Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a student loan forgiveness program for educators who work in designated high-need schools or early childhood education programs. After completing 5 years of qualifying service (which can be non-consecutive), educators will have 100% of their outstanding student loan debt forgiven, including interest and fees. The program also provides monthly loan forgiveness during service, with payments counted toward future forgiveness. It applies to teachers, school leaders, early childhood educators, and program directors working in these settings, including those in Bureau of Indian Education schools and Tribal programs. Service completed before the bill's enactment can count toward the 5-year requirement.

Maddy summarySRES 117 is a non-binding Senate resolution urging the U.S. President and Secretary of State to work with Canada to prevent permanent nuclear waste storage in the Great Lakes Basin. It specifically addresses Canada’s proposal to build a deep geological repository near Lake Huron in South Bruce, Ontario, which the resolution states could threaten the Great Lakes’ water supply. The resolution cites the basin’s importance to over 40 million people relying on it for drinking water and highlights environmental risks from potential nuclear contamination. It calls for U.S. diplomatic engagement to ensure safe, non-threatening waste storage solutions that protect the shared water resource.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the federal Food and Nutrition Act to allow Puerto Rico to transition from its current nutrition assistance system to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides federal benefits to low-income households. It requires Puerto Rico to submit a transition plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture within 60 days, with the agency having 180 days to approve it. Puerto Rico would operate under a 5-year transition period from its existing block grant system, during which the federal government must provide technical assistance and annual reporting. The bill directly affects Puerto Rico residents eligible for nutrition assistance and modifies federal funding formulas to support this transition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drug manufacturers to report detailed justifications for significant price increases on "qualifying drugs" (expensive medications used by Medicare/Medicaid patients). Specifically, manufacturers must submit reports 30 days before price hikes exceeding 10% in a year or 25% over three years, or when prices surpass the U.S. median household income. Reports must include cost breakdowns (R&D, manufacturing, marketing), profit data, and historical pricing for the drug. The Department of Health and Human Services will publicly post these reports (while protecting trade secrets) and collect $100,000 daily penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. foreign aid law to remove restrictions preventing federal funds from supporting abortion services as part of comprehensive reproductive health care. It directly affects U.S. international health programs and people in low- and middle-income countries who rely on U.S.-funded reproductive health services. The key provision explicitly allows foreign assistance funds to cover abortion services, training, and equipment for safe abortion care, alongside other reproductive health services. This changes how U.S. aid is allocated globally, aiming to increase access to safe abortion care in countries where it is legal.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies U.S. tax code to boost research and development (R&D) investment by businesses. It allows companies to immediately deduct R&D costs (instead of amortizing them over 5 years) and expands refundable tax credits for small businesses, raising the annual credit cap from $250,000 to $750,000 by 2032. Small businesses with gross receipts under $15 million can now qualify for higher credit rates (up to 20% of R&D costs) and may exclude years with no R&D expenses when calculating credits. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 2022, directly benefiting R&D-focused startups and small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 110) honoring the late James George Abourezk, the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. Senate (1973-1979) from South Dakota. It commemorates his legacy, including his work re-establishing the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and co-authoring key Native American rights legislation like the Indian Child Welfare Act. The resolution directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and send a copy to his family, acknowledging his service as a representative and advocate for Native American communities. As a procedural resolution, it has no legislative effect beyond commemoration.

Maddy summaryS 805, the Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023, increases penalties for importers who commit customs fraud or gross negligence. It triples civil penalties for fraudulent violations (to three times the domestic value) and raises gross negligence penalties (up to ten times the domestic value), while adding a five-year import ban for fraudulent violators and a two-year ban for gross negligence. The bill also creates a new private lawsuit mechanism, allowing U.S. manufacturers, workers, or trade groups harmed by customs violations to sue violators for triple damages plus attorney fees. Additionally, it excludes individuals or related businesses found guilty of such violations from participating in the U.S. importer of record program. This directly affects importers who violate customs laws, U.S. businesses competing with fraudulent imports, and customs enforcement processes.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy H2O Act (S.806) provides federal grants to help rural households, renters, multi-unit property owners, and child-care facilities with contaminated drinking water. It funds certified point-of-use or point-of-entry water filtration systems, including installation, maintenance, and water testing, for those with health contaminants like lead or arsenic. Grants cover costs up to reasonable limits but exclude households earning over 150% of the median rural income in their state. The program requires third-party certification for filters, installers, and testing labs to ensure effectiveness and safety.

Maddy summaryS 817, the SVB Act, repeals Title IV of the 2018 Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 115-174). This bill restores the banking regulations that existed before Title IV was enacted, effectively undoing the 2018 changes to financial oversight. It directly affects banking regulations governing financial institutions by reverting to the prior regulatory framework. The key mechanism is the explicit repeal of Title IV and the restoration of pre-2018 provisions as if the 2018 law had never applied.