Sen. John Hoeven

Maddy summarySRES 153 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating March 27, 2025, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the contributions of women in U.S. agriculture, citing that women operate over 1.2 million farms (36% of total sales, $222 billion in 2022) and work across diverse roles from farming to education and advocacy. The resolution encourages public acknowledgment of women’s impact on the agricultural workforce and food systems, urging support for women entering the field, leadership opportunities, and global food security. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally honors this group during National Women’s History Month and National Ag Week.

Maddy summaryS 1224, the RIFLE Act, eliminates the federal tax on firearm transfers by repealing Section 5811 of the Internal Revenue Code. This directly affects firearm sellers and buyers, removing a tax they previously paid on transactions. The bill includes technical adjustments to other tax code sections to reflect the repeal and clarifies that firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act remain outside the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The changes take effect after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThe Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 establishes a framework for imposing comprehensive sanctions on Russia if the President determines Russia is engaging in actions that undermine peace with Ukraine, such as refusing to negotiate a peace agreement, violating peace agreements, or planning another military invasion. If such a determination is made, the bill mandates blocking property of Russian officials and entities, prohibiting transactions with Russian financial institutions, increasing tariffs on Russian goods to at least 500% ad valorem, banning energy exports to Russia, and prohibiting purchases of Russian sovereign debt. It also imposes sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil, uranium, or petroleum products, with duties of at least 500% on such goods. The bill requires the President to make determinations every 90 days and allows for termination of sanctions if Russia ceases harmful actions and enters a peace agreement with Ukraine, with immediate reimposition if Russia resumes those actions.

Maddy summarySRES 148 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the U.S. Senate to honor the late Senator Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming, who died in 2022. The resolution expresses the Senate's "profound sorrow and deep regret" over his passing and formally requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy to his family. It also directs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect during its final session following the resolution's adoption. This resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents - it solely serves as a formal tribute to Simpson's legacy.

Maddy summaryS 1169, the "Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act," prohibits states and local governments from imposing excise taxes on the sale of firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts during interstate or foreign commerce. This directly affects firearm manufacturers and dealers who sell across state lines, preventing them from facing state-level taxes on those transactions. The bill explicitly states it does not change the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which allows separate federal excise taxes on firearms for conservation funding. The key provision is a blanket ban on state taxes for interstate firearm sales, aiming to standardize tax treatment across state lines.

Maddy summarySRES 142 is a Senate resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women. It highlights specific achievements, including over 4,400 women serving in the military as of 2025, more than 11,600 women owning businesses as of 2024, and historical roles in fields like science, medicine, and cultural preservation. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but publicly honors these women’s contributions to communities, tribal sovereignty, and U.S. history without mandating policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe Mining Schools Act of 2025 creates a Department of Energy grant program to fund mining education at eligible colleges and universities. It directly affects accredited mining engineering programs and specific public university departments in states with significant mining economies, aiming to recruit students and strengthen training in critical mineral extraction, environmental reclamation, and domestic supply chains. Grants - limited to 10 annually - must support curriculum focused on rare earth elements, recycling technologies, reducing environmental impacts, and meeting U.S. energy mineral needs. The program authorizes $10 million yearly for fiscal years 2026-2033, with oversight by a Mining Professional Development Advisory Board.

Maddy summaryThe North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025 establishes a process for North Dakota to exchange state-owned land parcels (called "State land grant parcels") located within or near Indian reservations for equivalent parcels of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Under the bill, North Dakota would relinquish its ownership of the state land and receive federal land of substantially equivalent value, with the federal government placing any land within reservation boundaries into trust for the affected tribes. The bill requires appraisals to ensure value equivalence, sets a 60-day timeframe for federal land conveyance, and preserves existing grazing rights and mineral leases. It also includes provisions for hazardous materials inspections and explicitly states it does not affect existing treaty rights or ongoing litigation regarding land ownership.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses. It adds "qualified military spouse" as a new category eligible for the credit, meaning employers who hire spouses of active-duty service members can claim the tax benefit. To qualify, a spouse must be certified by a local agency as married to an Armed Forces member at the time of hire. The change applies to hires occurring after the law's effective date, directly affecting military spouses seeking employment and employers who hire them.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Major Richard Star Act (S 1032), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both their military retired pay and Veterans Affairs disability compensation simultaneously. It amends U.S. Code sections to remove the automatic reduction in retired pay that previously forced these veterans to choose between the two payments. The key change ensures veterans with combat-related disabilities qualify for full retired pay without offset against their VA disability benefits, effective for payments starting after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects veterans receiving military retired pay under Chapter 61 who also qualify for VA disability compensation for combat-related injuries.