Sen. Pete Ricketts

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. agencies distributing foreign aid to publish detailed, award-by-award information online. It mandates that public data include specific searchable details like the country receiving aid, funding agency, sector, total amount, fiscal year, and implementing partners (including subawards). The changes apply directly to U.S. government agencies managing foreign assistance programs. The goal is to make foreign aid spending more transparent and accessible to the public.

Maddy summaryS 1843 (End Child Trafficking Now Act) requires adults (18+) entering the U.S. with minors under 18 to prove a family relationship through documents or a witness, with DNA testing as a last resort if proof is insufficient. If an adult refuses DNA testing or fails to provide valid proof, they may be denied entry and the minor treated as an unaccompanied child. The bill also creates a new federal crime ("recycling of minors") for adults who repeatedly use a minor they aren’t related to for illegal entry, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This directly affects adults traveling with minors, immigration officers, and law enforcement handling entry-related trafficking cases.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 234) designates May 2023 as "Older Americans Month" to symbolically honor older adults in the U.S. It encourages public recognition of their community contributions, opportunities for them to share wisdom with younger generations, and acknowledgment of their value to society. The resolution has no legal effect or new policy changes - it is purely ceremonial, aligning with longstanding tradition to highlight seniors' roles without altering programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial Senate resolution designates May 21-27, 2023, as "National Public Works Week" to honor public works professionals. It recognizes their daily work maintaining infrastructure like roads, water systems, and emergency services that support community health, safety, and resilience. The resolution urges communities to celebrate these professionals' contributions to public infrastructure and community well-being through local activities. It has no legal effect or funding provisions - it is purely a symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryS 1768, the Taliban Sanctions Act of 2023, imposes U.S. sanctions on individuals and entities (including Taliban members) who support terrorism, commit serious human rights abuses, or facilitate narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan. It requires the President to block assets and deny visas to those meeting these criteria, effective 90 days after enactment. The bill also directs U.S. diplomacy to maintain UN sanctions against the Taliban and mandates regular congressional briefings on sanctions implementation and humanitarian impacts. It includes limited waivers for national security interests and specific exceptions for intelligence activities or humanitarian access.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Tax Certainty Act permanently extends the 20% tax deduction for qualified business income (QBI), which currently applies to owners of pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The bill achieves this by amending the tax code to remove an expiration date (via striking subsection (i) of Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code). This change directly affects small business owners who rely on the QBI deduction to reduce their taxable income. The key provision eliminates uncertainty about the deduction’s future, ensuring continued eligibility without requiring future legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill bars federal funding for state or local databases that track lawfully owned firearms or their owners. It directly affects states and local governments maintaining such databases, preventing them from using federal money to create or maintain these records. The law includes an exception allowing funding for databases tracking lost or stolen firearms and their owners. The key provision is a federal funding prohibition targeting databases of legal gun ownership, not the databases themselves.

Maddy summaryThe "No START Treaty Act" declares that the New START Treaty with Russia is no longer in U.S. national security interests due to Russia's non-compliance (including refusing inspections) and China's rapid nuclear expansion, directing the U.S. to withdraw from the treaty. It mandates a 90-day report from the Secretary of Defense assessing U.S. nuclear deterrence capabilities and proposing specific improvements, such as increasing bomber alert status and restoring submarine missile capacity. The bill sets strict conditions for future arms control agreements, requiring limits on China's nuclear arsenal, robust verification for both China and Russia, and coverage of non-strategic weapons and emerging systems like hypersonic weapons. Additionally, it prohibits unilateral U.S. nuclear reductions without a treaty meeting these conditions and blocks funding for the New START Treaty or successor agreements that fail to satisfy these requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Primacy Certainty Act of 2023 sets clear deadlines for the EPA to review state applications for primary enforcement authority over Class VI wells (used for carbon dioxide injection). If the EPA fails to act within 180 days, it must provide a written explanation of delays; if no decision is made within 210 days total, the application is automatically approved. This directly affects states seeking to regulate Class VI wells, preventing indefinite federal delays in transferring oversight authority. Key provisions include requiring the EPA to work with states on pre-application steps, designate a single EPA contact per state, and transfer pending permits upon approval. The bill ensures states can assume regulatory control without federal conditions beyond existing requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Reforming Disaster Recovery Act establishes a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to provide grants for long-term recovery after major disasters, primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income households in communities most impacted by disasters. It creates a new Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program that requires grantees to allocate at least 70% of funds to help low- and moderate-income people, with funds distributed based on unmet needs for housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure. The bill mandates detailed planning with public input before funds are distributed, requires grantees to prioritize mitigation activities in hazard-prone areas, and includes provisions for preliminary funding to speed up recovery before final assessments are complete. It also requires annual reporting on fund usage to ensure transparency and accountability, while coordinating with FEMA and other agencies to prevent duplication of benefits.