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U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) applauded unanimous Senate passage of their Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024. The bipartisan legislation will now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The JUDGES Act of 2024 would address judicial emergencies and shortages across the country by increasing the number of federal district judges in the most overworked regions of the country, including the Southern District of Indiana.

“Too many Hoosiers and Americans are being denied access to our justice system due to an overload of cases and a shortage of judges. Our bipartisan bill will help alleviate this shortage and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to have their day in court,” said Senator Young. “Senator Coons and I have worked diligently with our colleagues to ensure this legislation effectively addresses these judicial shortages and fairly distributes the additional judgeships across multiple presidential administrations. The Senate’s unanimous support is a testament to bipartisanship and common-sense legislating. I urge the House to pass this important legislation so that it can become law as soon as possible.”

“I’m grateful the Senate has unanimously passed our bipartisan bill to address the crisis facing overworked federal judges across the country. For decades, Congress has failed to authorize new federal judgeships, creating a massive backlog of case filings for our nation’s federal judges–especially in Delaware, where there are only four active judgeships. I’m proud of the work Senator Young and I did to gather unanimous support for this legislation first in the Senate Judiciary Committee and now on the Senate floor. I urge the House to swiftly pass this bill, and once President Biden signs it into law, I’m hopeful we can restore stability to our judicial system and help ensure access to justice for all Americans, no matter where they live,” said Senator Coons.

Senator Young first introduced the legislation in 2020 and re-introduced it in 2y021 and 2023. The JUDGES Act of 2024, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote in June, would act on the findings in the nonpartisan 2023 Judicial Conference of the United States report by creating the recommended judgeships during future presidential administrations. Additionally, the bipartisan bill includes new transparency requirements and provisions to ensure greater access to justice in certain high-need areas of the country.

Courts across the country are overburdened and facing a shortage of federal judges. As of March 31, 2023, there were 686,797 pending cases in federal district courts across the country, averaging 491 filings per judgeship over a 12-month period. In March of 2023, the Judicial Conference of the United States, a nonpartisan policy-making body for federal courts, recommended that Congress create 66 new district court judgeships, including one in the Southern District of Indiana, to help alleviate this crisis. The Southern District of Indiana would be part of the first tranche of the newly-created judgeships under this bill.

Congress bears the constitutional responsibility of establishing judgeships in the district courts of the United States. However, the last comprehensive authorization of new judgeships, which established 11 additional circuit court judgeships and 74 district court judgeships across America, occurred in 1990. Since then, targeted legislation enacted between 1999 and 2003 created 34 additional district court judgeships. It has now been two decades since Congress last authorized additional district judgeships.

In addition to Senators Young and Coons, Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) also cosponsored the JUDGES Act of 2024.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting Hoosiers of important consumer protection concerns for products recalled in July. The office encourages consumers to take advantage of opportunities available for those who purchase recalled items that could be harmful to their families.    

“The summer is coming to an end and kids are spending their final days outside before returning to school,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Don’t let the beautiful weather be ruined by an outdoor item breaking down. If you have one of the recalled products, stop using it immediately and pursue resolution from the manufacturer immediately.” 

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in July:  

If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.   

To view recalls issued prior to July visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.    

Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and Treasurer Daniel Elliott offer their praise for the speedy action taken by the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) to divest assets from China. Both Comptroller Nieshalla and Treasurer Elliot are INPRS board members.

In 2023, Indiana became the first state to enact a law, Senate Enrolled Act 268, requiring the public pension system to divest within five years from “any investment that is domiciled, issued, incorporated or listed in the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.” The law passed both chambers with unanimous, bipartisan support. As of July 1, 2024, just one year later, the pension plan has divested 100 percent of the $1.2 billion investments in Chinese entities.

“China is one of the foremost threats against our country’s national security, and INPRS has nobly exceeding the parameters set forth in the law by divesting Hoosier’s pension dollars from China ASAP,” Comptroller Nieshalla said.

“By divesting from China and focusing on investments in countries that value the principles of democracy, capitalism and freedom, we are safeguarding the best financial interest of Hoosiers and our nation,” said Treasurer Elliott.

Both Comptroller Nieshalla and Treasurer Elliott commend Senators Chris Garten, Aaron Freeman and Travis Holdman who authored SEA 268, and the Indiana General Assembly for passing this necessary common-sense legislation.

U.S. Senator Mike Braun's bills to become law or pass Senate in the 118^th Congress (2023-2024) are:

(Became Law) The Federal Prison Oversight Act

A bill to provide independent oversight to improve conditions for staff and prisoners in federal prisons like Terre Haute.

(Became Law) COVID-19 Origins Act

A bill that required the intelligence community to declassify important information about the origins of COVID, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

(Became Law) The Wounded Warrior Access Act

A bill that streamlines the claims process for veterans with a new online tool, helping those who previously had to get their claims information through the mail or by driving to a regional VA location.

(Became Law) Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act

A bill to ensure naloxone and any other medication to reverse opioid overdose is available on all military installations and in each operational environment.

(Became Law) Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida

A bill to help the children of Vietnam Veterans suffering from spina bifida due to their father’s exposure to Agent Orange get access to medical benefits for the rest of their lives

(Became Law) Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act

A bill which requires agencies to propose pay-fors to offset expensive government regulations.

(Passed Senate) VA Home Loan Awareness Act

A bill to inform veteran homebuyers of their eligibility for the VA Home Loan Program, which helps more veterans achieve the dream of homeownership.

(Passed Senate) Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023

A bill to improve conditions for dogs used in the detection of explosives, narcotics and patrol duties by federal agencies, by instituting programs that detect abuse and neglect and ensure emergency medical care, food and water, and rest time.

(Passed Senate) Mark Our Place Act

A bill to provide special headstones upon family request for all veterans who have received the Medal of Honor.

If signed into law, the National Fossil Act will join the following Braun bills signed into law:

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 118TH CONGRESS (2023-2024).

Federal Prison Oversight Act
The COVID-19 Origins Act (Public Law 118-2)
The Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act (included in Public Law 118-5)
Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida (Public Law 118-8)
The Wounded Warrior Access Act (Public Law 118-21)
The Korean American VALOR Act (Public Law 118-20)
The Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act (Public Law 118-31)
Supporting the Provision of Veteran Survivor Benefit Plans (Public Law 118-31)
Flexibility and Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (Public Law 118-31)

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 117TH CONGRESS (2021 - 2022):

Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-67)
A bill to properly implement the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act (Public Law 117-3)
The Consider Teachers Act (Public Law No: 117-49)
The Growing Climate Solutions Act (Public Law 117-328)
The STREAM Act (Public Law 117-328)
Small Business Establishment Registration Waiver Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Make It in America Act (Public Law 117-58)
The DUMP Opioids Act (Public Law 117-29
Better ODDS to Reduce Diversion Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-328)
FREED of Opioids Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Access for Veterans to Records Act (Public Law 117-328)
Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act (Public Law 117-328)
Apply the Science Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Emergency Use Transparency Act (Public Law 117-328)
The Recovery Startup Assistance Act (Public Law 117-328)
Promoting Access to Critical Countermeasures by Ensuring Specimen Samples (ACCESS) to Diagnostics Act (Public Law 117-328)
Predetermined Change Control Plan Act (Public Law 117-328)
Protecting Patients from Counterfeit Medical Devices Act (Public Law 117-328)
The PLUM Act (Public Law 117-328)

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 116TH CONGRESS (2019 - 2020):

The Safeguarding Small Business Act
Healthcare Transparency
the Whistleblower Act of 2019
the VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions Act
the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019
Restore Harmony Way Bridge Act
Richard Lugar Post Office Act
Payment Integrity Information Act
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act
OTC Reform
The Fair Care Act
Braun Provisions in the WRDA Reauthorization in the OMNI

The National Fossil Act has now passed the Senate. This bill names the mastodon as the U.S. national fossil, and was introduced by Senator Mike Braun and Senator Gary Peters and cosponsored by Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator Maggie Hassan.

This is Senator Braun’s fifth standalone bill to pass the Senate just this year, and if signed into law will be his tenth in the 118^thCongress (2023-2024) to become law, including provisions on veterans healthcare, opioids, and budget reform.

The National Fossil Act aims to celebrate the unique natural history of the United States, and encourage interest in paleontology.

If the National Fossil Act is passed by the House and signed into law, the mastodon would join the bald eagle, bison, rose, and oak tree as enduring national symbols of the United States.

The mastodon lived more than 13,000 years ago in the Pleistocene era, predominantly on land that would eventually become the United States of America. A fully grown mastodon was over 10 feet tall, weighed more than 11 tons, and was preceded by a pair of 16-foot-long tusks. Unlike its distant cousin, the mammoth, the mastodon was found exclusively in the United States, with its bones being unearthed in every state across the continental U.S.

Mastodon fossils are frequently found in Indiana and Michigan.

The mastodon was made the Indiana state fossil in 2022.

Mastodons have been found in nearly every Indiana county, including notable discoveries in Hebron, Fort Wayne, and Seymour.

“Mastodons embody the spirit of exploration, resilience, and strength that exemplifies our great nation. As a uniquely American symbol, mastodons inspire us to embrace our heritage and to protect our country’s natural treasures. I hope making Indiana’s state fossil our national fossil will inspire young Hoosiers to take an interest in our country’s rich natural history that may be in their own backyard.” – Senator Mike Braun

“Michigan made history when we uncovered one of the most complete skeletons of the Mastodon ever found, and we continue to find traces of this prehistoric giant all throughout our state,” said Senator Peters. “The Mastodon represents a unique piece of both Michigan’s and our nation’s history. By establishing the Mastodon as our national fossil, we can better preserve that history and inspire a new generation of scientists and researchers to continue their pursuit of discovery.”

The National Fossil Act:

Section 1 designates the bill as the National Fossil Act.
Section 2 establishes findings on the role of the Mastodon in American public life.
Section 3 designates the Mastodon as the national fossil under Title 36 U.S. Code, and makes necessary conforming amendments.