Sen. Sherrod Brown

Maddy summaryThe Next Generation Fuels Act of 2023 requires automotive manufacturers to design vehicles (starting with 2028 models) to operate with gasoline containing 10-25% ethanol (with 95+ research octane) and later 10-30% ethanol (with 98+ octane). It mandates fuel retailers to offer 95+ octane gasoline at certain outlets by 2027 and 98+ by 2032, with specific availability requirements for different retail outlet sizes. The bill also requires clear labeling at fuel pumps and on vehicles to inform consumers about fuel requirements and consequences of using lower-octane fuels. Additionally, it establishes new standards for gasoline composition, including limits on aromatic content and requirements for low-carbon octane additives.

Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2023 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of dental, vision, and hearing care. Coverage includes (1) routine dental cleanings and exams, basic and major dental services, emergency dental care, and dentures; (2) routine eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses; and (3) routine hearing exams, hearing aids, and exams for hearing aids. With respect to such care, the bill establishes special payment rules, limitations, and coinsurance requirements. The bill also increases the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for dental, vision, and hearing services.

Maddy summaryS 844 creates a new federal fund to reimburse local emergency responders after train incidents involving hazardous materials. The bill provides immediate initial funding of at least $250,000 and up to $3 million per incident to cover costs like equipment replacement, overtime pay for firefighters/police, and operational expenses incurred during response efforts. It requires railroads transporting hazardous materials to provide local emergency groups with advance warnings about train loads and real-time location data. Shippers and carriers of hazardous materials by rail will pay annual fees to fund this reimbursement program, which is administered by the Federal Railroad Administration. The bill directly affects state/local emergency response agencies (fire, police, emergency services) in communities impacted by such train incidents.

Maddy summarySRES 108 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing the Kingdom of Bhutan as responsible for the oppression and forced eviction of over 100,000 Nepali-speaking Lhotshampa citizens during the 1980s-1990s. It directly addresses Bhutan's government, urging it to release political prisoners, restore citizenship for those stripped of it, resume talks with Nepal about refugees, accept voluntary repatriation, and establish a Truth Commission to investigate past human rights abuses. The resolution does not impose legal obligations but formally condemns Bhutan's historical actions and outlines specific steps for reconciliation. It affects Bhutan's government, Bhutanese citizens denied citizenship, and refugees in Nepal who sought repatriation. The resolution was introduced in the Senate on March 15, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 110) honoring the late James George Abourezk, the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. Senate (1973-1979) from South Dakota. It commemorates his legacy, including his work re-establishing the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and co-authoring key Native American rights legislation like the Indian Child Welfare Act. The resolution directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and send a copy to his family, acknowledging his service as a representative and advocate for Native American communities. As a procedural resolution, it has no legislative effect beyond commemoration.

Maddy summaryS 805, the Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023, increases penalties for importers who commit customs fraud or gross negligence. It triples civil penalties for fraudulent violations (to three times the domestic value) and raises gross negligence penalties (up to ten times the domestic value), while adding a five-year import ban for fraudulent violators and a two-year ban for gross negligence. The bill also creates a new private lawsuit mechanism, allowing U.S. manufacturers, workers, or trade groups harmed by customs violations to sue violators for triple damages plus attorney fees. Additionally, it excludes individuals or related businesses found guilty of such violations from participating in the U.S. importer of record program. This directly affects importers who violate customs laws, U.S. businesses competing with fraudulent imports, and customs enforcement processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes Medicare coverage for chiropractic care by removing the outdated limit that restricted beneficiaries to one annual chiropractic clinic visit. It expands coverage to include all chiropractic services within a provider's state license, specifically manual spinal adjustments to correct subluxations, aligning Medicare with VA, military, and private insurance standards. Chiropractors must complete a brief online training verification once to bill Medicare for these services. The change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking ongoing chiropractic treatment and chiropractors participating in Medicare.

Maddy summaryThe ACTION for National Service Act restructures national service programs by renaming the Corporation for National and Community Service as the AmeriCorps Administration and establishing a new Advisory Board with specific appointment requirements. It significantly increases educational awards for participants to twice the national average of in-state tuition at public 4-year institutions and raises living allowances by 175-210%. The bill creates a new Civilian Climate Corps with specific requirements for service projects focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation in underserved communities. It also establishes a National Service Foundation to accept private gifts and sets a goal of having 1 million national service participants per year by 2033, with a phased plan to increase approved national service positions from 250,000 in 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clean Air Act to modify how the EPA grants waivers for fuel formulations. It creates a new pathway allowing fuels to enter commerce if they meet Reid Vapor Pressure standards (a measure of fuel volatility) either by matching certified vehicle fuels or by complying with existing waiver conditions. The changes directly affect fuel retailers and manufacturers seeking EPA approval for fuel blends. Key provisions update waiver procedures and clarify Reid Vapor Pressure requirements, specifically adjusting percentage thresholds and notification timelines for certain fuel types. The bill does not create new regulations but adjusts existing processes for fuel approval under the Clean Air Act.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses Congress's support for the Local Radio Freedom Act by opposing new fees for local radio stations playing music over the air. It states that imposing performance fees would harm the longstanding relationship between radio stations and the music industry, jeopardize emergency broadcasts and local programming, and cause economic hardship for radio stations and small businesses (like bars and retail stores) that rely on free music licensing. The resolution specifically urges against any new fee, tax, or royalty related to radio stations' public performance of sound recordings. As a non-binding statement, it does not create new law but formally advocates for maintaining the current system.