Maddy summaryS 1906, the Promising Pathway Act, creates a faster FDA approval pathway for new drugs treating serious or life-threatening conditions, allowing provisional approval within 90 days of application. It requires drug sponsors to establish patient registries tracking usage and outcomes (with 90% participation minimum), mandates insurers to cover these drugs identically to fully approved drugs, and sets 2-year provisional approval periods renewable up to three times (max 8 years total). The bill includes safety monitoring, with withdrawal if serious side effects outweigh benefits or if full approval isn’t sought within 180 days. This directly affects drug manufacturers, patients with serious conditions, and health insurers by altering approval timelines, coverage rules, and post-approval monitoring.
Sponsored bills
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.
Maddy summaryThe SITE Act (S 1869) has two main provisions. First, it requires Medicare to implement site-neutral billing for off-campus hospital departments by January 1, 2025, mandating separate unique health identifiers for these departments and requiring them to use these identifiers when billing. Second, it establishes a new program to fund graduate nursing education through "Hubs" at eligible hospitals, providing specific funding for training advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with annual position limits that increase over time (starting at 10,000 in 2026 and reaching 20,000+ by 2032). The bill also requires at least one-third of training to occur in ambulatory care settings and sets specific requirements for Hub selection and operation. These provisions directly affect hospitals, nursing schools, Medicare billing systems, and the training of APRNs.
Maddy summaryThe Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act allows states and territories (including Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and Washington D.C.) to request federal tax filing extensions for disasters declared under state law, not just federally declared disasters. It extends the maximum deadline extension period from 60 days to 120 days for both state and federal disaster declarations. This directly affects taxpayers in disaster-affected areas by providing more time to file returns and pay taxes without penalties. The IRS must implement these changes for any disaster declared after the bill’s enactment.
Maddy summaryThe PLUS for Veterans Act of 2023 clarifies that medical examinations and reports do not count as preparing a veteran's benefits claim, preventing confusion about claim preparation. It establishes a $12,500 fee cap (adjusted annually for inflation) for agents and attorneys representing veterans, which must be contingent on claim success and paid after benefits begin. The bill requires the VA to provide a standard fee agreement form disclosing free services from recognized organizations and veterans' rights to choose private physicians. Additionally, the VA must report annually on representation suspensions and denials, disaggregated by representative type (e.g., attorneys, agents).
Maddy summaryThe Main Street Tax Certainty Act permanently extends the 20% tax deduction for qualified business income (QBI), which currently applies to owners of pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The bill achieves this by amending the tax code to remove an expiration date (via striking subsection (i) of Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code). This change directly affects small business owners who rely on the QBI deduction to reduce their taxable income. The key provision eliminates uncertainty about the deduction’s future, ensuring continued eligibility without requiring future legislative action.
Maddy summaryThe "No START Treaty Act" declares that the New START Treaty with Russia is no longer in U.S. national security interests due to Russia's non-compliance (including refusing inspections) and China's rapid nuclear expansion, directing the U.S. to withdraw from the treaty. It mandates a 90-day report from the Secretary of Defense assessing U.S. nuclear deterrence capabilities and proposing specific improvements, such as increasing bomber alert status and restoring submarine missile capacity. The bill sets strict conditions for future arms control agreements, requiring limits on China's nuclear arsenal, robust verification for both China and Russia, and coverage of non-strategic weapons and emerging systems like hypersonic weapons. Additionally, it prohibits unilateral U.S. nuclear reductions without a treaty meeting these conditions and blocks funding for the New START Treaty or successor agreements that fail to satisfy these requirements.
Maddy summarySRES 215 is a Senate resolution designating May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. It supports raising public awareness about the dangers of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills, which are often disguised as legitimate medications and contribute to overdose deaths. The resolution encourages existing law enforcement efforts to combat counterfeit pill distribution and acknowledges the severe impact of fentanyl on young people, citing statistics on rising overdose deaths. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the issue through congressional support.
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 1644, the Veterans’ True Choice Act of 2023, allows veterans with service-connected disabilities to choose TRICARE Select (a military health plan) instead of VA health care, directly affecting veterans who currently have limited options due to Medicare eligibility rules. The bill creates a new category of "covered veteran beneficiaries" and requires the VA to reimburse the military for enrollment costs. It establishes a phased implementation over two years, including quarterly reports to Congress, and prohibits veterans enrolled in TRICARE from also receiving VA care. This changes how eligible veterans access health coverage without altering their underlying benefits.