Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr.

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 summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help states and tribal governments improve their systems for licensing firearms dealers. To qualify, a state must already have a law requiring dealers to be licensed (with licenses valid up to 3 years, regular inspections, and penalties for violations like suspension or fines). Grants, capped at $2.5 million per year, can fund developing, implementing, or evaluating these licensing programs. Recipients must report annually on inspections, violations, and license statuses, and the federal government will publish annual reports to Congress on all grant activities.

Maddy summaryS 838, the Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023, increases Medicare coverage for clinical social workers. It raises reimbursement rates for their services under Medicare Part B from 75% to 85% of the psychologist fee schedule and removes barriers preventing coverage in skilled nursing facilities. The bill specifically expands Medicare coverage to include a defined set of clinical social work services (using specific HCPCS codes) for mental health diagnosis, treatment, and behavioral interventions. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, particularly older adults and people in skilled nursing facilities, by making it easier for providers to offer and bill for these mental health services starting January 1, 2024.

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 summaryThe MORE Savings Act (S 818) eliminates copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for opioid treatment services under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health plans. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorders by removing cost barriers to evidence-based treatments. Key provisions include: requiring Medicare to cover opioid medications and recovery support services (like peer counseling) without cost-sharing, mandating private health plans to cover similar treatments starting in 2025, and increasing federal Medicaid funding for medication-assisted treatment. The bill also establishes a 15-state pilot program for Medicare to test expanded access in areas with high opioid overdose rates and rural populations.

Maddy summaryS 817, the SVB Act, repeals Title IV of the 2018 Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 115-174). This bill restores the banking regulations that existed before Title IV was enacted, effectively undoing the 2018 changes to financial oversight. It directly affects banking regulations governing financial institutions by reverting to the prior regulatory framework. The key mechanism is the explicit repeal of Title IV and the restoration of pre-2018 provisions as if the 2018 law had never applied.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service. It specifies three coin types: up to 50,000 $5 gold coins (90% gold), 400,000 $1 silver coins (90% silver), and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins, all to be issued in 2025. A surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollars) will be added to each coin's sale price, with all funds going directly to the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training to support its diplomatic history preservation work. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring all design, production, and marketing expenses to be recovered through coin sales.