Maddy summaryThe Keeping Obstetrics Local Act aims to improve access to maternity care by requiring states to study costs of obstetric services and setting minimum Medicaid payment rates that are higher than current rates (starting at 150% of Medicare rates for 2026). It creates "anchor payments" for low-volume obstetric hospitals to help them stay open, requiring states to pay hospitals meeting specific criteria the difference between what they're paid and what they need to operate. The bill also mandates 12-month continuous coverage for pregnant individuals under Medicaid and CHIP, and requires hospitals to notify communities 180 days before closing obstetric units, including details on service impacts and steps to address gaps. These provisions directly affect rural hospitals, Medicaid/CHIP recipients, and pregnant individuals seeking obstetric care.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe AWARE Act of 2024 requires the U.S. Department of Defense to create a detailed ledger tracking all military artificial intelligence systems (including weapons, targeting, and decision support systems) within three years. It mandates an annual risk assessment process evaluating dependability, cybersecurity, privacy, bias, bias toward conflict escalation, deployment scale, and civilian harm risks for each system in the ledger. The Department must update the ledger regularly, annotate foreign sharing of systems that increase risk, and submit annual public reports to Congress detailing the ledger, risk findings, and foreign use annotations. The bill does not create new restrictions but requires transparency in how the military uses AI in combat-related applications.
Maddy summaryThe Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act of 2024 requires federal courts to consider public interest factors before approving deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) involving corporations. It mandates independent monitoring with objective metrics for corporate compliance, transparency in federal agency settlements (requiring public posting of key details like payment amounts and terms), and extends the statute of limitations for financial crimes by 10 years. The bill directly affects corporations facing criminal charges and federal agencies negotiating settlements, requiring them to publicly disclose settlement terms and justify any confidentiality. Key provisions include new court criteria for DPAs (like victim impact and independent oversight) and annual congressional reporting on settlement agreements.
Maddy summaryS 5282, the Car Privacy Rights Act of 2024, requires car manufacturers, insurers, and other entities collecting vehicle data to obtain explicit consumer consent before sharing or selling that data. It mandates clear, standalone notices explaining exactly what data is shared and for what purpose, with consumers able to easily revoke consent. The bill also requires annual reports from car companies and insurers detailing data collection practices, and directs the FTC to issue guidance on protecting domestic violence victims from location data misuse. Enforcement aligns with the FTC Act, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices.
Maddy summaryThe High Court Gift Ban Act (S 5268) would prohibit federal judges from accepting gifts from individuals or organizations that have, or are likely to, appear before them in court. It sets a limit of $50 per gift and $100 total annually from a single source, with exceptions for items paid at fair market value, gifts from relatives, honorary degrees, and certain professional events. The bill requires the Supreme Court and Judicial Conference to create implementing regulations within 180 days. Violations could trigger civil penalties up to $50,000 or criminal charges, including fines and up to one year in prison.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates a comprehensive audit of FEMA's spending within one year of enactment. The audit will examine payments for four key disaster assistance programs (individual aid, public assistance, hazard mitigation, and agency missions), comparing them to administrative costs, analyzing workforce impacts since 2020, and evaluating how well funds reach survivors - especially in rural areas. The Comptroller General must submit the findings to Congress and make them publicly available. This procedural bill does not change FEMA's operations but requires transparency in how disaster relief funds are managed.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - 223 women who served as Army Signal Corps telephone operators in WWI. They connected 26 million calls in France, worked 12-hour shifts under combat conditions, and were denied veteran benefits for 60 years despite wearing uniforms and facing combat hazards. The medal recognizes their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and the decades-long struggle for recognition as soldiers. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and place it in the Smithsonian for public display at institutions like the National WWI Museum.
Maddy summarySRES 846 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Americas being certified free of wild poliovirus by the World Health Organization on September 29, 1994. It honors the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary International, and the Pan American Health Organization for their role in eliminating polio from the region. The resolution encourages continued international funding and commitment to eradicating polio globally, noting that only Afghanistan and Pakistan currently face wild poliovirus transmission. This is a non-binding commemorative measure with no new policy or funding requirements.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 847) honors Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy murdered in a hate crime in Illinois on October 14, 2023. It recognizes his death as a result of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian violence, where the perpetrator allegedly shouted "All Muslims must die" before stabbing him 26 times. The resolution condemns dehumanizing rhetoric that fuels hate crimes and affirms the U.S. has "zero tolerance" for Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-Palestinian discrimination. It does not create new laws but formally expresses the Senate’s stance against hate crimes targeting religious or ethnic groups. The resolution directly honors Wadee’s memory and his family while addressing broader concerns about hate speech and violence against Palestinian and Muslim communities.
Maddy summaryS 5106, the LOCAL Foods Act of 2024, amends a federal meat inspection exemption to clarify that farmers or owners who slaughter livestock they own (in whole or part) for personal use are exempt from certain inspection requirements. It specifically covers meat prepared or transported by the owner for their household, nonpaying guests, or employees, including when an agent assists, provided the owner maintains custody and specific identification of the product. This change directly affects small-scale livestock owners who process meat for their own consumption without commercial sale. The bill modifies existing law (Federal Meat Inspection Act Section 23(a)) to expand the scope of the exemption while adding a new recordkeeping requirement for owners using agents.