Sen. Raphael G. Warnock

Maddy summaryS 2821, the PSA Screening for HIM Act, requires group health plans and individual health insurance issuers to cover prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings for high-risk men without out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects men aged 40+ who are at high risk due to being African-American or having a family history of prostate cancer (e.g., a father or brother diagnosed with the disease). The bill amends health coverage rules to mandate this specific screening coverage, effective for plan years starting January 1, 2024. This policy change aims to improve early detection rates, which have near 100% survival when caught early, addressing disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $16 billion in federal funding over five years (2024-2028) to stabilize the child care sector. It directly affects child care providers by offering grants to offset operating costs, support higher wages for early childhood educators without increasing fees for families, and expand access to high-quality care. Key provisions include funding for providers in underserved areas (like rural communities, infant/toddler care, and inclusive services for children with disabilities) and a requirement that 99% of funds go directly to providers. The funds are administered through the existing framework of the American Rescue Plan Act's child care program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires current and new Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children (under 19 and IRS dependents), to divest or place most investments - including stocks, bonds, and derivatives - into qualified blind trusts within 120 days of enactment or assuming office, with limited 180-day extensions total. It prohibits acquiring new covered investments during congressional service, except for inheritances (which must be handled within 120 days), and excludes diversified funds, Treasury securities, and retirement plan holdings from the requirement. Non-compliance triggers monthly civil penalties equal to the member’s salary, enforced by ethics offices that must publicly report compliance details. The law aims to prevent conflicts of interest by separating lawmakers' personal financial interests from legislative duties.

Maddy summaryS 294, the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to include "rural-area small businesses" in two existing exemptions currently available to women-owned small businesses. Specifically, it adds this category to Section 4(j)(4)(C) and Section 4(j)(6)(B)(iii), which govern exemptions for small business capital raising. This change directly affects rural small businesses seeking to access capital markets by making them eligible for the same exemptions previously reserved for women-owned businesses. The bill does not create new funding or programs but adjusts eligibility criteria within existing securities law.

Maddy summarySRES 331 designates August 2023 as "National Catfish Month" to recognize the economic and cultural significance of the U.S. catfish industry. The resolution highlights that the industry supports over 9,000 jobs and contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the U.S. economy, while emphasizing catfish as a sustainable, year-round seafood source. It also acknowledges the industry’s role in regional cuisines and its status as the largest farm-raised seafood product in the United States. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness of the industry’s contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal funding for sickle cell disease (SCD) programs from $4.455 million annually to $8.205 million per year (2024-2028) and expands the scope of covered activities. It revises existing law to specifically include "the prevention and treatment of complications" of SCD alongside treatment itself, affecting patients with SCD and related heritable blood disorders. Key mechanisms include updating funding levels, changing contracting language to allow grants or cooperative agreements, and broadening the definition of covered services. The bill directly impacts medical research, patient care programs, and healthcare providers treating SCD patients. It aims to enhance research, surveillance, prevention, and treatment efforts for SCD and other heritable blood disorders.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates August 16, 2023, as "National Airborne Day" to honor the history of U.S. airborne forces. It recognizes the first official Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940, and highlights the service of airborne units from World War II through modern conflicts. The resolution calls for the American public to observe the day with appropriate activities, but it does not create new laws or affect any specific group or policy. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect beyond the symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryS 2722 authorizes federal grants to fund demonstration projects that train workers displaced or at risk of displacement due to automation. It targets dislocated workers in industries affected by automation, particularly women, people of color, and low-wage workers, through partnerships with employers, workforce boards, and training providers. The grants support programs like retraining for in-demand tech jobs, upskilling current employees to avoid layoffs, and providing supports like childcare or transportation stipends. Grantees must report on outcomes including job transitions, earnings, and demographic data. The bill also expands existing workforce programs to explicitly include automation-related dislocation as a qualifying factor for training services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Supreme Court to establish a code of conduct for justices within 180 days of enactment, with public access to these rules on the Court's website. It sets minimum disclosure standards for gifts, income, and reimbursements received by justices and their law clerks, and strengthens recusal requirements when justices have financial ties to parties in cases. The bill creates procedures for filing complaints about justices' conduct and establishes a judicial investigation panel to review such complaints, while also requiring parties and amicus curiae to disclose gifts to justices and lobbying activities related to the nomination of justices. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in Supreme Court operations.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the Archivist of the United States to immediately certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, claiming it was validly ratified after Virginia became the 38th state to approve it in 2020. It asserts that the ERA meets all constitutional requirements under Article V, including the completion of ratification by three-fourths of states (38 states total), and references historical precedents like the 27th Amendment’s delayed certification. The resolution does not alter legal rights or create new law - it solely addresses the Archivist’s statutory duty under 1 U.S.C. §106b to formally recognize the ERA’s ratification. It affects only the Archivist’s office, requiring them to fulfill a procedural step without delay.