Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 30, 2023, as a National Day of Remembrance for workers in the U.S. nuclear weapons program, including uranium miners, millers, haulers, plutonium processors, and participants in atmospheric nuclear tests. It honors these workers for their contributions and the health risks they faced while supporting national defense. The resolution encourages the public to participate in ceremonies and activities on that date to recognize their service. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new policies or funding but continues a series of Senate resolutions honoring these workers dating back to 2009.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allows health insurers and employers to reduce paperwork by shifting from automatically sending annual health insurance statements to individuals to a request-based system. Instead of mailing statements to everyone, these entities must simply provide clear notice that individuals can request a copy. If requested, they must send the statement by January 31 of the following year or 30 days after the request, whichever is later. The change directly affects insurers and employers required to report health coverage under IRS rules, reducing their administrative burden for 2024 and beyond.
Maddy summaryThe Puerto Rico Status Act (S 3231) establishes a process for Puerto Rico to determine its political status through a plebiscite on November 2, 2025, offering residents three options: independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood. If no option receives a majority in the initial vote, a runoff election will be held on March 8, 2026. The bill outlines detailed transition mechanisms for each potential status, including constitutional conventions, changes to citizenship and immigration laws, and continued federal benefits during a transition period. It requires bilingual voter education materials, establishes oversight for the voting process, and specifies how federal laws would change under each status option. The bill directly affects Puerto Rico's residents, the U.S. federal government, and Puerto Rico's government as it would transition to a new political status.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal pay rules to clarify how premium pay (extra pay for hazardous work) counts toward annual pay limits for wildland firefighters. It specifically affects federal employees with the Forest Service, Department of the Interior, or National Weather Service who perform wildfire suppression work, including incident meteorologists and incident management team members. The key provision disregards certain premium pay from calculations when applying the annual pay cap for federal employees, preventing firefighters from exceeding the Executive Schedule Level II pay limit through hazard pay. The bill also requires agencies to report on hiring needs for these roles by March 2024 to ensure sufficient staffing without triggering pay cap limitations.
Maddy summaryThe Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023 establishes the Iran Sanctions Enforcement Fund, initially funded with $150 million, to cover expenses related to seizures and forfeitures of property connected to sanctions violations by Iran or its designated proxies like Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The fund will pay for law enforcement costs including investigations, detention, equipment, and rewards for informants, with priority given to seizing oil and petroleum products that fund terrorist activities. The bill also creates an Export Enforcement Coordination Center within Homeland Security to better coordinate federal agencies' efforts on sanctions enforcement. Annual reports to Congress will detail fund usage, seizures, and financial status, with the fund required to repay the Treasury $150 million by 2034 unless waived for national security reasons.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthi group in Yemen) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment, reversing a 2021 Biden administration decision that removed the designation. It mandates the President to impose existing sanctions under two executive orders: blocking assets of designated terrorists (E.O. 13224) and restricting travel for Yemeni nationals linked to terrorism (E.O. 13780). The sanctions directly target Ansarallah, its members, agents, affiliates, and any foreign entities owned or controlled by the group. This would restrict U.S. financial transactions with the Houthis and their networks, while also affecting Yemeni nationals subject to travel bans under the applicable sanctions.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 437) condemns antisemitism on U.S. college campuses following heightened incidents after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, directly affecting Jewish students, faculty, and staff who face fear and intimidation. It urges university leaders - including presidents, deans, and administrators - to publicly oppose speech that incites violence against people based on religion, national origin, or ancestry. The resolution encourages schools to collaborate with Jewish student groups and ensure Jewish members can study and work without fear. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it expresses official condemnation and recommends actions for institutions, not new legal requirements.
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.
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 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.