Sen. Sherrod Brown

Maddy summarySRES 925 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma, who died on November 23, 2024, at age 94. The resolution expresses the Senate’s sorrow at his passing, requests that his family be notified, and directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal expression of respect for a former senator’s legacy.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2024 strengthens worker and retiree protections during business bankruptcies by raising the priority for wage claims from $10,000 to $20,000, creating new claims for lost pension and retirement benefits, and requiring courts to prioritize job preservation in asset sales. The bill restricts bankrupt companies from modifying or rejecting collective bargaining agreements without meeting specific criteria, limits executive compensation upon exit from bankruptcy, and establishes mechanisms to recover excessive executive payments made before bankruptcy. It ensures severance pay is deemed earned upon layoff, prioritizes WARN Act damages, and creates new requirements for preserving retiree benefits and maintaining employee benefits during bankruptcy proceedings. The legislation focuses on ensuring bankruptcy proceedings prioritize the financial security of workers and retirees over executive compensation and other considerations.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes $500 million annually for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program during fiscal years 2027 through 2031. It directly affects the federal program responsible for cleaning up and protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem, including addressing pollution, invasive species, and habitat restoration. The key provision adds a specific, multi-year funding level to the existing law, ensuring consistent financial support for ongoing restoration projects in the Great Lakes region.

Maddy summaryThe Mark Our Place Act allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide or replace a headstone, marker, or medallion at the grave of any Medal of Honor recipient, regardless of when they served in the military. It removes a previous restriction requiring the recipient’s service dates to fall within specific time periods. This change expands eligibility for government-furnished grave markers to all Medal of Honor recipients, including those whose service ended long ago. The bill directly affects Medal of Honor recipients and their families by ensuring access to this symbolic honor without time-based limitations.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 902) honoring the late Senator Timothy Peter Johnson of South Dakota, who died after a long career in public service. The resolution expresses the Senate's "profound sorrow" over his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to share the resolution with the House and send a copy to his family, and calls for the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is purely a formal expression of respect for a former senator. The resolution commemorates his decades of service, including his time as Chairman of the Banking Committee and his return to work after a serious health setback.

Maddy summarySRES 861 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 2024 as "Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month" to educate the public. It directly affects communities impacted by sickle cell disease (SCD), which disproportionately affects Black and African American individuals (affecting ~100,000 people in the U.S. and 1 in 365 Black newborns). The resolution encourages nationwide programs during this month to raise awareness about SCD, emphasizing the need for research, early detection, effective treatments, and preventative care for complications. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally supports existing efforts to address SCD through public education.

Maddy summaryThe Medical Innovation Act of 2024 would require pharmaceutical companies that sell "covered blockbuster drugs" (drugs generating at least $1 billion in annual sales and developed with federal research funding) to pay supplemental fees based on their net income and certain legal settlements. The fees would range from 0.75% to 1.5% of net income, depending on settlement amounts, and would fund medical research through the FDA and National Institutes of Health. Collected funds would support innovative research on diseases with inadequate treatments, basic scientific research, and early-career scientist programs. This new funding mechanism would supplement, not replace, existing federal medical research investments. The bill specifies annual assessments with detailed reporting requirements for transparency.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Wall Street Looting Act imposes new restrictions on private equity firms and their acquisitions. It establishes joint and several liability for private equity funds and their managers for the debts and liabilities of acquired companies (target firms), limits post-acquisition dividends and distributions for four years, and imposes a surtax on certain payments received by investment firms from controlled target firms. The bill also increases priority for workers' wages and severance pay in bankruptcy proceedings, requires detailed disclosures about fund investments and fees, and includes provisions to protect workers during corporate bankruptcies. These changes directly affect private equity firms, their acquired companies, employees, and creditors, aiming to address perceived abuses in the private equity industry.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 30, 2024, as a national day of remembrance for workers in the U.S. nuclear weapons program, including uranium miners, millers, plutonium processors, and participants in atmospheric nuclear tests. It directly recognizes the contributions and health sacrifices of these workers, who developed serious illnesses while supporting national defense. The key provision is the formal designation of the date, encouraging public commemoration through ceremonies and activities. This follows a series of similar Senate resolutions recognizing these workers since 2009. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would modify the de minimis exemption (allowing low-value imports without duties) to better prevent smuggling of illicit goods like fentanyl. It requires importers to provide additional documentation including product descriptions, country of origin, and Harmonized Tariff Schedule classifications for low-value shipments. The bill also creates new penalties for false information and limits exemptions for certain goods, such as those subject to anti-dumping duties or identified as high-risk. It would require importers to pay a $2 fee per shipment under the exemption and mandates regular reports to Congress on how the exemption is being used. These changes aim to protect U.S. revenue, prevent illicit goods from entering the country, and improve transparency in low-value imports.