Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Maddy summaryS 2035, the "Protect IVF Act," establishes federal rights to access and provide fertility treatment, including IVF, under widely accepted medical standards defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. It directly affects patients seeking fertility care, health care providers offering IVF services, health insurance issuers covering such care, and manufacturers of fertility-related drugs or devices. The bill preempts state laws that restrict IVF access in ways inconsistent with medical standards - such as mandating unnecessary procedures, limiting telemedicine, or imposing discriminatory barriers - and allows federal court enforcement against violating state actions. This focuses on protecting existing access rather than creating new benefits or altering insurance coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryThe ENROLL Act of 2025 amends the Affordable Care Act to strengthen the navigator program that helps people enroll in health insurance. It requires state and federal exchanges to award grants to navigators based on their capacity to provide services, not whether they cover non-qualified health plans, and mandates annual grants to community-focused nonprofits. Navigators must now provide information about Medicaid and CHIP programs in plain language and maintain physical presence in their states for in-person assistance. The bill allocates $100 million annually from health insurer user fees to fund federal exchange navigators starting in fiscal year 2026. These changes directly affect navigators, state/federal health insurance exchanges, and consumers seeking coverage.

Maddy summaryS 2006, the Fit to Serve Act, prohibits the U.S. military from discriminating against service members or applicants based on gender identity. It directly affects all current and prospective members of the Armed Forces by banning specific discriminatory actions, including denying medically necessary health care, requiring service in a sex assigned at birth, or separating members due to gender identity (including gender dysphoria diagnosis). The bill amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to add new protections, explicitly stating that the military cannot deny service, reenlistment, or health coverage based on gender identity. These changes apply uniformly across all branches and service statuses, ensuring equal treatment under military policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grant programs to support runaway and homeless youth aged 15-26, with priority for those under 22. It establishes Basic Center Grants for temporary shelter and services, Transitional Living Grants for longer-term housing with support services, and Prevention Services Grants to help youth at risk of homelessness. The bill requires all services to be trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and tailored to youth's age, gender, and developmental needs, with specific attention to vulnerable populations including LGBTQ youth, youth of color, and those in child welfare or justice systems. It also mandates data collection on trafficking incidents and services provided to youth victims, while requiring coordination with education, health, and social service systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage to include audiology services (hearing and balance assessments, and treatment starting in 2027) for beneficiaries. It allows qualified audiologists to provide these services directly without requiring a physician referral or supervision, beginning January 1, 2027. Medicare will pay 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or the fee schedule amount for these services, and audiologists will be recognized as eligible providers in certain clinics. The changes apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Communications Act to clarify that "franchise fee" means only monetary assessments paid to local authorities for cable or community television services. It removes the word "includes" and adds "other monetary" before "assessment" in the definition. This technical change ensures franchise fees are strictly defined as cash payments, not other types of fees or non-monetary obligations. It directly affects cable operators and local governments that collect these fees under existing law. The bill makes no new policy changes but refines the legal definition for clarity.

Maddy summarySRES 265 is a Senate resolution condemning Russia's aerial bombardment of Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, including attacks using North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles that killed hundreds since January 2025 (such as the Palm Sunday attack in Sumy killing 35 civilians). It specifically calls on the President to expedite transferring U.S. air defense systems like PATRIOT and NASAMS to Ukraine and to fast-track allies' reexports of advanced systems. The resolution emphasizes that these systems are critical for Ukraine to defend against ballistic missile attacks that have destroyed over half of its power capacity and endangered hospitals, schools, and families. It directly supports Ukraine's immediate defense needs while reaffirming U.S. policy of sustained security assistance under the 2024 Bilateral Security Agreement.

Maddy summaryS 1970, the MACV-SOG Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor the service members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) who served during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1972. The medal, to be presented by congressional leaders, recognizes MACV-SOG’s covert operations in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, including reconnaissance, sabotage, and rescue missions, and acknowledges the unit’s high sacrifice (over 1,500 personnel missing or killed). After presentation, the medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, with duplicate bronze medals available for sale to cover production costs. This bill is purely commemorative and does not create new policy or affect any current laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent expert panel to review and make recommendations for improving the FAA's Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure comprehensive safety practices across all FAA operations. It requires air carriers to install ADS-B In equipment within 4 years to enhance situational awareness, and mandates safety reviews of airspace operations at major airports, particularly examining military and civilian aircraft near airports. The bill also protects the FAA workforce from hiring freezes and staffing reductions, extends air traffic controller hiring requirements through 2033, and requires risk assessments following transport airplane accidents. These provisions aim to enhance safety coordination between the FAA and Department of Defense while addressing specific safety management and equipment requirements.

Maddy summaryS 1980 establishes the Senate NATO Observer Group, a formal Senate committee to coordinate U.S. engagement with NATO. The group advises the Senate on NATO matters - including enlargement - and facilitates communication between the Senate, executive branch, NATO, and candidate nations during negotiations. It requires Senate leadership to appoint members (up to 7 per party) and co-chairs for each Congress, with annual reporting to Senate leadership and the Foreign Relations Committee. The bill creates procedural mechanisms for Senate-NATO coordination but does not alter U.S. policy or funding.