Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a technical punctuation detail in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) regarding funding rules. It modifies Section 8526 by adding a comma after "or" in one subsection, changing punctuation in another, and removing a third subsection. The bill does not create new hunting education requirements or affect any specific groups, despite its misleading title. It is a purely procedural change to existing ESEA funding language with no substantive policy impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drug manufacturers to pay rebates to Medicare when the negotiated "maximum fair price" for certain cancer and complex therapies is lower than the standard Medicare payment rate. The rebate amount equals the difference between the standard rate and the negotiated rate, multiplied by the number of drug units sold during a quarter. These rebates are deposited into the Medicare trust fund. It directly affects Medicare Part B beneficiaries receiving these therapies and the manufacturers producing the covered drugs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires car manufacturers to include AM radio receivers as standard equipment in all new vehicles sold in the U.S., without additional cost to buyers. It mandates that AM radio controls be clearly visible on the dashboard for drivers. For vehicles sold before the rule takes effect, manufacturers must label them to disclose the absence of AM radio. The bill aims to maintain access to AM radio broadcasts, which are used for emergency alerts, but does not mandate new emergency systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2757) freezes current payment rates for veterans' transportation services provided through "special modes" (like non-emergency medical transport) starting January 1, 2023, preventing the VA from lowering these rates without strict conditions. It directly affects veterans relying on these transportation services and the contractors providing them. The key provision allows rate increases but requires the VA to conduct a detailed economic impact review, consult with veterans' groups and industry experts, and ensure new rates cover actual costs before any decrease can occur. This aims to protect veterans' access to care by preventing rate cuts that could disrupt transportation services.

Maddy summaryS 885 establishes a 4-year pilot program for a "Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve" within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The reserve would allow CISA to quickly activate up to 30 pre-vetted cybersecurity professionals (with relevant government, military, or contractor experience) during significant cyber incidents, appointing them to temporary positions without standard competitive hiring. Members must undergo security clearances, agree to conflict-of-interest rules, and receive employment protections, while CISA covers clearance costs. The program requires mandatory studies, annual congressional briefings, and a final evaluation by the Comptroller General to determine if it should continue as a permanent program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to allow schools to use existing federal funds for student sports clubs, teams, training, and related outdoor wellness activities. It directly affects K-12 schools by removing a previous restriction that barred such uses of ESEA funds. The key mechanism is an exception added to Section 8526(7), explicitly permitting these activities before the period ending that section. The change applies to funds already allocated under the ESEA, not creating new spending.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal grants to improve K-12 math and statistics education through mathematical and statistical modeling. It funds competitive grants for schools and nonprofits to develop teacher training, real-world data analysis curricula (using computational tools), and partnerships with colleges, industries, and communities. The program specifically targets underserved student groups, rural schools, and critical transitions (like middle-to-high school), emphasizing problem-solving with messy, contextual data. It authorizes $10 million annually (2024-2028) for these initiatives and mandates a separate NASEM study to identify best practices for implementing modeling education nationwide.

Maddy summaryThe Freedom to Breathe Act (S 2738) prohibits federal funding or enforcement of mask mandates for passengers traveling on air carriers, public transit, or in covered schools (elementary, secondary, or higher education) during the period from enactment through December 31, 2024. It specifically bans requiring masks in these settings, prevents refusal of service to unmasked passengers, and overrides conflicting state or local rules during this timeframe. The law directly affects air carriers, public transit operators, and federally funded schools by eliminating federal authority to enforce mask requirements in these spaces. It applies only to mask mandates issued in response to public health emergencies during the specified period.

Maddy summaryThe American Security Drone Act of 2023 prohibits U.S. federal agencies from procuring or operating drones manufactured or assembled by "covered foreign entities," defined as entities from China, under foreign government control, or deemed national security risks. The law includes exemptions for national security research, counterterrorism, safety investigations, wildfire management, and specific agency missions like those of the Department of Homeland Security and Defense. Federal agencies must track existing drones from these entities within one year of enactment and the law requires a study on drone supply chains. The prohibition takes effect two years after enactment and will expire five years after enactment, with specific agencies having additional exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 41) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific immigration rule issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2023, addressed "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" in immigration processing. The resolution would formally block the rule from taking effect by directing Congress to disapprove it under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This action directly affects how USCIS and immigration courts implement certain immigration pathways.