Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "September 11 Day of Remembrance" as a legal public holiday on September 11th in the list of federal holidays under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. It directly affects federal employees and government operations, requiring federal offices to close on this date. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to existing law, inserting the new holiday name after Labor Day in the list of designated public holidays. This change establishes a permanent, non-procedural observance for the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Maddy summaryS 1439, the *Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act of 2023*, establishes a new public-private partnership program to accelerate the development and testing of practical quantum applications. The Commerce Secretary, working with NIST, will create a "quantum sandbox" program focused on near-term use cases - applications that can be developed and deployed within 24 months. This program will engage quantum industry groups, national labs, and research centers to test proofs of concept and pilot projects using existing quantum computing hardware via cloud platforms. It directly affects quantum developers, businesses seeking to adopt quantum solutions, and consumers who may benefit from near-term innovations in sectors like healthcare, logistics, or finance.

Maddy summaryS 1463 establishes a 5-year pilot program to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base by creating public-private partnerships. The program directs the Under Secretary of Defense to partner with qualifying U.S. businesses (specifically domestic small businesses or "nontraditional" defense companies that are independent and free from foreign control) to invest equity and provide up to 80% loan guarantees for scaling advanced defense capabilities. It targets companies meeting strict criteria - like having commercial defense sector experience and access to classified information - to accelerate production of technologies needed for national security. The pilot will initially test with one partnership (Phase 1), report on results after 27 months, and may expand to three partnerships (Phase 2) before terminating in 5 years.

Maddy summaryThe LEOSA Reform Act (S 1462) clarifies and expands federal protections for qualified active and retired law enforcement officers who carry concealed firearms, directly affecting those who meet specific standards. It updates existing law to explicitly allow these officers to carry firearms in National Park System areas and on public property (even with entry fees), while requiring retired officers to maintain recent firearms qualification standards (within 12-36 months) to retain their rights. The bill also explicitly permits qualified officers to carry firearms in certain Federal facilities open to the public, such as Security Level I or II buildings. These changes streamline federal firearm carry rules for law enforcement personnel without altering state laws or creating new restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates April 2023 as "Financial Literacy Month" to raise public awareness about the importance of personal financial education and the consequences of financial illiteracy. It cites statistics showing widespread challenges, including 4.5% of U.S. households being unbanked, high credit card debt (47% of adults), and limited school-based financial education (only 23 states require personal finance courses). The resolution calls on federal, state, local, schools, nonprofits, and businesses to observe the month with educational programs. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to highlight existing financial literacy gaps affecting all Americans.

Maddy summarySRES 188 is a symbolic Senate resolution celebrating the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding on May 14, 2023. It formally recognizes Israel's establishment, reaffirms the U.S.-Israel partnership, and highlights shared democratic values, security cooperation, and diplomatic achievements like the Abraham Accords. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on individuals or legislation - it serves solely as a ceremonial expression of support. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and passed without implementing new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThe Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act (S 1398) prohibits federal agencies from using government funds to partner with non-profits for voter registration or mobilization activities on agency property or websites. It delays implementation of certain voter registration initiatives under Executive Order 14019 until agencies submit reports to Congress about their plans, with an exception for activities already permitted under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The bill also requires agencies to submit detailed reports within 30 days of enactment about their voter registration activities and amends the Higher Education Act to prevent work-study programs from being used for voter registration or mobilization. These provisions directly affect federal agencies, non-profit organizations collaborating with them, and institutions participating in federal work-study programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, or increasing premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance solely because someone is a living organ donor, without considering actual health risks. It also updates the Family and Medical Leave Act to include recovery from organ donation surgery as a qualifying condition for leave for private-sector employees and federal workers. Additionally, the bill requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about living organ donation within six months, covering benefits, risks, and the new insurance protections. These changes directly affect living organ donors, insurers, and employers who must comply with the updated leave and insurance rules.

Maddy summaryS 1329, the Armenian Genocide Education Act, establishes a program through the Librarian of Congress to support K-12 education about the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide. The program develops and distributes educational resources (including digital tools and print materials), provides teacher training through workshops and fellowships, and maintains an online resource hub on the Library of Congress website. It directly affects local school districts, independent schools, and educational organizations that adopt the program’s materials into their curricula. The program is funded with $2 million annually for five years, requiring the Librarian to submit annual reports on its implementation.

Electronic Communication Uniformity Act This bill applies the mailbox rule to documents and payments electronically submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Specifically, it provides that such documents and payments shall be deemed filed or made on the date on which they are sent electronically, regardless of the date on which the IRS actually receives or reviews them.