Sen. John Fetterman

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day established to honor the transgender community and raise awareness about the discrimination and violence they face. It encourages Americans to observe the day with ceremonies and programs while celebrating the accomplishments and leadership of transgender individuals in politics, media, and society. The resolution acknowledges historical contributions of Indigenous Two-Spirit people and notes recent legislative efforts targeting transgender rights in areas like education, healthcare, and public accommodations. This non-binding measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official statement of congressional recognition and encouragement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new "Guardianship Bill of Rights" for older adults and people with disabilities who are in or being considered for guardianships, conservatorships, or other protective arrangements. It requires the creation of a federal council to develop standards ensuring these individuals have access to independent legal representation, the right to less restrictive alternatives like supported decisionmaking, and regular reviews of their protective arrangements. The legislation also mandates that states receiving federal funding must implement these standards and expands funding for protection and advocacy programs to oversee and monitor guardianship systems nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends federal funding for sport fish restoration and recreational boating safety through 2031, directly benefiting anglers, boaters, and conservation organizations. It updates the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act by changing the funding period from 2026 to 2031 and modifies how multistate conservation grants are distributed. The key provision ensures each state receives the greater of 0.0375 percent of total appropriations or $200,000 for conservation projects, replacing the previous $1.2 million cap. These changes aim to provide more predictable and flexible funding for fisheries management and water safety initiatives across the United States.

Maddy summaryThe Student Loan Interest Elimination Act would eliminate interest on existing Federal Direct student loans and set the interest rate for new Federal Direct student loans to zero starting July 1, 2026. The bill also establishes an Education Affordability Trust Fund financed by loan repayments to fund these zero-interest loans and provide additional Pell Grants. Under the program, borrowers could opt out of automatic interest elimination and refinancing, and the bill includes provisions for calculating qualifying payments toward loan forgiveness programs.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates Taiwan's 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election in 1996 and expresses support for Taiwan's democratic institutions. The bill formally acknowledges Taiwan's democratic milestones, including peaceful transfers of power and the protection of civil liberties, while referencing existing U.S. policy frameworks like the Taiwan Relations Act. It states that the Senate regards Taiwan's democracy as a strategic strength and commits to supporting Taiwan's self-defense and the liberty of its people. The resolution clarifies that it does not authorize the use of military force.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act, amends the Clayton Act to broaden the federal prohibition against price discrimination. It expands the law's scope to cover products and services rather than just physical goods, and extends its reach to include activities that affect commerce beyond direct commercial transactions. The bill also clarifies definitions of purchasing and adds liability for entities that induce or benefit from price discrimination, while providing a higher sales threshold for smaller businesses. Additionally, it strengthens legal remedies for victims of price discrimination by establishing a presumption of injury and allowing for additional damages beyond the amount of the discrimination itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to help schools access naloxone for opioid overdose emergencies. It directly affects public and private elementary and secondary schools by requiring them to certify they have trained staff (like nurses or designated personnel), maintain accessible naloxone supplies, and have a plan for trained staff on-site during school hours. Schools must also confirm their state provides adequate legal protection for staff who administer naloxone. The grants, funded through the Public Health Service Act, support these requirements to enable immediate emergency treatment of opioid overdoses in school settings.

Maddy summaryS 2903, the Safe Step Act, requires health insurance plans and employers offering health coverage to establish a clear, timely process for patients or doctors to request exceptions when step therapy protocols (where insurers require trying cheaper drugs first) would harm a patient. It mandates approval for exceptions if prior drugs failed, delay would cause severe harm, a drug is unsafe, or a patient is stable on their current medication. Plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and cover the requested drug without extra cost-sharing. The bill also requires annual reports to the government on exception requests, approvals, denials, and trends by medical condition or specialty. This directly affects patients on health plans with step therapy, their doctors, and the insurers managing those plans.

Maddy summaryThe Child Care Modernization Act of 2025 amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to improve access to high-quality child care for working parents. It requires states to develop plans with input from parents, providers, and employers, and to set payment rates that cover providers' full costs including staff salaries and benefits. The bill creates a new grant program to expand child care supply through facilities improvements and support for providers serving priority populations like homeless children, rural communities, and children with disabilities. It clarifies eligibility requirements, including income limits for families and definitions for "eligible child" and "eligible activity." The act aims to increase the number of low-income children in high-quality child care settings while supporting the child care workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1677, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act) requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. It mandates coverage for reconstructive services, dental/orthodontic care, and related treatments during the course of medical treatment, while excluding purely cosmetic procedures not medically necessary. Plans may apply cost-sharing requirements similar to those for other medical services but must provide notice about these coverage requirements to participants by January 1, 2026. The bill also directs a study on provider network adequacy and cost impacts related to these coverage requirements, to be completed by December 2027.