Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Coast Guard Commandant to create a policy protecting members and cadets who report sexual assault or harassment. It defines "minor collateral misconduct" (like minor offenses occurring near the time of an assault/harassment incident) and sets rules for handling such cases without punishing victims for unrelated minor actions. The policy must track these incidents and specify serious factors that would make misconduct more severe. The policy must align with an existing Defense Department standard for military personnel.

Maddy summaryS 3781 establishes the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as the federal government's primary lab for spectrum research. It formalizes ITS's role in studying radio frequencies, testing spectrum-sharing technologies, and improving interference tolerance to help federal agencies make decisions about making government spectrum available for commercial use. The bill also creates a new initiative to develop emergency communication technologies for locating people in shielded environments like collapsed buildings. This affects federal agencies managing spectrum and commercial companies seeking spectrum access.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers. It adds a 20-year minimum prison term for causing serious injury to a federal, state, or local officer when the perpetrator uses a weapon that traveled across state lines or plans the act using interstate commerce. It also establishes a separate murder provision with similar interstate commerce requirements for sentencing. The law directly affects officers and prosecutors by creating new sentencing standards for specific violent crimes involving interstate elements. The bill requires a report to Congress within three years on prosecutions under these new provisions.

Maddy summaryThe At HOME Services Act of 2024 establishes a pilot program to expand Medicare's Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, allowing hospitals to provide outpatient observation services to patients in their homes. The program, to be launched by the Health and Human Services Secretary within one year of enactment, would test this expanded service under specific federal guidelines. Participating hospitals must still comply with a key Medicare requirement (section 1866(a)(1)(Y) of the Social Security Act), meaning the Secretary cannot waive this rule for them. This bill directly affects Medicare-certified hospitals that join the pilot and beneficiaries receiving observation services at home.

Maddy summaryThe NCAA Accountability Act of 2024 establishes new due process rules for the NCAA (referred to as a "covered athletic association") when investigating member colleges or student athletes for rule violations. It requires the NCAA to provide detailed written notices to institutions before investigations begin, limit investigations to violations within the past two years, and hold formal hearings within one year of notice. The bill also mandates independent arbitration for disputes over penalties and requires the NCAA to submit annual reports on enforcement actions to the Attorney General. These changes directly affect all NCAA member colleges and the NCAA itself, ensuring fairer investigations and appeals processes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 542) supports observing "National Girls & Women in Sports Day" on February 7, 2024. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally encourages the Senate to recognize and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports. The resolution references ongoing efforts to address gender equity, such as protecting Title IX and advancing equal pay for female athletes, as noted in the preamble. It directly affects the Senate's public acknowledgment of these issues, aiming to raise awareness rather than change policy. (This is a ceremonial resolution, so the summary is concise as permitted.)

Maddy summarySJRES 59 is a joint resolution that would disapprove a rule by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) treating its Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121) as a binding regulation. The SEC had submitted this rule for congressional review under the Congressional Review Act, and the resolution would block it from taking effect. If enacted, the disapproval would prevent SAB 121 from being enforced as a regulation, meaning public companies would not be required to follow it as a legal rule. The bill directly affects the SEC's regulatory authority and the accounting practices of public companies.

Maddy summarySRES 529 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing January 2024 as "National Mentoring Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funds, but formally acknowledges the value of mentoring relationships for youth development. The resolution highlights mentoring's benefits - including improved academic outcomes, mental health, and career readiness - while noting that one-third of U.S. youth lack a mentor. It urges support for mentoring programs but has no direct effect on individuals or policy implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Space National Guard as part of the organized militia in states, territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia where the Space Force operates, and creates a Space National Guard of the United States as the Space Force's reserve component. It defines key terms for these entities in federal law (including requirements for training, federal recognition, and status as a space force), mandates implementation by the Air Force and National Guard Bureau within one year, and requires annual congressional briefings on operations and funding. The bill explicitly states it does not affect existing military installations or require facility relocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3708) redirects existing U.S. federal funds that were previously allocated for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to construct a physical barrier along the U.S. southwest border. It also prohibits all future U.S. funding for UNRWA beginning upon the bill's enactment. The key provisions are the immediate reprogramming of unspent UNRWA funds for border wall construction and a permanent ban on new UNRWA funding. This directly affects UNRWA's funding stream and the federal budget allocation for border security infrastructure.