Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing services to be provided from home and other locations, and expanding who can offer telehealth services. The bill repeals the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health and allows telehealth use in hospice care recertification. It also includes program integrity measures to address inappropriate billing patterns and requires posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology vendors by making telehealth more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved populations, those with mobility challenges, and individuals in areas with healthcare workforce shortages.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state and local governments from imposing additional production standards on agricultural products grown in another state but sold in interstate commerce, unless those standards already apply under federal law or the state where production occurs. It directly affects farmers, distributors, and businesses operating across state lines by preventing states from creating new barriers to interstate agricultural trade. Key provisions include creating a federal legal right for affected parties to challenge such state regulations in court, with automatic preliminary injunctions to halt enforcement pending resolution. The law also sets a 10-year limit for filing lawsuits and specifies where cases can be heard.
Maddy summarySRES 251 is a ceremonial Senate resolution celebrating the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and expressing support for NATO priorities. It reaffirms NATO's role in global security, highlights the Baltic States' contributions to Ukraine and Alliance operations, and urges Hungary and Türkiye to ratify Sweden's NATO membership. The resolution also emphasizes supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, operationalizing NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept (including addressing China's role), and encourages 2% defense spending commitments. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects no individuals or entities but symbolically advances U.S. diplomatic priorities within NATO. (SRES 251, introduced June 14, 2023)
Maddy summaryThe Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act establishes a national data system to track college costs, student outcomes, and graduate earnings, requiring institutions to collect standardized data on enrollment, costs, and post-graduation results. It mandates that colleges provide students with clear, standardized financial aid offers showing full costs, grants, scholarships, and loan details in plain language, with specific requirements for loan amounts and repayment terms. The bill reforms student loan repayment with a new "Revised Pay As You Earn" plan, phases out income-based repayment, and sets new borrowing limits for graduate students. It also prevents federal funding for programs where graduates earn less than those with only a high school diploma (for associate programs) or bachelor's degree (for bachelor's programs). The bill affects all institutions receiving federal financial aid and their students, with implementation beginning 4 years after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution condemns Russia's deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories, calling these actions violations of the Genocide Convention and Fourth Geneva Convention. It specifically references Russia's breaches of international law, including the unlawful transfer of children to Russia and efforts to erase Ukrainian identity through forced adoptions. The resolution declares these acts constitute genocide, targeting Ukrainian children to undermine Ukraine's future cultural and national identity. It directly addresses the Russian government's actions, which have affected thousands of children separated from their families since Russia's 2022 invasion.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a clear, uniform definition for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that must be used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for all aircraft operating in the U.S. and all FAA programs. It requires SAF to meet specific technical standards (like ASTM D7566), not be made from palm oil or petroleum, and achieve at least a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. The definition applies directly to airlines, fuel producers, and the FAA in managing aviation fuel programs and regulations. The rule ensures consistent measurement of SAF's environmental benefits across the industry.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes school lunch rules to allow schools to serve whole milk as part of the National School Lunch Program. It amends the law to explicitly include "whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free" milks as acceptable options. Crucially, it clarifies that milk fat in fluid milk provided under this rule will not count toward the meal's saturated fat limit for compliance purposes. This directly affects school nutrition programs nationwide by expanding milk choices and simplifying meal planning around fat content.
Maddy summaryS 1907, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023, increases penalties for crimes committed against licensed firearm businesses. It amends federal law to impose a maximum 20-year prison term for knowingly violating firearm licensing rules or attempting to do so. If a burglary or robbery occurs on a licensed dealer’s, manufacturer’s, or importer’s business premises, the law mandates minimum sentences of 3 years for burglary and 5 years for robbery. This bill directly affects federal firearms licensees by strengthening criminal penalties for attacks on their business locations.
China Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2023 This bill requires the deposit into special accounts of certain interest earned on antidumping and countervailing duties collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on or after October 1, 2000. Currently, the applicable date is October 1, 2014. Amounts in special accounts are distributed to affected domestic producers.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from sending veterans' personal information to the national background check system solely because a fiduciary (a person managing a veteran's benefits) has been appointed. It directly affects veterans who have a fiduciary appointed under VA law, preventing the VA from automatically sharing this detail with the Justice Department for background checks. The key provision requires a court order finding the veteran a danger to themselves or others before such information can be transmitted. This change only impacts the sharing of fiduciary appointment details, not the background check process itself or other veteran information.