Maddy summaryThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024 would significantly increase federal financial aid for college students by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award from current levels to $10,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year, with annual inflation-based increases reaching $14,000 by 2030-2031. The bill would make Pell Grants a mandatory program that grows with inflation (instead of relying on annual appropriations) and expand eligibility to include "Dreamer" students who came to the U.S. as children, as well as students with negative student aid indexes who would receive grants exceeding the maximum amount. It also restores the total number of semesters students can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and makes it easier for students to maintain eligibility by reducing penalties for academic progress issues. This legislation directly affects millions of undergraduate students, particularly students of color and low-income students who rely on Pell Grants to afford college.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Elder Pride Act amends the Older Americans Act to better serve LGBTQI older adults and individuals with HIV. It adds specific definitions for "LGBTQI" and "HIV" to the law, establishes an Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging, and creates a new Rural Outreach Grant Program. This program provides $5 million annually (2025-2029) to fund community partnerships in rural areas that reduce isolation, improve cultural competency among service providers, expand nondiscrimination policies, and deliver sexual health services for LGBTQI older adults and others in protected classes. The law directly affects LGBTQI older adults and those with HIV, particularly in underserved rural communities, by requiring federal agencies to coordinate services and report on progress.
Maddy summaryThe American Energy Efficiency Act of 2024 establishes federal energy efficiency standards requiring retail electricity and natural gas suppliers to achieve specific cumulative savings percentages of their historical usage levels. Electricity suppliers must meet targets ranging from 1.00% in 2025 to 22.00% by 2039, while natural gas suppliers must achieve 0.50% to 14.00% over the same period. The bill includes detailed requirements for measuring and verifying energy savings, allows for transfers of savings between suppliers and third-party providers, and establishes civil penalties of $100 per megawatt hour for electricity or $10 per million Btu for natural gas for non-compliance. It permits states to administer the program if they meet certain standards while preserving existing state energy efficiency initiatives. The law directly affects large electricity and natural gas suppliers that meet specific volume thresholds for delivery to customers.
Maddy summaryThe Medicare-X Choice Act of 2024 would create a new public health insurance plan, the Medicare Exchange health plan, to provide low-cost coverage through state and federal health insurance exchanges. Starting in 2026, the plan would be available in individual markets with priority for areas with limited insurance options or high costs, expanding to all areas by 2029, and would be available in the small group market by 2029. Health care providers would be required to participate in this plan if they want to serve Medicare or Medicaid patients, and the plan must comply with Affordable Care Act requirements while providing primary care with no cost-sharing. The bill also includes provisions to expand tax credits for health insurance, strengthen antitrust enforcement in health care markets, and study expanding coverage to include services like dental, vision, and long-term care.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal obscenity laws to remove outdated references to abortion and "immoral" materials. It revises Title 18 sections 552, 1461, and 1462 by deleting phrases like "procuring abortion" and "indecent or immoral use," and updates definitions to focus solely on "obscene materials." The changes clarify that federal mail and commerce restrictions apply only to obscene materials, not to medical information or other protected content. This directly affects how federal laws regulate the mailing or transportation of materials, particularly impacting the legal treatment of abortion-related medical information in postal and shipping contexts.
Maddy summaryThe HART Act requires anyone buying multiple residential properties (like apartments, condos, or single-family homes) in a single year to report these acquisitions to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), treating all such purchases as one transaction. It directly affects real estate investors and large property buyers who acquire residential properties for rental or investment purposes, excluding properties bought for personal use or short-term rentals like hotels. Key provisions include amending the Clayton Act to mandate these reports, exempting personal-use properties, and directing the FTC to update regulations for enforcement. This aims to improve transparency around large-scale residential property ownership changes under antitrust oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status in federally funded child welfare services. It directly affects LGBTQ youth in foster care - who are overrepresented in the system and face higher risks of poor outcomes - and prospective foster and adoptive parents who experience bias. Key provisions include requiring child welfare agencies to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity, establishing a National Resource Center for LGBTQ youth in foster care, mandating cultural competency training, and setting compliance deadlines with potential funding consequences for non-compliance. The bill aims to improve safety, well-being, and permanent family placements for LGBTQ youth by addressing systemic discrimination in the child welfare system.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program through 2030, extending its expiration date from June 30, 2021 to December 31, 2030 for workers and firms. It updates funding periods for training (2025-2031 instead of 2015-2021) and ensures workers with petitions filed between July 1, 2021, and enactment date receive benefits under current rules. The bill also requires reconsideration of denied certifications for workers and firms whose petitions were pending before the bill’s enactment. It directly affects U.S. workers, businesses, and farmers displaced by international trade who qualify for TAA support.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and extends existing Alzheimer's disease and dementia programs through fiscal year 2029. It specifically provides $33 million annually for states and public health departments to support Alzheimer's initiatives, including community-based care and research translation. Key provisions require translating clinical trial findings into community practices and strengthen coordination with the CDC. The bill directly affects state health agencies and public health departments receiving federal funding for dementia care programs. It does not create new programs but extends current funding mechanisms and adds a new requirement to apply research findings to community-level interventions.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and updates federal efforts to support adults with congenital heart disease. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a workshop within one year of enactment, bringing together experts, adult patients, healthcare providers, and agencies to identify research gaps and address workforce shortages in treating adult congenital heart disease patients. The workshop must focus on long-term health outcomes, mental health, care access, and strategies like expanding fellowship programs. Within three years, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress detailing findings, recommendations for research and workforce improvements, and a plan for implementation. The bill directly affects adult patients with congenital heart disease, healthcare providers, and federal agencies managing related programs.