Sen. Eric Schmitt

Maddy summarySRES 89 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week." It recognizes the National FFA Organization’s role in developing student leadership through agricultural education and celebrates two milestones: the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America (a historically Black agricultural youth group) and the 75th anniversary of the Federal charter for Future Farmers of America (signed by President Truman in 1950). The resolution does not create new laws or obligations but formally expresses congressional support for these observances. It affects no specific group or policy, serving solely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryS 650 designates the America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, as a National Historic Landmark. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study evaluating the site’s national significance and alternatives for preservation, including whether it should join the National Park System. The bill allows the Secretary to enter cooperative agreements with local entities for protecting the site and providing public educational programs. It explicitly states the designation does not restrict property owners’ rights or alter existing administration by the College, City, or State. This procedural bill focuses on formal recognition and study, not new policy changes.

Maddy summarySRES 53 is a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the February 19-26, 1945, Battle of Iwo Jima and the iconic U.S. flag-raising on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. It honors the service members who fought in the battle - including those who received the Medal of Honor - and recognizes the strategic importance of the victory in ending World War II. The resolution encourages public commemoration through ceremonies and events, while affirming U.S.-Japan reconciliation and honoring veterans' sacrifices. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect or direct impact on policy or beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThe ENABLE Act permanently extends two key provisions for ABLE accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings accounts designed for people with disabilities. It removes expiration dates for higher contribution limits (previously set to end in 2026) and for rolling over funds from 529 college savings plans into ABLE accounts. The bill also makes the savers credit applicable to ABLE account contributions, allowing eligible individuals to claim tax credits for their savings. These changes directly benefit people with disabilities who use ABLE accounts to save for qualified expenses without risking eligibility for government benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die on or after the bill's enactment date, directly affecting heirs of large estates (typically valued over $13 million for 2025). It also modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption (adjusted for inflation), replacing the current exemption amount. The bill sets new tax brackets for gifts exceeding this threshold and adjusts the calculation method for gift tax liability. These changes apply to gifts made or estates settled after the bill becomes law, with no impact on existing estate plans or transfers before enactment.

Maddy summaryS.68, the Complete COVID Collections Act, extends the deadline for prosecuting fraud related to pandemic relief programs to 10 years and streamlines collection processes for small business loans. It requires the Small Business Administration to refer claims under $100,000 to the Treasury for collection, mandates monthly reports to Congress on collection efforts, and demands monthly DOJ reports detailing fraud prosecutions and recovered funds. The bill directly affects businesses that received CARES Act loans, restaurant grants, or venue operator funds, as well as the SBA, Treasury, and DOJ. Key provisions include standardizing fraud enforcement timelines across all covered programs and requiring public transparency on recovered funds through the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Maddy summaryS 447, the "Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act," would require most Medicaid recipients aged 18-65 (excluding those with medical exemptions, pregnant individuals, or primary caregivers for young children) to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week to maintain coverage, starting January 1, 2026. This amendment to the Social Security Act creates a new work requirement for "able-bodied adults" under Medicaid, removing medical assistance for those who don’t meet the threshold. Exemptions cover individuals under 18 or over 65, those with medical certifications, pregnant people, primary caregivers for children under 6, and those in drug treatment programs. The bill directly affects working-age adults without qualifying exemptions who currently receive Medicaid. It represents a significant change to Medicaid eligibility rules for this specific group.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the CARES Act by removing subsection (c) of Section 4024. It does not create new policies or directly affect any specific group; it only modifies an existing provision in federal law. The change is purely procedural, eliminating a specific subsection without altering the law's overall structure or requirements. No new rules or impacts on housing are introduced. (1 sentence, as it is a procedural amendment).

Maddy summaryThis bill would require federal agencies to submit detailed reports about new regulations to Congress before they take effect. Major rules (defined as those with an annual economic effect of $100 million or more, or significant effects on competition, employment, or public safety) would need congressional approval via a joint resolution before taking effect, with Congress having 70 days to act. Nonmajor rules would have a different, shorter review process. The bill would also require agencies to publish cost-benefit analyses and other supporting documentation, and would mandate that rules be reviewed and potentially reapproved after 10 years.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Access to Banking Act (S 401) prohibits large financial institutions ($10 billion+ in assets) and payment networks from denying services to lawful businesses based on political or reputational factors, such as the type of legal business they operate. It requires banks to justify denials using objective, risk-based standards instead of category-based decisions, and mandates written explanations for denials. The law enables lawsuits against violators with treble damages and civil penalties up to 10% of service value (capped at $10,000 per violation). It directly affects major banks, payment processors, and credit unions that serve large-scale customers, ensuring fair access for businesses operating within federal law.