Sen. Peter Welch

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals legal protections that previously shielded gun manufacturers from civil lawsuits related to gun violence. It allows gun violence victims to use firearm trace data from the ATF's database as evidence in civil court cases (including state, federal, and administrative proceedings). The key change makes gun trace information admissible and subject to discovery, meaning victims' legal teams can subpoena this data to prove how guns were obtained. This directly affects victims pursuing civil claims against gun manufacturers or dealers.

Maddy summaryThe End Price Gouging for Medications Act establishes annual reference prices for prescription drugs, set based on the lowest international prices from designated countries (like Germany and Canada) or factors like drug value and research costs. These reference prices cap drug costs in federal health programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, VA care, and TRICARE) and require manufacturers to sell all covered drugs at or below this price to every patient, including those without insurance or in private plans. Manufacturers violating this rule face civil penalties of five times the excess revenue collected, with funds redirected to National Institutes of Health drug research. The bill directly affects drug manufacturers and ensures lower costs for patients across all health coverage types.

Maddy summaryThe LIFT the BAR Act of 2023 would expand access to basic public benefits for lawfully present noncitizens by removing restrictions established by the 1996 welfare law. It repeals specific provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 that limited access to programs like food assistance, Medicaid, housing, and child nutrition benefits based on immigration status. The bill redefines "qualified alien" as "qualified noncitizen" and specifically includes categories of noncitizens who were previously excluded, such as those with special immigrant juvenile status, pending nonimmigrant visa applications, and those who qualified under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This would allow states to not deny benefits based on immigration status for these programs, ensuring more lawfully present noncitizens can access essential services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to increase funding for incentives that help SNAP recipients buy fruits and vegetables. It raises annual funding from $100 million to $500 million for fiscal year 2024, then increases to $750 million for 2026-2027, and $1 billion annually starting in 2028. The program directly affects SNAP participants by providing them with extra benefits - such as doubling their purchase value - for buying fresh produce at grocery stores or farmers' markets. The key change is the significant, multi-year funding boost to expand access to healthy food for low-income households using SNAP.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing services to be provided from home and other locations, and expanding who can offer telehealth services. The bill repeals the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health and allows telehealth use in hospice care recertification. It also includes program integrity measures to address inappropriate billing patterns and requires posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology vendors by making telehealth more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved populations, those with mobility challenges, and individuals in areas with healthcare workforce shortages.

Maddy summaryThe Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program Enhancement Act of 2023 removes a longstanding exclusion that previously prevented crops and grasses used for grazing from receiving disaster aid. This change allows farmers who grow forage crops and grasses for livestock grazing to access program benefits if their crops are damaged by natural disasters like droughts or floods. The bill amends two specific sections of the existing law to eliminate the exclusion, making grazing crops eligible under the program. Regulations implementing this change must be issued by the Secretary of Agriculture within 90 days of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the Thirteenth Amendment's exception that permits slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishment. It would directly affect all individuals within the U.S. criminal justice system by banning any form of forced labor for crimes, addressing a historical loophole that enabled mass incarceration of Black Americans post-Civil War. Key provisions explicitly state: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as a punishment for a crime," while clarifying it does not interfere with voluntary prison work programs, community service alternatives, or existing employment protections for incarcerated people. The amendment aims to align U.S. law with constitutional principles by eliminating this exception without altering current sentencing options.

Maddy summaryThe Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2023 expands tax benefits for low-to-moderate income workers and families with children. It lowers the minimum age for the Earned Income Credit from 25 to 19 (with exceptions for students, former foster youth, and homeless youth), removes the age 65 maximum, and increases credit amounts and income thresholds. The bill also establishes a permanent system for monthly advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, with higher payments ($300 monthly) for children under age 6 compared to $250 for older children. It includes inflation adjustments to maintain the value of these credits over time and creates mechanisms for determining eligibility and recapturing payments in certain circumstances. The provisions apply to all states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies that use private or state/local facilities to house federal prisoners to treat records about those facilities as government records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It directly affects federal agencies (like the Department of Justice), private prison operators, and state/local facilities under contract with the federal government. Key provisions mandate that these entities maintain records in searchable formats, allow public access to information (unless specific legal exemptions apply), and include disclosure requirements in all relevant contracts. The law aims to increase transparency around conditions and operations in non-federal correctional facilities used by the federal government.

Maddy summaryThe Right to Contraception Act (S 1999) establishes a federal statutory right for individuals to access contraceptives and related information without government interference, directly affecting all people seeking reproductive care and health care providers who offer these services. Key provisions prohibit state or federal laws that restrict contraceptive access, single out contraceptive services, or allow provider refusals based on personal beliefs, while requiring any restrictions to be narrowly tailored to advance access. The bill preempts conflicting state laws, allows enforcement through lawsuits by affected individuals or the Attorney General, and explicitly protects access for historically marginalized groups facing barriers. It does not alter existing insurance coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act but ensures contraceptive access remains protected from restrictive state policies.