Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryS 338, the IRS Funding Accountability Act, requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner to submit detailed annual spending plans to Congress for IRS funding. These plans must cover five years of spending, include specific metrics for taxpayer services (like call wait times), audit rates, and technology investments, and be reviewed by oversight bodies. The bill imposes strict deadlines: missing the annual plan submission triggers a 60-day funding moratorium on certain IRS resources, while late quarterly reports result in daily funding reductions ($1 million per day for IRS reports). This directly affects the IRS's budget execution and its reporting obligations to Congress, with penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal crime for individuals who transmit money, property, or other value across state lines with the intent to finance illegal border crossings under existing immigration laws. It imposes penalties including fines equal to the value sent, up to one year in prison, or both for those convicted. The law also adds new grounds for denying entry (inadmissibility) or deporting immigrants who are convicted of this offense, affecting both the financiers and immigrants involved in such activities. The bill directly targets those facilitating unlawful border entry through financial means, with clear penalties and immigration consequences.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 73822), which addressed "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights." If enacted, it would block the rule from taking effect, directly affecting retirement plan fiduciaries (such as those managing 401(k) plans) who must follow these standards. The resolution uses a specific disapproval process under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, to nullify the rule without altering its content. This is a procedural action targeting the rule's implementation, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThe Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023 requires the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a regulatory pathway for commercial drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) within two years. It creates a new Office of Associate Administrator of UAS Integration to oversee drone integration into the national airspace system and establishes a UAS Certification Unit to develop certification processes for drones. The bill extends the FAA's authority to grant exemptions for drone operations until the new rules take effect, requiring risk-based approaches for authorizing operations. This legislation directly affects drone manufacturers, commercial operators, and the FAA by creating new regulatory processes to enhance U.S. competitiveness in drone technology while maintaining safety standards.

Maddy summaryS 293, the Fair Access to Banking Act, prohibits large financial institutions (with $10 billion+ in assets) from denying banking services to lawful businesses based on political reasons, bias, or industry category. It requires these "covered banks" to justify service denials using documented, objective risk assessments - not subjective political judgments - and to provide written explanations for denials. The bill directly affects businesses operating legally in industries often targeted by banks (like cannabis or firearms), ensuring equal access to services like loans, credit cards, or payment processing. Violations allow affected businesses to sue for treble damages and attorney fees, with payment networks and credit unions also barred from blocking access based on "reputational risk."

Maddy summaryThis bill requires prosecutors in large jurisdictions (population over 360,000) receiving federal crime funds to submit annual reports on how they handle serious crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and firearm offenses. The reports must detail cases declined for prosecution, plea agreements, and whether defendants had prior similar offenses or were on probation/parole. Prosecutors who comply receive priority in federal funding disbursement, while the Attorney General must publish the data for public access. It also prohibits federal funding for jurisdictions with policies banning cash bail for firearm-related offenses. The bill focuses on transparency and accountability in prosecution decisions, not altering legal standards.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 25) recognizes January 2023 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring relationships for young people. It acknowledges that one in three U.S. youth lacks a mentor outside their home and emphasizes mentoring's role in improving academic success, mental health, career development, and reducing delinquency. The resolution promotes expanding quality mentoring programs nationwide but does not create new laws or allocate funding. It serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage community, school, and workplace efforts supporting youth development through mentoring.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 256) terminates existing U.S. sanctions waivers that permitted specific nuclear activities in Iran under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). It ends exemptions for activities like modernizing Iran's Arak reactor, modifying centrifuges at Fordow, operating the Bushehr nuclear plant, and transferring uranium or heavy water. The bill takes effect upon enactment, prohibiting the President from issuing new waivers for these activities. It directly affects Iran's nuclear program by reinstating sanctions on these specific cooperation areas. The legislation targets the JCPOA-related waivers, not broader sanctions.

Maddy summaryS 251, the "Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act of 2023," makes it a federal crime for current Supreme Court employees or officers to leak specific confidential information. The bill defines confidential information broadly, including internal case notes, draft opinions, communications between justices and staff, and personal details of justices not already public. It prohibits unauthorized disclosure of this information and imposes criminal penalties: up to 10 years in prison for most violations, or a $10,000 fine specifically for leaking internal notes. The law directly affects only current Supreme Court staff, adding a new Section 1522 to Title 18 of the U.S. Code to enforce these protections.

Maddy summaryS 244, the STOVE Act, prohibits federal agencies from proposing, implementing, or finalizing any rule or guidance that categorically bans natural gas-powered appliances, including stoves, in the United States. This bill directly affects homeowners purchasing gas appliances and manufacturers producing them by blocking potential federal restrictions. The key provision prevents agencies from creating regulations that would restrict or ban the use or purchase of natural gas appliances nationwide. It does not impact state or local regulations but specifically targets federal rulemaking.