark County, the City of North Las Vegas, and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows real estate appraisers licensed in one state to work on federal property transactions nationwide, rather than requiring separate state licenses for each location. It directly affects covered appraisers (state-licensed/certified professionals) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), which must use these appraisers for federal property valuations. The DOI must report annually for four years on processing times, workforce staffing, and the impact of the new licensing flexibility, using quantitative data comparing pre- and post-enactment performance. The bill does not change state licensing rules for non-federal transactions but streamlines federal appraisal processes.

Maddy summaryS 3104 establishes at least two Joint Operations Centers along the U.S. southern border within six months to improve coordination between federal agencies (like DHS, Defense, and Justice) and state, local, and tribal law enforcement. These centers will facilitate communication and joint operations targeting transnational criminal organizations, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal border crossings, and related security threats. The bill requires the centers to track personnel deployment, coordinate training, and share information across all participating agencies. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must submit annual reports to Congress detailing the centers' operations, resources used, and identified communication gaps.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Schools Improvement Act (S 3105) requires states receiving federal education funding to mandate public elementary and secondary schools to adopt comprehensive anti-bullying policies. These policies must prohibit bullying based on protected characteristics like race, gender identity, disability, or religion, include annual parent/student notices, establish complaint procedures, and collect anonymized data on incidents. Schools must publicly report annual data on bullying frequency at the school and district levels. The law also requires states to submit biennial reports on implementation and triggers a federal evaluation to assess the policy's impact on reducing bullying. It explicitly states the law supplements, but does not replace, existing civil rights protections like Title IX.

Maddy summaryS. RES. 420 designates Betty K. Koed as Historian Emerita of the U.S. Senate, effective October 21, 2023, honoring her 25-year career as the Senate's first female Historian (serving from 2015-2023 after roles as Assistant and Associate Historian). The resolution recognizes her work preserving Senate archives, producing historical publications, and supporting educational programs about Senate history. It is a ceremonial honor with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or constituents.