Sen. Jon Ossoff

Maddy summaryThe Safe Step Act requires health insurance plans and employer-sponsored health coverage to create a transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically mandate trying a lower-cost drug first before covering a more expensive alternative. Exceptions must be approved if previous treatments failed, delaying coverage would cause severe harm, the required drug is unsafe, or the patient is stable on the requested drug. Health plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and make the process details available online.

Maddy summaryThe Hydrogen for Ports Act of 2023 establishes a $100 million annual grant program (2024-2028) to fund port infrastructure using hydrogen or ammonia as clean fuel. It directly affects ports, state/local governments, tribal entities, and port authorities by providing competitive grants for projects like fuel cell cargo handlers, ships, trucks, and fueling infrastructure. Key provisions require grant recipients to monitor fuel leaks, prioritize projects benefiting low-income communities, and focus on reducing port-related emissions and improving air quality. The program mandates training for staff handling these fuels and prioritizes projects that create U.S. jobs and maximize emission reductions.

Maddy summaryThe Hydrogen for Trucks Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program to support the adoption of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks and related infrastructure. It provides funding for eligible entities - such as truck fleet operators, public agencies, fueling station developers, and partnerships - to purchase at least 7 hydrogen fuel cell trucks or build hydrogen fueling stations, with requirements for public access and regional diversity. Grants cover capital costs (up to $500,000 per truck or station), operational expenses, and safety training, while requiring recipients to report on fuel use, reliability, and emissions data. The program aims to demonstrate vehicle performance across different regions, reduce costs, and accelerate market deployment of hydrogen trucks by 2028, with priority given to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities.

Maddy summaryThe Hydrogen for Industry Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program to fund demonstration projects using hydrogen in heavy industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It provides grants (up to $400 million per project) for commercial-scale applications in sectors like steel, cement, fertilizer, and chemical manufacturing, requiring at least 50% hydrogen blends by volume. Priority is given to projects that maximize emissions reductions, benefit low-income or disadvantaged communities, create high-quality domestic jobs, and demonstrate safe hydrogen use. The bill authorizes $1.2 billion for fiscal years 2024-2028 and mandates a study on hydrogen safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impacts for industrial use.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to expand access to fresh, healthy food for low-income families. It replaces terms like "coupon" with "food instrument" and allows states to include community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs alongside farmers' markets and roadside stands. Key changes include capping annual benefits at $20 per participant, extending the program deadline to 2029, and updating definitions for electronic benefit systems. The policy directly affects WIC participants (pregnant/postpartum women and young children) and farmers' market/CSA vendors. These changes aim to make it easier for families to purchase fresh produce through expanded program options.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Hydrogen Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (HIFIA) pilot program to fund hydrogen infrastructure projects. It provides grants and low-cost loans (up to 80% of costs) to eligible entities like corporations, governments, and nonprofits building hydrogen pipelines, storage, or delivery systems - especially projects retrofitted for hydrogen blends or new pure-hydrogen lines. Priority is given to projects reducing emissions, minimizing environmental impact, serving disadvantaged communities, and creating U.S. jobs. The program requires mandatory leak monitoring and limits annual federal funding to $100 million for fiscal years 2024-2028.

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 summaryThe Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act prohibits "reverse payment" settlements where brand-name drug companies pay generic competitors to delay market entry, treating such agreements as anticompetitive violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill empowers the FTC to enforce these rules through civil penalties that can reach up to three times the value transferred in the settlement and allows for the forfeiture of a generic company's 180-day exclusivity period if they violate the new law. It also requires executives to certify that all settlement documents filed with regulators are complete and accurate, including any related oral agreements or contingent conditions. These provisions apply to both traditional generic drugs and biosimilar biological products to ensure that patent disputes do not unduly restrict consumer access to lower-cost alternatives.

Maddy summaryS 148, the Stop STALLING Act, targets pharmaceutical companies that file sham petitions to delay generic drug approvals. It authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to penalize companies submitting objectively baseless petitions under FDA drug approval processes, which are deemed to interfere with competitors' business. Penalties include up to $50,000 per day a sham petition was under review or revenue from drug sales during the delay. The bill directly affects brand-name drug manufacturers (who may file such petitions) and generic drug developers (who face delays), with enforcement triggered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services' determination of delay intent. It applies to petitions filed after enactment and does not alter existing antitrust laws.

Maddy summarySRES 73 designates February 16, 2023, as "International Black Aviation Professionals Day" to honor the contributions of Black Americans in aviation. The resolution encourages public recognition of these achievements and requests the President issue a proclamation urging the nation to acknowledge Black aviation pioneers' historical and ongoing impact. It specifically asks schools and educational institutions to incorporate these pioneers' stories into curricula and support efforts to increase opportunities for Black Americans in aviation careers. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally celebrates a legacy of innovation and barrier-breaking in the aviation industry.