Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryS 998 requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to audit all electromagnetic spectrum assigned to federal agencies within 18 months of enactment. The audit must detail each spectrum band used, its purpose, geographic location, whether it's shared, and any unused portions, with a report submitted to Congress. This bill directly affects all federal agencies using spectrum by mandating a comprehensive review of their spectrum holdings and usage patterns. The report must include specific technical details but will be unclassified, with a possible classified annex. The bill coordinates with an existing transportation department spectrum audit to avoid duplication.

Maddy summaryS 999, the Government Spectrum Valuation Act, requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to estimate the commercial value of government-owned radio frequencies (3 kilohertz to 95 gigahertz) assigned to federal agencies. The NTIA must base these valuations on what the spectrum would be worth if reallocated for commercial wireless use, while preserving government mission needs, and report the estimates annually to Congress. Federal agencies must then include these valuations in their budget submissions and annual financial statements. The bill mandates these valuations for different frequency bands at specific intervals (1-3 years after enactment), with public disclosure of methodology unless classified information is involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 22) seeks to block a specific rule issued by the Department of Education regarding federal student loan modifications. It targets the rule titled "Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans," which included a one-time debt relief program announced in October 2022. The resolution requests Congress disapprove the rule under the Congressional Review Act, preventing the Department from implementing it. If approved, the rule would have no legal effect, directly affecting how student loan borrowers could access modifications or debt relief under that specific policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, and other federal agencies from creating or distributing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly to individuals or maintaining accounts for individuals using CBDCs. It explicitly bans any federal entity from minting, issuing, offering CBDC-related services, or holding CBDCs as assets on their balance sheets. The bill directly affects federal financial institutions and prevents them from developing or implementing a government-run digital currency system.

Maddy summaryThe NIH Reform Act (S 960) reorganizes the National Institutes of Health by splitting the existing National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) into three new institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. This directly affects NIH leadership and research operations, requiring new director appointments with 5-year terms (allowing one reappointment) and updating federal references to replace NIAID with the new institute names. The bill mandates a transition plan for NIH leadership to shift responsibilities from the old NIAID structure to the new institutes, without altering funding or creating new research programs. It focuses on administrative restructuring to better align research priorities with specific disease areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require the U.S. Supreme Court to have exactly nine justices. Currently, Congress sets the Court's size through legislation, but this amendment would make the nine-justice structure a permanent requirement in the Constitution. It would need ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years to become part of the Constitution. If adopted, it would prevent Congress from changing the Court's size via ordinary legislation.

Maddy summaryThe PRIME Act exempts certain local meat processing from federal inspection requirements. It allows custom slaughter facilities to process animals and prepare meat products for exclusive sale within the same state - either to households or to restaurants, grocery stores, or other food businesses that serve consumers directly in that state. Facilities must comply with their state's laws regarding slaughter and processing, and the bill explicitly states it does not override state regulations on meat handling or sales. This change applies only to intrastate transactions, keeping federal oversight for meat sold across state lines.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at multilateral development banks (like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank) to oppose new loans to China. It is based on findings that China exceeded the income threshold for graduation from development assistance in 2016 and has since received over $20 billion in loans from these institutions. The bill requires annual reports tracking China's borrowing, U.S. voting efforts to end lending to countries that have surpassed graduation thresholds, and the status of China's eligibility. It directly affects China's access to multilateral development financing and the operational policies of these banks.

Maddy summaryS 942 is a procedural Senate rule that would prevent consideration of any bill or amendment attempting to change the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. It creates a "point of order" (a procedural objection) that, if sustained by the Senate chair, would automatically remove such provisions from legislation. This rule applies to all Senate consideration stages, including amendments and conference reports, and requires a two-thirds vote to override. The bill directly affects any legislation proposing to alter the Supreme Court's size, blocking it from advancing through Senate procedures.

Maddy summaryThe Drone Integration and Zoning Act clarifies drone regulations in the United States, focusing on airspace within 200 feet above ground level (the "immediate reaches of airspace"). It preserves state, local, and tribal authority over drone operations below 200 feet, requiring commercial drone operators to obtain property owner permission for operations in this zone while allowing reasonable restrictions on time, manner, and place of drone use. The bill establishes a process for designating "authorized commercial routes" for commercial drone operations above 200 feet and updates rules to permit states to issue intrastate authorizations for drone carriage of property. It also updates safety standards for small drones and ensures state regulations don't interfere with safe national airspace operations.