Sen. Sherrod Brown

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "spotted lanternfly control" as a priority research area under federal agricultural funding. It authorizes grants for developing and sharing practical tools to combat the invasive spotted lanternfly insect (Lycorma delicatula), directly affecting agricultural researchers and extension programs. The key provision modifies existing law to include this specific pest control research within eligible grant programs. The bill also extends the funding authorization period for this priority through 2028. This is a research-focused bill, not a direct regulatory change affecting farmers or consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the online distribution of digital instructions (like 3D printer files) that can automatically create firearms or complete firearm frames/receivers. It directly affects individuals or entities sharing such code online, not those using 3D printers to make guns. The key mechanism bans sharing this code via the internet or World Wide Web, aiming to prevent untraceable firearms that lack serial numbers. This addresses a safety concern where 3D-printed guns evade detection and background checks, undermining firearm tracing used in crime investigations.

Maddy summaryThis bill waives the standard time limit for awarding the Medal of Honor to Gary Lee McKiddy, a U.S. Army Specialist Four who died during combat in Cambodia on May 6, 1970, while serving with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War. It specifically recognizes his acts of valor between October 25, 1969, and May 6, 1970, particularly his actions on the day of his death. The bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to McKiddy, as his service and sacrifice were not previously honored with this distinction. The measure directly affects McKiddy’s family and legacy by enabling the formal recognition of his wartime heroism.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 230) symbolically recognizes the 102nd anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a violent attack by a White mob that killed an estimated 300 Black residents and destroyed the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma - a thriving Black business community known as "Black Wall Street." It honors the victims and survivors, condemns the historical and ongoing legacy of racial violence, and encourages U.S. schools and universities to include education about the massacre in curricula. As a non-binding resolution, it does not enact new laws or policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment by the Senate of this pivotal event in American history.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits corporal punishment (such as spanking, paddling, or physical force) by school personnel, law enforcement officers, or school security guards in any school receiving federal funding. It requires schools to notify parents within 24 hours when corporal punishment occurs and establishes enforcement mechanisms including potential withholding of federal funds for non-compliance. The bill creates grant programs to help schools implement positive behavioral interventions (like restorative justice, trauma-informed care, and implicit bias training) to replace exclusionary discipline practices such as suspensions and expulsions. It also requires states to report on school climate, discipline practices, and progress in reducing racial and disability disparities in discipline. The bill applies to public schools receiving federal funds but explicitly excludes private schools not receiving federal funding and homeschooling situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax reporting rules for third-party settlement organizations (like payment processors) by raising the threshold for mandatory reporting. It exempts transactions where either the amount per transaction is under $10,000 or the total number of transactions in a year is under 50. This directly affects payment processors handling numerous small-value transactions, reducing their administrative burden. The change applies to transactions settled after December 31, 2022, and aims to simplify compliance with IRS reporting requirements.

Maddy summarySRES 221 is a Senate resolution supporting National Minority Health Month in April 2023 by raising awareness of health disparities affecting specific minority populations. It highlights documented inequities, such as higher rates of diabetes, cancer, and mortality among American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders compared to non-Hispanic White populations. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of these disparities through a series of cited statistics from health data. It aims to promote public understanding of these issues during the designated awareness month.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 209) is a symbolic Senate measure recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It formally celebrates the historical contributions of these communities to the United States, highlighting their diverse cultural impact and achievements. The resolution does not create new laws or policies - it simply encourages the Senate to observe the month with recognition of these communities' roles in U.S. history. It follows longstanding tradition, as May was chosen to honor key milestones including the arrival of Japanese immigrants and Chinese laborers on the transcontinental railroad.

Maddy summaryThe COVER Act of 2023 establishes two programs to support farmers adopting cover crops and soil health practices through crop insurance premium subsidies. The main program, the Good Steward Cover Crop program, provides $5 per acre in additional premium subsidies to farmers who plant qualifying cover crops (like grasses, legumes, or brassicas) on land where they also grow other crops and maintain crop insurance, with the subsidy capped at the premium amount for that acre. It requires annual reporting on acreage and includes outreach to underserved producers. A separate soil health pilot program will test additional subsidies for innovative practices like conservation crop rotations, with a mandatory study to evaluate impacts on crop insurance payments and yields.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates and expands tax-free employer benefits for employees who bike to work. It allows employers to provide tax-free reimbursements for expenses related to bikes, e-bikes, and specific scooters (under defined safety and speed limits) used for commuting, including purchase, repair, storage, or bikeshare rentals. The benefit is limited to 30% of the monthly tax-free allowance per employee. It directly affects employees commuting by bike and their employers, who can now offer these benefits without triggering taxable income for workers.