Sen. Mitch McConnell

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 255) is a ceremonial Senate measure honoring former U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri, who died on May 13, 2025. It recognizes his 40+ years of public service, including his roles as Missouri Governor (1973-1977, 1981-1985) and U.S. Senator (1987-2011). The resolution directs the Senate to adjourn briefly as a mark of respect and transmit a copy to his family. It has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents, as it is purely commemorative.

Maddy summarySRES 237 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr., Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, and Pfc. Dante Taitano, who died during a vehicle recovery mission in Lithuania while supporting a NATO training exercise. The resolution expresses the Senate’s gratitude for their service, acknowledges the multinational recovery effort involving U.S., Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian personnel, and reaffirms commitment to NATO deterrence in the Baltic region. It has no policy impact - it solely commemorates the soldiers’ sacrifice and their role in a U.S.-led NATO mission.

Maddy summaryS 1806, the Business Owners Protection Act of 2025, terminates certain discretionary powers held by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that were created under the Dodd-Frank Act but never implemented. Specifically, it ends SEC authority to impose new requirements on private businesses if the Commission hadn’t proposed rules or issued guidance on those requirements by January 1, 2025. This affects businesses that might have faced new SEC rules but avoids future regulatory burdens from unused authority. The SEC must publicly list all terminated authorities within 180 days of the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThe COUNTER Act (S 1793) amends U.S. military law to clarify and expand authorities for responding to drone threats. It allows the Secretary of Defense to delegate drone mitigation actions to combatant commanders and exempts related technology and protocols from public disclosure under federal and state laws. The bill specifies that certain federal laws (like those covering cybercrime and aviation) do not apply to military drone mitigation efforts conducted outside the United States. It also updates reporting deadlines and adds new definitions for military commands involved in drone threat response, with key provisions extending until 2030. This bill directly affects Department of Defense and Coast Guard operations related to unmanned aircraft system threats.

Maddy summarySRES 220 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution recognizes officers who have been killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty, including 234 officers honored for 2024 fatalities and 18 officers killed in 2025. It expresses the Senate’s support for law enforcement, acknowledges the need for adequate resources for officer safety, and encourages public observance to celebrate their service and sacrifices. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony on June 26, 2025, to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II. The medal was awarded to these veterans under the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Act (Public Law 117-132). The resolution requires that all physical preparations for the event follow conditions set by the Architect of the Capitol. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but enables a ceremonial event honoring these veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases government support for crop insurance premiums for certain farm insurance plans. It raises the government's share to 77% for higher coverage levels and 68% for lower coverage levels under revenue or yield protection plans using enterprise or whole-farm units - up from previous rates. It also adjusts coverage requirements (lowering the minimum from 14% to 10% for some options) and increases premium subsidies for supplemental coverage from 65% to 80%. The bill requires a study on expanding supplemental coverage to larger counties, with a report due within a year of enactment.

Maddy summarySRES 201 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating the week of May 4-10, 2025, as "National Small Business Week." It honors small businesses and entrepreneurs across all U.S. communities for their economic contributions, citing that small businesses support over 59 million jobs. The resolution recognizes their resilience and celebrates their role in strengthening local economies. This symbolic gesture, consistent with annual presidential proclamations since 1963, does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes.

This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.

Maddy summarySRES 186 designates April 29, 2025, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day to raise public awareness about the dangers of counterfeit fentanyl pills. The resolution specifically aims to inform families and young people about how fake pills - often disguised as legitimate medications - contribute to overdose deaths, citing that illicit fentanyl was involved in 81% of drug deaths among youth aged 14-23 in 2023. It does not create new laws or funding but formally supports existing efforts to combat counterfeit pills and encourages awareness campaigns. The resolution highlights alarming statistics, including 51,010 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2024 and low youth awareness (only 55% of teens knew about counterfeit pills).