Sen. Eric Schmitt

Maddy summaryS 444 requires the U.S. Senate to approve any World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic preparedness treaty before it becomes binding on the United States. The bill mandates that agreements resulting from the WHO’s pandemic treaty negotiations (currently led by the International Negotiating Body) must be treated as treaties under the U.S. Constitution, requiring Senate ratification with a two-thirds vote. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by ensuring congressional oversight of international pandemic agreements. The bill responds to concerns about WHO’s pandemic management and aims to prevent executive agreements from bypassing Senate review.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to add a new aggravating factor for death penalty cases involving the killing of law enforcement officers or first responders. Specifically, it makes it a capital offense if someone kills or targets a police officer, firefighter, or other first responder while they are performing official duties, because of their duties, or due to their status as a public official. The change applies to cases where the victim was engaged in preventing, investigating, or prosecuting crimes, or providing emergency services. This policy shift directly affects defendants convicted of such killings by expanding the circumstances under which the death penalty could be sought.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 7) seeks congressional disapproval of a 2023 rule defining "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS), which would have changed how federal agencies regulate wetlands and waterways. It targets a rule jointly issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and other agencies (88 Fed. Reg. 3004, Jan. 18, 2023), directly affecting landowners, developers, and environmental regulators by altering jurisdiction over water resources. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule under a specific disapproval process in Title 5 of U.S. Code, preventing it from taking effect. The resolution does not create new regulations but aims to block an existing federal rule. This is a procedural step, not a new law.

Maddy summaryThe U.S. Senate passed SRES 58 to formally congratulate the Kansas City Chiefs on winning Super Bowl LVII. This symbolic resolution directly honors the Chiefs organization (including chairman Clark Hunt, president Mark Donovan, head coach Andy Reid, and players Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Harrison Butker), as well as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Missouri Governor Mike Parson. The resolution directs the Senate Secretary to deliver a copy to these recipients, recognizing the team's victory and their 2022 NFL season achievements. As a non-binding gesture, it has no legal effect but publicly celebrates the Chiefs' championship win.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 12) seeks congressional disapproval of the District of Columbia Council’s approval of the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-789). It directly affects D.C. residents and local government, as the resolution targets the District’s newly enacted criminal code. The mechanism is a formal congressional disapproval under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, requiring passage by both chambers to block the D.C. law from taking effect. The resolution does not alter the D.C. code itself but aims to halt its implementation through federal action.

Maddy summarySRES 45 is a non-binding Senate resolution introduced on February 9, 2023, by a group of senators expressing the Senate's view that the current migration levels at the U.S. southern border constitute a crisis. This resolution does not create new laws or policies, nor does it directly affect any individuals or groups - it serves solely as a symbolic statement of the Senate's position. It contains no concrete policy mechanisms or implementation plans, as resolutions of "sense" are typically used for expressing opinions rather than enacting change. The resolution was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but has no legal effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands U.S. immigration restrictions by adding new grounds for denying entry to non-citizens. It makes individuals inadmissible if a consular officer or DHS believes they engaged in, or plan to engage in, activities like espionage, sabotage, violating U.S. export laws for sensitive goods/technology, unlawful activities, or efforts to overthrow the U.S. government by force. It also bars entry for spouses or children of individuals deemed inadmissible under these new rules if the qualifying activity occurred within the last five years. The law directly affects people seeking visas or entry into the United States based on these specific security-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal murder law to treat distributing fentanyl that causes death as felony murder. It specifically targets individuals who distribute fentanyl (2+ grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, or 0.5+ grams of its analogues) knowing it contains the substance and causing death. The law adds a new provision stating that distributing fentanyl resulting in death constitutes first-degree murder, punishable by death or life imprisonment. This directly affects fentanyl distributors whose actions lead to fatalities, with the penalty applying when the distributor knew or should have known the substance contained fentanyl or its analogues.

Maddy summaryThe Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2023 amends immigration detention procedures to extend the length of detention for certain aliens without time limits, except as specified in the bill. It changes terminology from "parole" to "recognizance" throughout the process and establishes new criteria that make it more difficult for certain aliens to be released on bond during removal proceedings. The bill adds specific circumstances under which detention can continue beyond the standard removal period, including for aliens convicted of certain crimes, those deemed a threat to national security, or those who fail to cooperate with removal efforts. These changes primarily affect immigrants facing removal proceedings who may be held in detention for extended periods without bond eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review process to cover foreign purchases or leases of real estate near military sites. It specifically requires CFIUS review for transactions involving property within 100 miles of military installations or 50 miles of military training routes, special use airspace, controlled firing areas, or military operations areas - particularly when the foreign buyer is linked to Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea. The bill also links energy project approvals to CFIUS reviews, requiring the Defense Secretary to delay project reviews until CFIUS concludes its assessment of related real estate transactions. This directly affects foreign entities seeking to acquire property near military infrastructure and federal agencies managing energy project permits.