Sen. Christopher A. Coons

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 14-20, 2023, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. It recognizes 444 officers killed in 2022 (including specific names listed in the resolution) and acknowledges 32 officers killed in 2023, while expressing support for law enforcement personnel. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement officers and promoting awareness of their essential service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryS.1667, the America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023, creates a pathway to permanent residency for certain college graduates who entered the U.S. as children under specific visa categories. It directly affects noncitizens who: (1) were lawfully present as dependent children of nonimmigrant workers (excluding H-1B, L-1, etc.) for at least 8 years, (2) maintained lawful presence for 10+ years total, and (3) graduated from a U.S. college or university. Key provisions include age-out protections for dependents who turn 21 while waiting for visas and retention of priority dates for visa processing. The bill modifies immigration law to allow eligible individuals to file for permanent residency without numerical limits, using the date a petition was filed as the basis for age determination. This applies to those whose parents held employment-based nonimmigrant status (e.g., E-1, E-2, O-1), not tourist or student visas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve how it processes disability claims for veterans with service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It mandates that VA update and standardize annual training for claims processors on stressor development and verification, starting 180 days after enactment. The VA must also establish annual processes to analyze processing errors, conduct studies on PTSD claims trends, and update procedural guidance to better support claims processing. These changes directly affect VA claims processors and veterans seeking PTSD disability compensation.

Maddy summaryThe CREST Act of 2023 establishes federal research, development, and pilot programs to advance carbon removal technologies that capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or oceans. It creates specific programs for biomass carbon removal (including algal systems), geological carbon mineralization, ocean-based carbon removal, and direct air capture technology manufacturing, with funding totaling millions of dollars annually for these initiatives. The bill also establishes a carbon removal purchasing pilot program where the Department of Energy would buy carbon removal services from eligible companies at set prices, requiring measurement, reporting, and verification of carbon removal activities. The legislation defines key terms related to carbon removal and sets requirements for the technologies and approaches that qualify for federal support.

Maddy summaryS 1552, the Coastal Fellowships Act, establishes two fellowship programs - the Coastal Management Fellowship and Digital Coast Fellowship - to provide training, mentorship, and professional development for individuals pursuing careers in coastal management, policy, science, or law. Qualified fellows receive annual stipends of at least $47,000 (adjusted for inflation) for up to two years, with funding covering travel, health insurance, and professional development. The program directly supports coastal states and partner organizations by building local workforce capacity to address coastal vulnerabilities, while offering direct federal hiring opportunities to successful fellows. It authorizes $1.91 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2028 to administer these fellowships.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payments to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease. It changes the eligibility rule so that veterans diagnosed with ALS at any point before death - regardless of how long they had the disease - are treated as if they met the required duration for benefits. The change applies to veterans who died from ALS on or after October 1, 2022, ensuring surviving spouses receive benefits they previously might have been denied due to timing. This directly affects the families of veterans with ALS who pass away, streamlining access to financial support.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Banking Act of 2023 creates a legal safe harbor for financial institutions that provide services to state-sanctioned marijuana businesses and hemp-related legitimate businesses. It prevents federal banking regulators from taking adverse actions against depository institutions for serving these businesses solely because they operate within state-legal marijuana frameworks. The bill also ensures income from legal marijuana businesses can be considered for qualifying for federally backed mortgage loans and requires updated guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. These provisions aim to address longstanding banking access barriers for businesses operating within state-legal marijuana and hemp industries.

Maddy summarySRES 99 is a non-binding Senate resolution supporting International Women’s Day (March 8, 2023). It recognizes women’s fundamental rights and emphasizes that empowering women contributes to global peace, economic growth, and sustainable development. The resolution affirms the Senate’s commitment to ending discrimination against women and promoting their meaningful participation in society, while honoring women’s rights advocates worldwide. It does not create new laws or allocate funds, but symbolically underscores the importance of gender equality as a foreign policy priority.

Maddy summaryThe FIGHT Act of 2023 prohibits sponsoring, exhibiting, attending, or live-broadcasting animal fighting events, and bans transporting roosters for such purposes. It directly affects individuals and organizations involved in animal fighting, including those who broadcast events online. The bill allows any person to file a civil lawsuit to stop violations after 60 days' notice, with potential fines up to $5,000 per violation, and permits seizure of property used to facilitate these activities. The law does not override state laws banning animal fighting, except in cases of direct conflict.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1515 (Retired Pay Restoration Act), allows military retirees with service-connected disabilities to receive both their retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, starting January 1, 2024. It directly affects military retirees who are eligible for both benefits but were previously required to choose one due to a prior law. The key change eliminates a previous phase-in period and removes a requirement that forced retirees to forgo one benefit, instead establishing clear eligibility for concurrent receipt. The amendment applies to payments for months beginning on or after the effective date.