S.Amdt. 1357

What It Aims to Change or Add

As your legislative analyst, let's break down this amendment in plain English so we can keep our elected officials accountable. Ms. Baldwin submitted amendment SA 1357 to the concurrent resolution on the congressional budget for fiscal year 2025 and for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

The purpose of this amendment is to create a point of order in the Senate against legislation that would terminate health care for Americans with substance use disorder during the ongoing fentanyl crisis through cuts to the Medicaid program.

This amendment aims to add a rule in the Senate making it out of order to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that would decrease access to substance use disorder treatment by changing the Medicaid program in a way that results in lower coverage rates, reduced benefits, or decreased affordability for individuals with substance use disorder.

To get around this rule, the amendment adds that it may only be waived or suspended in the Senate by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. Furthermore, an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, is required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this rule.