Sen. Raphael G. Warnock

Maddy summaryThis bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It directly affects the spouses of veterans whose death was caused by ALS, specifically those who died on or after October 1, 2022. The key provision amends a law to treat veterans who died from ALS as if they had the disease for the required period before death, removing a prior time requirement for compensation eligibility. This change ensures surviving spouses qualify for the same benefits previously available only to veterans with longer ALS diagnoses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Russia's War on Faith Act, mandates that the U.S. government create a detailed annual report documenting religious persecution in Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces. The required reports must list specific actions taken against various religious groups, such as the destruction of worship sites, the detention of clergy, and efforts to force communities to align with the Russian Orthodox Church. Following each report, the President must certify whether individuals or entities listed for these abuses should face financial sanctions under existing U.S. laws. If the President agrees that sanctions are warranted, the bill authorizes the blocking of property and other penalties against those responsible for the documented violations.

Maddy summaryThe Drug Deal Disclosure Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publicly release specific records regarding agreements between the federal government and major drug manufacturers starting in 2025. This law mandates the disclosure of contracts that include provisions such as reduced drug prices based on international rates, direct-to-consumer sales discounts, duty exemptions, and special treatment for Medicare programs. While the bill allows for the redaction of confidential pricing details, it prohibits withholding information based on political sensitivity or reputational harm and requires a detailed justification for any redactions. Additionally, the act mandates reports to Congress and independent analysis from the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the economic and budgetary impacts of these agreements.

Maddy summarySRES 627 is a Senate resolution designating March 5, 2026, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise public awareness about government imposter scams. It specifically targets scams where fraudsters impersonate agencies like the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare to steal money or personal information, disproportionately affecting older adults. The resolution encourages education through community groups, law enforcement, and financial institutions to help people recognize and report these scams, without creating new laws or regulations.

Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 This act permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution. Among the changes, the act removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.) The act permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States. Additionally, the act authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business. Finally, the act limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibiting defenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); and discretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries). These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.

Maddy summaryThe Kira Johnson Act establishes a federal grant program to support community-based organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes for demographic groups facing higher rates of maternal mortality and health disparities. The bill authorizes $100 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for grants that fund programs addressing social determinants of health, culturally congruent care, and midwifery support, with special consideration given to organizations led by individuals from affected communities. It also creates a separate $5 million annual grant program for respectful maternity care training that requires ongoing education for all maternity care staff, including administrative and support personnel, to address bias and racism. Additionally, the legislation mandates that hospitals establish compliance programs to report and respond to instances of bias in maternity care, requires regular reporting on patient experiences, and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct studies on reducing discrimination in healthcare settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Federal Clearinghouse to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities find and access federal research funding opportunities. The Clearinghouse will be established within the Department of Education and will include representatives from multiple federal agencies to provide information on grants for research and building research capacity. It will also offer best practices and recommendations to help HBCUs strengthen their research programs and compete for federal funding. The bill requires federal agencies to review their grant programs and report annually to Congress on how they can better support HBCU research capacity through the Clearinghouse.

Maddy summaryS 921, titled "Tyler’s Law," requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases, along with the costs, benefits, privacy impacts, and effects on patient-clinician relationships. The study must examine current testing frequency, associated costs, and how fentanyl testing might influence patient privacy and care. Within six months of completing the study, the Secretary must issue guidance on whether hospitals should routinely test for fentanyl, how to inform clinicians about testing protocols, and how such testing might affect future overdose risks and health outcomes. This bill directly affects hospitals with emergency departments and patients experiencing overdoses, but it does not mandate testing - it only mandates a study and subsequent guidance.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 21, 2026, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to recognize the contributions of women in the agricultural sector. The bill directly affects women working in farming, research, education, and related industries by formally acknowledging their roles as producers, leaders, and mentors. It highlights that women represent over one-third of U.S. agricultural producers and generated $222 billion in agricultural sales in 2022. The designation encourages citizens to celebrate and support women in agriculture during National Ag Week, which coincides with the date. This is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change that alters laws or programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the AI Research and Oversight in Courts Task Force to study how artificial intelligence speech-to-text and automatic speech recognition technologies are used in federal and state courts across the United States. The 15-member task force, composed of government officials and independent experts, will assess issues related to accuracy, privacy, civil liberties, and costs associated with these technologies in the judicial system. Within 18 months of enactment, the group must submit a final report to Congress with findings and recommendations on whether these technologies affect court record integrity, alter speech from individuals with accents or speech impediments, and pose cybersecurity risks. The task force will also examine whether court records should include watermarks or metadata to indicate AI involvement and provide guidance on vendor selection for these technologies.