Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes March as Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Awareness Month to highlight these serious health conditions. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage public awareness and education about blood clot risks. It affects the general public by promoting information about prevention, symptoms, and the importance of early detection for these life-threatening conditions. The resolution underscores that approximately 900,000 people in the United States are affected annually and that many deaths from these conditions are preventable.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends federal funding for sport fish restoration and recreational boating safety through 2031, directly benefiting anglers, boaters, and conservation organizations. It updates the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act by changing the funding period from 2026 to 2031 and modifies how multistate conservation grants are distributed. The key provision ensures each state receives the greater of 0.0375 percent of total appropriations or $200,000 for conservation projects, replacing the previous $1.2 million cap. These changes aim to provide more predictable and flexible funding for fisheries management and water safety initiatives across the United States.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, signed by major technology companies on March 4, 2026, represents sound national policy for protecting electricity customers as data centers expand. The bill highlights concerns that data centers are consuming a growing share of national electricity and that traditional utility regulations often require all ratepayers to pay for infrastructure built to serve these large industrial users. The resolution supports the pledge's requirement that companies negotiating data center agreements pay for generation and delivery infrastructure regardless of whether they use the electricity, aiming to prevent households and small businesses from subsidizing private energy costs. It also encourages relevant federal agencies to help implement these commitments and invites additional technology companies to voluntarily adopt similar protections for ratepayers.

Maddy summarySRES 425 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Hays, Kansas police sergeant Scott Heimann, who died in the line of duty on September 27, 2025, while responding to a domestic violence incident. The resolution expresses the Senate's appreciation for Heimann's 2016-2025 service to the Hays community, his role as a positive community role model, and his family's sacrifice. It formally offers condolences to his wife, children, parents, and extended family, and pays tribute to his "noble sacrifice." As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact but serves as a symbolic recognition of his service and death.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 372) honors Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic, who was killed in the line of duty on August 26, 2025, while attempting to disable a fleeing vehicle. The Senate resolution expresses respect for his service, offers condolences to his family, and pays tribute to his sacrifice. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal expression of appreciation for his life and death while serving his community. The resolution specifically references his background, career, and community involvement before his death.

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 summaryThe Homegrown Fertilizer Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants and loans to help American businesses build or expand domestic fertilizer production facilities. This funding supports various activities such as constructing new plants, purchasing equipment, and improving manufacturing efficiency, with priority given to projects that increase competition and reduce fertilizer prices for farmers. Eligible recipients include independent businesses, cooperatives, nonprofits, and tribal organizations located within the United States, provided they do not already control a large market share in fertilizer production. Grants can reach up to $100 million and require matching funds from recipients, while loans follow existing federal farm program terms. The program also includes conditions requiring repayment if the funded facility is sold to a large market player within 10 years.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies when franchisors can be held legally responsible for franchisee employees' pay and working conditions under federal labor laws. It specifies that franchisors are only joint employers if they exercise "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, hours, hiring, or discipline - excluding routine brand standards or training. The law explicitly states that franchisors do not become joint employers for actions like setting operating hours, minimum staffing levels, or offering brand guidelines. This directly affects franchisors, franchisees, and their employees by reducing legal uncertainty in the $825 billion franchise sector.

Maddy summaryThe Pathways to Prosperity Act creates a new grant program to strengthen workforce development at community colleges. It provides competitive grants to community colleges to develop programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage jobs through partnerships with employers in growing industries. The bill requires colleges to use proven methods, create credentials that can be used across different jobs or built upon for further training, and track outcomes like program completion and job advancement. It also establishes performance metrics for program evaluation and requires transparent public reporting of results. This legislation primarily affects community colleges, students, and workers seeking career advancement in specific industry sectors.

Maddy summaryS 2903, the Safe Step Act, requires health insurance plans and employers offering health coverage to establish a clear, timely process for patients or doctors to request exceptions when step therapy protocols (where insurers require trying cheaper drugs first) would harm a patient. It mandates approval for exceptions if prior drugs failed, delay would cause severe harm, a drug is unsafe, or a patient is stable on their current medication. Plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and cover the requested drug without extra cost-sharing. The bill also requires annual reports to the government on exception requests, approvals, denials, and trends by medical condition or specialty. This directly affects patients on health plans with step therapy, their doctors, and the insurers managing those plans.