Maddy summaryThe HEAL for Immigrant Families Act of 2023 would expand health insurance access for immigrants by removing immigration status barriers to Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act coverage. It makes all lawfully present immigrants eligible for these programs, including those with deferred action status like DACA recipients, and allows states to choose to extend coverage to individuals without lawful presence. The bill specifically addresses reproductive health coverage gaps, ensuring access to contraception, pregnancy-related care, and abortion services for immigrant women who face compounded barriers. It directly affects immigrant families, particularly Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQ, and disabled immigrants who currently experience significant health inequities. The legislation aims to address preventable pregnancy-related deaths and improve health outcomes by eliminating discriminatory eligibility restrictions based on immigration status.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe GusNIP Improvement Act of 2023 amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to expand access to healthy food for low-income individuals. It creates "Scaling grants" for organizations with proven success in running nutrition incentive programs, enabling them to expand operations to more retail settings like independent grocers, farmers markets, and food hubs. These grants require projects to last four years, spend at least $3 million annually, and dedicate 75% of funds to redeemed incentives. The bill also increases annual program funding to $150 million for fiscal years 2024-2028, up from $56 million in 2023.
Maddy summaryThe Women's Retirement Protection Act would require spousal consent for certain distributions from defined contribution retirement plans (like 401(k)s), similar to protections already in place for defined benefit plans. The bill mandates that retirement plans provide written explanations of rights before distributions or beneficiary changes, with a 90-day consent period for spouses. It also creates two new grant programs: $100 million annually to improve financial literacy for women and $100 million for low-income women and domestic violence survivors to access retirement assets through divorce settlements. These provisions would directly affect women in workplace retirement plans, particularly those in defined contribution plans who currently lack spousal protections. The bill focuses on concrete changes to retirement plan rules rather than altering Social Security benefits.
Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 strengthens enforcement of the existing Animal Welfare Act by requiring dealers and exhibitors to maintain valid licenses for animal sales or transport. It expands enforcement authority for both the USDA and the Attorney General to pursue civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day), seize animals in violation cases, and use penalty funds to cover temporary care costs for animals during legal proceedings. The bill also clarifies that enforcement applies to rules and regulations under the Act, and mandates a new coordination agreement between the USDA and DOJ to address repeat violators. These changes directly affect animal dealers, exhibitors, and federal enforcement agencies, improving accountability for animal welfare violations.
Maddy summarySRES 312 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing the role of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in enabling independent living for people with disabilities and highlighting ongoing challenges like institutional segregation and disparities in healthcare, employment, and accessibility. It calls on federal agencies - including the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing, and Transportation - to take specific actions to improve home- and community-based services, accessibility, and economic opportunities for people with disabilities. The resolution emphasizes addressing barriers identified 33 years after the ADA's passage, including pandemic impacts and racial disparities affecting disabled communities. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but urges bipartisan collaboration and agency action to advance ADA goals.
Maddy summaryThe Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act (S 2544) creates federal programs to improve reproductive health care access for people with disabilities by establishing training for health care professionals, expanding educational opportunities for people with disabilities pursuing reproductive health careers, and funding accessible reproductive health education. The bill authorizes $10-15 million annually through 2028 to support workforce development programs, a National Technical Assistance Center, and research on effective reproductive health care models for people with disabilities. Key provisions require culturally competent care training, accessibility improvements for medical equipment, and coordination of services including mental health, social services, and transportation. These programs directly affect people with disabilities seeking reproductive health care, health care providers, and educational institutions training health care professionals. The bill supplements existing funding rather than replacing it, with reports to Congress required annually on program implementation and outcomes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers to prevent heat-related illness and injury by implementing specific protections for workers exposed to heat stress. It mandates employer actions including providing cool water, scheduled rest breaks, access to shade, acclimatization policies, and training on heat illness symptoms and responses. The law also requires employers to cover costs for personal cooling equipment, develop written heat illness prevention plans with worker input, and ensure training is accessible in workers' preferred languages. These provisions directly affect outdoor workers, agricultural laborers, construction crews, and others in high-heat occupational settings.
Maddy summarySCONRES 2 is a symbolic congressional resolution commending Iranian protesters who risked their safety to demonstrate against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, particularly following the death of Mahsa Amini after her arrest by morality police for alleged hijab violations. It specifically highlights protests in over 133 cities where demonstrators, including women removing headscarves, have faced violent crackdowns, with reports of over 500 deaths and 19,000 arrests. The resolution condemns the regime's brutality, supports internet freedom tools to bypass censorship, and urges the administration to impose human rights sanctions on officials responsible for repression. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses congressional support for protesters but does not enact new laws or policies.
This resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Department of Defense State Partnership Program and its outsized influence in developing and supporting enduring relationships around the world. The resolution also expresses deep gratitude for the service of members of the National Guard to the program.
This resolution (1) designates July 2023 as National Blueberry Month; and (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry growers in the United States and their families, and that purchasing blueberries grown in the United States supports farmers, jobs, communities, and the economy of the United States.