Sen. James Lankford

Maddy summaryThe National Right-to-Work Act would amend federal labor law to prohibit requiring employees to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. It removes existing provisions in the National Labor Relations Act that allowed for "union security agreements" (such as agency shops) and similarly amends the Railway Labor Act for railroad workers. This change would mean private sector and railroad workers nationwide would not face mandatory union fees to retain their jobs, applying to all new or renewed employment agreements after enactment. The bill directly affects all covered employees in the private workforce and railroad industry by eliminating forced financial contributions to labor unions.

Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act (S 537) requires federal agencies and recipients of federal construction funds to prohibit bid specifications or project agreements from mandating or banning contractor agreements with labor organizations (like unions), or discriminating against contractors based on such affiliations. It applies to all federal construction contracts and subcontracts awarded after the law's enactment, aiming to ensure open competition, reduce costs, and expand opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. Federal agencies must update their regulations within 60 days to implement these rules, with limited exemptions only for urgent public health, safety, or national security threats - not labor disputes. This law directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and federal construction projects funded by the government.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 4) sets strict 30-day deadlines for the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to review and act on North Carolina’s proposal to place a statue of Reverend Billy Graham in the National Statuary Hall. The Committee must approve or deny the clay model design within 30 days of receiving required submissions (photos, dimensions, engineering details), then approve or deny the completed statue within another 30 days of receiving final materials. If approved, the Committee must also designate a permanent Capitol location within 30 days. The bill directly affects North Carolina (as the submitting state), the Architect of the Capitol (as the recipient of submissions), and the Joint Committee (as the decision-maker), streamlining a standard procedural step for statue placements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 471) gives states more flexibility in determining which Medicaid providers can participate in state plans if they perform abortions. It allows states to set their own criteria for excluding abortion providers from Medicaid participation, except in specific cases. The exceptions require coverage for abortions needed due to rape or incest, or when a physician certifies a life-threatening physical condition related to pregnancy. This directly affects Medicaid providers who perform abortions and state Medicaid programs, changing how states manage provider participation under federal Medicaid rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. immigration law to create specific, limited pathways for temporary parole into the United States. It directly affects military families (spouses/children of active-duty service members), Cuban nationals with approved petitions meeting strict criteria, and individuals facing urgent medical needs, family emergencies, or law enforcement-related public benefits. Key provisions require case-by-case decisions (not class-based eligibility), limit parole to 1 year (with possible 1-year extensions), and mandate annual congressional reporting on parole usage. Parole does not count as admission, so recipients cannot adjust to permanent residency through this status.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals specific provisions from the Affordable Care Act (sections 6001 and 10601) and the 2010 Health Care Reconciliation Act (section 1106), which had limited Medicare exceptions for physician referrals to hospitals. It restores the prior rules that allowed physicians to refer patients to hospitals without triggering certain restrictions. The bill directly affects hospitals and physicians participating in Medicare by removing these referral limitations. This is a procedural change to revert to pre-2010 law regarding physician-hospital relationships under Medicare.

Maddy summarySRES 67 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating February 2023 as "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to recognize CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand careers. It does not create new policies or funding but expresses Senate support for CTE programs that connect students with workforce skills in fields like healthcare, technology, and construction. The resolution encourages educators and parents to promote CTE as a valuable educational pathway, referencing the 106th anniversary of the foundational Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct impact on legislation or affected individuals.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 69) designates February 18-25, 2023, as "National FFA Week" to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the National FFA Organization. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing future agricultural leaders through its educational programs, which serve over 850,000 students across all 50 states and territories. The resolution has no legal effect - it is a ceremonial expression of support, not a policy change. It directly affects the FFA organization and its members by highlighting their educational mission during a designated week.

Maddy summaryS 451, the DISRUPT Act of 2023, requires the President to impose sanctions within 120 days on Iranian financial institutions and individuals providing military support to Russia’s forces in Ukraine. It targets those supplying defense articles (like drones, missiles, armored vehicles) or services to Russian military entities, including the Wagner Group or Russian persons on sanctions lists. The bill also prevents removing Iranian entities from the sanctions list without proof they haven’t supported Russia’s military for a year and blocks revoking Iran’s "money laundering concern" status without certification that Iran has stopped aiding Russia’s military. This directly affects Iranian financial institutions and entities supplying Russia with military equipment.

Maddy summaryS 450 (STOP Iran Act of 2023) requires U.S. exporters to obtain a license from the Commerce Secretary before sending certain sensitive technologies to Iranian entities that support groups like Iran's Revolutionary Guard, nuclear program, or designated terrorist organizations (such as Hezbollah or Hamas). It applies to exports, reexports, or in-country transfers of "emerging and foundational technologies" to Iranian individuals or entities on U.S. sanction lists. The law mandates that the Commerce Secretary submit detailed reports to Congress within 30 days of issuing any such license, explaining the rationale and why the entity wasn't previously blocked under existing export rules. This creates a new administrative barrier for U.S. companies seeking to engage with sanctioned Iranian actors.