Sen. John W. Hickenlooper

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for certain public-sector retirees. It eliminates the government pension offset (GPO), which currently cuts Social Security checks for people with government pensions, and removes the windfall elimination provision (WEP), which reduces benefits for those with pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. The changes directly affect public employees (like teachers, firefighters, and state/local government workers) who have pensions from jobs that didn't pay into Social Security. The bill takes effect for Social Security benefits paid after December 2023, restoring full benefits for eligible retirees.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to award a single gold medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment collectively, recognizing their service during the Revolutionary War. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be permanently displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, with Congress encouraging its use for research and potential display at other historically significant locations. Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs, and all medals are classified as national medals under U.S. law. The bill directly honors the regiment, which in 1778 became one of the first integrated units in American history by recruiting over 200 Black and Indigenous soldiers.

Maddy summaryThe Protect the West Act of 2023 establishes a $60 billion Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to support ecological restoration projects on federal and non-federal lands across the western United States. It creates two main programs: a grant program ($20 billion) to help communities plan and coordinate restoration projects on non-federal lands, and a partnership program ($40 billion) to implement restoration projects on both federal and non-federal lands through collaboration with state, local, and tribal governments. The bill prioritizes projects that improve forest and rangeland health, reduce wildfire risks, create jobs, and enhance equitable outdoor access, while requiring projects to follow existing conservation authorities and avoid prohibited activities like construction in wilderness areas. The fund is designed to complement, not replace, existing conservation programs, with oversight requirements including annual reports to Congress on fund usage and project outcomes.

Maddy summaryS 566, the "Charitable Act," modifies tax deductions for charitable contributions for individuals who do not itemize their deductions on federal income taxes. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for 2023 and 2024 tax years, instead of the usual itemized deduction. The bill also removes references to a repealed penalty provision (Section 6662(b)(10)) and adjusts related penalty language in the tax code. This directly affects non-itemizing taxpayers who make charitable contributions, providing a new deduction option for those years only. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022.

Maddy summaryThe GRAD Act requires colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to publicly report detailed graduation rates. It mandates institutions to break down these rates by student type (full-time/part-time, first-time/non-first-time) and program length (4+ years or under 4 years), showing completion percentages at multiple timeframes (normal time, 150%, 200%, and 300% of normal program length). This provides prospective students with clearer, more specific data to compare institutions based on realistic graduation timelines. The bill directly affects higher education institutions and aims to improve transparency for students making college decisions. The changes amend existing reporting requirements under the Higher Education Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires background checks for most private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals by mandating that such transfers occur through a licensed dealer. It directly affects unlicensed buyers and sellers of firearms who would otherwise transfer guns without checks, except for specific exceptions like family gifts, law enforcement transfers, temporary safety-related transfers, or transfers for hunting/shooting at designated locations. Key provisions include requiring licensed dealers to conduct background checks as if they were transferring the firearm themselves and adding a new requirement for written certification from the unlicensed transferee. The bill does not create a national gun registry and leaves state laws intact.

Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2023 requires organizations making campaign-related disbursements over $10,000 to disclose detailed information about their funding sources, including the names and addresses of major donors and the top 5 or 2 funders for political communications. It closes loopholes allowing foreign nationals to influence U.S. elections by prohibiting foreign contributions to ballot initiatives and requiring disclosure of foreign money in campaigns. The bill also mandates "stand by every ad" requirements, requiring political communications to include disclaimers identifying who paid for them and listing major funders. These provisions apply to corporations, labor organizations, and other groups making political expenditures, with the goal of increasing transparency in campaign finance.

Maddy summaryS 503 establishes a new Space National Guard as a reserve component of the U.S. Space Force, composed of state-level units in areas where the Space Force operates. It directly affects National Guard members in participating states, territories, Puerto Rico, and D.C., who would join this new space-focused reserve force. The bill requires implementation within 18 months and mandates annual congressional briefings on its progress, including missions, personnel, and funding. It also clarifies definitions in military law and explicitly states the bill won’t require relocating existing military installations.

Maddy summaryThe Internet PACT Act requires major social media platforms to publish clear content policies, create accessible complaint systems for users, and provide biannual transparency reports detailing how they handle content moderation. It sets specific timeframes for platforms to address illegal content (4 days) and potentially policy-violating content (14 days), with longer deadlines for smaller platforms. The bill modifies Section 230 immunity, removing protection for platforms that fail to remove illegal content after receiving proper notice from courts. Smaller platforms with fewer than 1 million monthly visitors and $50 million in annual revenue are exempt from some requirements. This legislation aims to increase transparency around content moderation practices while maintaining legal protections for platforms that comply with the new rules.

Maddy summarySenate Bill S 513, the "Insure Cybersecurity Act of 2023," creates a working group within 90 days of enactment to improve clarity around cyber insurance policies for customers and businesses. The group, composed of agencies like CISA, NIST, and Treasury, along with industry stakeholders, will analyze complex policy terms (including ransomware coverage and cyberterrorism exclusions) and develop simpler explanations for customers. After one year, the group will submit recommendations to Congress, leading to publicly available resources on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration website. These resources aim to help insurance buyers and providers understand coverage options without altering existing insurance regulations or mandating adoption.