Maddy summaryThe SAFER Health Act of 2023 strengthens privacy protections for individuals' information related to pregnancy termination (including abortion) or pregnancy loss (such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy). It prohibits healthcare providers, clinics, and related entities from disclosing this sensitive health information in any legal, administrative, or government proceeding without the individual’s explicit consent, except in two limited cases: for professional liability defense or when investigating physical harm to the individual who cannot consent. The bill also requires health IT systems to segregate this data and updates federal regulations to prevent "information blocking" when complying with these privacy rules. This law preempts conflicting state laws but allows states to adopt stronger privacy protections for this information.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Child Care for Every Community Act establishes a comprehensive federal program to provide universal, affordable child care and early learning services to all children under school age. The bill authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2034 to fund prime sponsors (including States, localities, and tribal organizations) that operate programs meeting national quality standards. It requires programs to be accessible to all children with fees based on family income (capping at 7% of income for non-low-income families), prioritizing vulnerable groups like children with disabilities, dual language learners, and low-income families. The legislation mandates comprehensive services including health, nutrition, family support, staff training, fair compensation, and community involvement in program design and operation.
Maddy summaryS 282, the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2023, designates approximately 1,559,538 acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as wilderness under federal law. This provision directly affects the Coastal Plain area of the refuge by restricting activities like oil drilling, mining, and development, as wilderness designation prohibits such uses. The bill amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act to formally add this specific area to the National Wilderness Preservation System, using a map dated October 20, 2015, for precise boundaries. The change would protect the land from most human alteration while maintaining its ecological integrity.
Maddy summaryThe Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023 requires the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a regulatory pathway for commercial drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) within two years. It creates a new Office of Associate Administrator of UAS Integration to oversee drone integration into the national airspace system and establishes a UAS Certification Unit to develop certification processes for drones. The bill extends the FAA's authority to grant exemptions for drone operations until the new rules take effect, requiring risk-based approaches for authorizing operations. This legislation directly affects drone manufacturers, commercial operators, and the FAA by creating new regulatory processes to enhance U.S. competitiveness in drone technology while maintaining safety standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands transparency requirements for the transportation fuel market by amending the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include a broader definition of "transportation fuel" (encompassing gasoline, distillate fuels, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuels). It creates a new Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit within the Federal Trade Commission to collect and analyze market data, while requiring the Department of Energy to gather detailed information from energy companies about crude oil and fuel production, transportation, storage, and pricing. Energy companies that own or control commercial amounts of these fuels must report specific market data, including quantities, prices, and sources of fuel. The bill establishes data-sharing agreements between federal agencies to improve regulatory oversight and requires the FTC to submit annual reports on enforcement actions related to market manipulation. These changes aim to promote transparent and competitive fuel markets while providing regulators with better data to identify potential market manipulation.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 25) recognizes January 2023 as "National Mentoring Month" to highlight the importance of mentoring relationships for young people. It acknowledges that one in three U.S. youth lacks a mentor outside their home and emphasizes mentoring's role in improving academic success, mental health, career development, and reducing delinquency. The resolution promotes expanding quality mentoring programs nationwide but does not create new laws or allocate funding. It serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage community, school, and workplace efforts supporting youth development through mentoring.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others. To qualify for funding, states must have laws including due process protections like hearings before orders are issued. The bill also amends federal law to include ERPOs in background checks and requires states to notify federal databases about these orders. It ensures ERPOs issued in one state will be recognized by courts in other states. This would directly affect individuals subject to ERPOs, law enforcement officers, and courts that implement these orders.
Maddy summaryThe Protecting America's Meatpacking Workers Act of 2023 aims to improve safety and working conditions for meat and poultry processing workers, who face high injury rates, including double the amputation rate of other workers and widespread musculoskeletal disorders. The bill prohibits "no fault attendance policies" that penalize workers for taking legally protected leave, requires employers to provide adequate toilet facilities without punishment, and establishes new OSHA standards for ergonomic programs and protection from airborne illnesses like COVID-19. It also increases OSHA inspector funding by $60 million annually, expands workplace inspections focusing on line speeds and safety hazards, and strengthens protections for workers who report safety concerns without fear of retaliation. The bill directly affects meatpacking facilities and their workers nationwide, particularly those who experienced heightened risks during the pandemic.
Maddy summaryThe Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023 requires large cattle packers to report detailed information about their cattle purchases and contracts to improve market transparency. The bill establishes mandatory minimums requiring packers to purchase a certain percentage of cattle through transparent pricing mechanisms like negotiated deals, rather than private contracts. Packers must also report daily slaughter schedules and carcass weights more frequently, and create a public library of all cattle purchase contracts. These requirements directly affect major cattle packers and aim to give cattle producers more information about market prices.
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the District of Columbia Home Rule Act's provision (Section 740) that allowed the President to assume emergency control of the District of Columbia's police force. It removes the federal government's authority to override local police management during emergencies. The bill directly affects DC police operations by eliminating a specific federal intervention mechanism. The change is procedural, updating the Home Rule Act to reflect the removal of this presidential power.