Sen. Martin Heinrich

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War, recognizing their life-saving medical evacuations. The medal, to be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, will be displayed at the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. The bill honors the approximately 900,000 wounded personnel these crews transported over the course of the Vietnam War, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, who relied on their rapid medical evacuation services.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 42) symbolically recognizes the persistent wage gap affecting Latina women in the U.S. labor force. It designates October 3, 2024, as "Latina Equal Pay Day" to highlight that Latina women earn, on average, 51 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men working full-time. The resolution cites data showing this disparity results in Latina women losing over $1.2 million in lifetime earnings and emphasizes the broader economic and personal impacts of unequal pay. As a non-binding statement, it does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges the issue and reaffirms congressional support for closing the gender wage gap.

Maddy summarySRES 857 is a Senate resolution expressing concern about the rising trend of book bans in U.S. schools and libraries. It cites data showing over 10,000 individual book bans in 2023-2024 (double the previous year), with many targeting books about race, LGBTQ+ experiences, and diverse perspectives - including classics like *The Handmaid’s Tale* and *To Kill a Mockingbird*. The resolution calls on schools and local governments to follow best practices for handling book challenges and to protect students’ access to diverse materials, while reaffirming First Amendment rights to free expression. It also designates the week of September 22-28, 2024, as Banned Books Week.

Maddy summarySRES 858 is a ceremonial Senate resolution recognizing the 15th anniversary of Outdoor Afro, a national nonprofit founded in 2009 by Rue Mapp. The resolution highlights Outdoor Afro’s work connecting Black Americans with nature through recreational activities like hiking, camping, and environmental stewardship across 33 states. It specifically notes the organization’s growth to over 150,000 participants, training of 1,000+ outdoor leaders, and programs like Making Waves, which provides water safety education. The resolution does not create new policy but formally acknowledges Outdoor Afro’s role in promoting inclusive access to outdoor spaces.

Maddy summarySRES 862 is a Senate resolution designating October 23, 2024, as "National Marine Sanctuary Day." It does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness about the National Marine Sanctuary System. The resolution highlights how marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity, support coastal economies, and provide recreational opportunities, while encouraging responsible engagement with these protected areas. This commemorative resolution directly affects the public by promoting recognition of marine conservation efforts.

Maddy summarySRES 870 designates the week of September 15-21, 2024, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week" in recognition of community school coordinators' roles. The resolution highlights their work in building school-community partnerships and improving student outcomes like attendance, academic achievement, and mental health support. It does not create new policies, funding, or obligations - only formally acknowledges coordinators' contributions through a symbolic designation. This procedural resolution is directed at raising awareness and encouraging public celebration of these professionals.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 887) is a symbolic Senate expression of support for designating October 7-12, 2024, as "National 4-H Week." It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the 4-H youth development program, which serves nearly 6 million young people nationwide through community-based projects in health, science, and leadership. The resolution highlights 4-H’s role in fostering youth leadership and its partnership with land-grant universities and the USDA. It directly affects the 4-H organization, its 500,000 volunteers, and the youth members participating in the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts the premium tax credit program under the Affordable Care Act to make health insurance more affordable for lower-income households. It establishes a new sliding scale for the percentage of income people pay toward premiums based on household income relative to the federal poverty line (ranging from 150% to 400% of the poverty line). For example, households earning 150-200% of the poverty line would pay 0-2% of income, while those earning 300-400% would pay 6-8.5%. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and directly affect individuals purchasing health insurance through marketplace plans who qualify for these tax credits.

Maddy summaryS 5196 establishes a new federal tax credit for investors who make cash contributions to housing development organizations building or renovating homes for low- and moderate-income buyers. The credit equals 7% of the investment in the first year and 8% in subsequent years, with annual funding limits ranging from $1 billion (2025) to $3.5 billion (2030-2031). To qualify, homes must be sold to buyers earning no more than 120% of local median income, and the housing development organization must ensure the home remains the buyer’s primary residence for five years. Annual reports will track project locations and residents’ income levels to monitor program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryS 5204, the Tax Relief for New Businesses Act, increases tax deductions for new businesses by consolidating "start-up" and "organizational" expenses into a single category and raising deduction limits. It raises the initial deduction from $5,000 to $50,000 and the phaseout threshold from $50,000 to $150,000 for these expenses. The bill also creates special rules for net operating losses related to start-up costs, allowing businesses to treat these losses separately with a 100% carryover (instead of 80%) and excluding them from other loss calculations. This directly benefits new corporations and partnerships formed after December 31, 2024, by reducing their initial tax burden.