Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Defense from imposing new COVID-19 vaccine mandates without explicit congressional approval. It directly affects military members discharged or facing adverse actions (like separation or rank reduction) solely due to refusing the vaccine. Key provisions require the DoD to adjust discharges to "honorable," reinstate members to their prior rank, expunge adverse records related to vaccination status, and provide back pay for lost benefits. The bill also mandates equal retention and promotion opportunities for unvaccinated service members and creates exemption processes for specific cases like natural immunity or religious objections. These changes apply regardless of whether members previously sought vaccine accommodations.

Maddy summaryS 31, the SPR Act, requires the Secretary of the Interior to create a plan increasing oil and gas production on federal lands before any future drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This applies to most federal lands (excluding national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, marine sanctuaries, and Indian land) and mandates new production actions beyond existing lease schedules. The plan must be developed with input from other cabinet secretaries and submitted to Congress within 60 days after any SPR drawdown occurs. The bill directly affects federal land management and SPR operations, adding a procedural step to SPR releases.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 10) proposes a symbolic gesture: lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff on January 22 each year to "memorialize the unborn." It references the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning it, citing that over 60 million unborn children have "perished" since 1973. The resolution encourages the public to observe this day by lowering flags to mourn and honor those affected, while also urging legislators to support laws respecting "the sanctity of life." As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but makes a symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryS 15, the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, requires states to submit standardized abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) annually to continue receiving Medicaid funding for family planning services. States must report specific mandatory data points - including maternal age, gestational age, race, ethnicity, and abortion method - by December 31 of the previous year, using a CDC-maintained standardized system. The CDC will publish an annual report on this data, and states that fail to submit timely reports may still receive retroactive Medicaid payments, but knowingly providing false data can result in losing future Medicaid funding. This bill directly affects all states receiving Medicaid funds for family planning services, aiming to create uniform national abortion data collection.

Maddy summaryS 16, the Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2023, prohibits federal funding for colleges and universities that host campus health clinics providing abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees. It requires these institutions to submit annual certifications confirming their clinics do not offer such services, with funding eligibility contingent on this compliance. The bill defines "abortion drugs" broadly as any medication intended to terminate a pregnancy (excluding specific medical exceptions), and clarifies that campus health clinics - not hospitals - are covered under this restriction. This policy directly affects public and private institutions of higher education receiving federal funds, altering their funding eligibility based on campus health service offerings.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Secretary of Energy from selling petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party or to any buyer unless they guarantee the oil won't be exported to China. It directly affects the Department of Energy (which manages the SPR) and any companies or entities seeking to purchase SPR oil with potential Chinese ties. The key mechanism requires the Secretary to block sales to China-linked entities or impose strict export restrictions on all sales. The bill aims to prevent SPR oil from reaching China, without creating new programs or altering existing SPR management rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits abortions performed specifically because a prenatal test or diagnosis indicates the unborn child has Down syndrome. It makes it a federal crime for medical providers to perform such abortions, with potential penalties of up to five years in prison or fines, and allows civil lawsuits by affected individuals (like parents or the woman) seeking damages. The law requires medical professionals to report suspected violations to law enforcement and mandates courts to protect the privacy of women seeking such abortions. It explicitly states the bill does not create a right to abortion or affect existing abortion access, focusing solely on banning disability-based abortion decisions.

Maddy summaryThe Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act prohibits federal funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates, clinics, subsidiaries, or successors. It redirects these funds to other eligible health care providers - including community health centers, hospitals, and clinics that serve underserved populations - to ensure continued access to services like contraception, cancer screenings, prenatal care, and STI testing. The bill explicitly states it does not alter existing abortion funding restrictions or reduce overall federal support for women’s health services. This policy change aims to maintain funding availability for essential women’s health care while shifting resources away from Planned Parenthood.

Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Reauthorization Act of 2022 or the Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act This act reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies pediatric cancer research and related programs, including to expand collection of and access to relevant biospecimens and to support the transition of pediatric cancer survivors to primary care.

National Heritage Area Act This act establishes a National Heritage Area System. The Department of the Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of such areas. The National Heritage Area System shall be composed of each National Heritage Area, National Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Canalway, Cultural Heritage Corridor, National Heritage Route, and National Heritage Partnership designated by Congress before or on enactment of this act; and each National Heritage Area designated by Congress after enactment of this act. A National Heritage Area shall not be considered to be a unit of the National Park System nor subject to the authorities applicable to such units. Interior may carry out or review a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of each proposed heritage area for designation as a National Heritage Area. Interior must review and certify whether the proposed area meets specified requirements, including that it has natural, historic, and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States. An area shall be designated as a National Heritage Area only by an act of Congress. Interior shall conduct studies to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating specified areas in Hawaii as the Kaena Point National Heritage Area and in Virginia and North Carolina as the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area. The act also (1) establishes or extends specified National Heritage Areas, (2) redesignates the America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership in Iowa as the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, and (3) extends the deadline for the management plans for certain heritage areas.