Sen. Christopher A. Coons

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 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study and report on practices in the pharmaceutical supply chain, focusing on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their impact on drug pricing. The FTC must submit an interim report within 180 days and a full report within one year, examining issues like whether PBMs steer patients to pharmacies they own, use proprietary data for competitive advantage, or design formularies to favor higher-cost drugs. The reports will also assess competition in the supply chain, legal barriers to enforcement, and the FTC’s ability to address anticompetitive behavior by drug manufacturers. The goal is to identify transparency gaps and recommend policy changes to improve competition and ensure consumers benefit from cost savings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal coordination framework between federal agencies to streamline patent applications and reduce duplication of efforts. It requires agencies to share information about their patent activities and creates a centralized system for tracking and managing intellectual property across the government. The legislation applies to all federal departments and agencies that file patents, aiming to improve efficiency and consistency in how the government protects its innovations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 6-10, 2023, as "National School Counseling Week" in the U.S. Senate. It symbolically recognizes the role of school counselors in supporting students' academic, social, and emotional development. The resolution encourages public awareness of counselors' contributions to student success and school safety but does not create new policies, funding, or requirements. It directly affects school counselors and communities by highlighting their work during this designated week.

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.

Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023 This bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for Haiti. It also extends through FY2035 the duty-free treatment provided for certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti.

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 summarySRES 66 is a Senate resolution condemning China's use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over U.S. territory as a violation of U.S. sovereignty. It specifically denounces China's false claims that the balloon was a weather device that drifted off course. The resolution requires the President to provide Congress with detailed briefings on the incident, including the balloon's timeline, intelligence gathered, and plans to prevent future violations of U.S. airspace. It calls for decisive U.S. action to deter foreign surveillance activities and holds the Chinese government accountable for such actions.

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.