Sen. John Cornyn

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 200) expresses support for designating April 30-May 6, 2023, as "National Small Business Week" to honor small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States. It recognizes that small businesses (over 33 million nationwide supporting 62 million jobs) are vital to the U.S. economy and highlights their resilience. The resolution specifically calls for celebrating their contributions, acknowledging challenges they face, and supporting efforts to improve access for underserved small businesses. As a symbolic gesture - not a law - it does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes small business impact.

Maddy summarySRES 196 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Cinco de Mayo. It acknowledges the 1862 Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla against French forces as a symbol of Mexican independence and resilience. The resolution encourages the U.S. public to observe Cinco de Mayo with ceremonies and activities, emphasizing its meaning as a celebration of shared heritage and freedom. This is a non-binding resolution that does not create new laws or affect any specific group.

Maddy summarySRES 181 is a non-binding Senate resolution supporting the designation of April 24-28, 2023, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week." It recognizes school-based professionals - including counselors, psychologists, nurses, therapists, and speech-language pathologists - who support students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs. The resolution encourages public acknowledgment of their role in fostering safe, supportive learning environments and promotes collaboration among educators and policymakers to advance student well-being.

Maddy summaryS 1441, the Accelerating Biomedical Innovation Act, establishes a new Center for Biomedical Innovation and Development to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures like vaccines, drugs, and devices. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must select at least three higher education institutions meeting specific criteria (including advanced manufacturing expertise and facilities) to form this Center within one year of the bill's enactment. The Center will provide direct support to developers through pilot manufacturing, technical assistance, regulatory help, and coordination with manufacturers for products using novel technology to address unmet health needs. This program directly affects eligible universities selected for the consortium and biomedical developers referred by BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency).

Maddy summaryS 1473 would require immigration officers to immediately expel individuals entering the U.S. at the Mexico border without valid documents or by fraud, without a hearing or review, for a two-year period starting when the bill becomes law. Expulsion would typically occur to Mexico, but could be directed to the individual’s home country or another willing nation if Mexico refuses or expulsion to Mexico isn’t in U.S. national interest. The bill prohibits expulsion to countries where the individual would face persecution or torture, except for those convicted of serious crimes, involved in persecution, or posing national security threats. It also allows case-by-case exceptions for humanitarian reasons and mandates referrals to asylum officers if an individual fears harm in the destination country.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 191) recognizes global threats to press freedom and reaffirms the importance of a free press in combating authoritarianism, misinformation, and disinformation. It commemorates World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2023, and expresses concern about journalists being imprisoned, harassed, or killed worldwide. The resolution is a non-binding statement of principle, not a policy change, calling for the immediate release of detained journalists and urging the U.S. government to prioritize press freedom in promoting democracy and human rights globally.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal funding to provide emotional support services for survivors of sexual abuse in detention facilities. It authorizes $10 million annually for grants to nonprofit organizations with expertise in sexual abuse counseling to deliver direct services (like crisis intervention, safety planning, and counseling) to incarcerated survivors. It also allocates $5 million yearly for training corrections staff and $2 million for a national resource center to develop best practices and share resources on supporting survivors in correctional settings. All funding is for fiscal years 2024-2029 and must supplement, not replace, existing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how federal agencies handle administrative subpoenas in child predator investigations. It prohibits recipients (like banks or tech companies) from disclosing that a subpoena was issued for 180 days, unless a federal official certifies disclosure would endanger victims, cause flight, destroy evidence, intimidate witnesses, or jeopardize the investigation. Recipients may share information only with necessary parties (e.g., legal counsel) under strict confidentiality rules. The bill also adds a new judicial review process (Section 3486A), requiring courts to quickly evaluate nondisclosure requests within 30 days to ensure they protect ongoing investigations.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by enhancing enforcement mechanisms for agents of foreign principals. It authorizes the Attorney General to issue civil investigative demands requiring agents to produce documents, answer written questions, and provide testimony, with specific procedural safeguards. The bill also increases civil penalties for violations, including higher fines for failure to register or file supplements, and adds new requirements for disclosing registration status during meetings with Congress. It mandates the Attorney General to develop a comprehensive enforcement strategy and submit annual reports on enforcement actions. These changes primarily affect foreign agents, lobbyists, and organizations representing foreign governments or entities who must comply with FARA's registration requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1378, the COMPLETE Care Act) increases Medicare payments for primary care providers who integrate behavioral health services (like mental health and substance use treatment) into routine care. It provides higher reimbursement rates (175% in 2025, decreasing to 125% in 2027) for specific services using defined billing codes, and waives budget rules to allow these increased payments. It also requires participating providers to report on how well they integrate behavioral health services and establishes funding for technical assistance to help practices adopt these models. The bill directly affects Medicare-participating primary care providers and aims to improve access to combined physical and mental health care for beneficiaries.