Maddy summaryThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024 would significantly increase federal financial aid for college students by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award from current levels to $10,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year, with annual inflation-based increases reaching $14,000 by 2030-2031. The bill would make Pell Grants a mandatory program that grows with inflation (instead of relying on annual appropriations) and expand eligibility to include "Dreamer" students who came to the U.S. as children, as well as students with negative student aid indexes who would receive grants exceeding the maximum amount. It also restores the total number of semesters students can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and makes it easier for students to maintain eligibility by reducing penalties for academic progress issues. This legislation directly affects millions of undergraduate students, particularly students of color and low-income students who rely on Pell Grants to afford college.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Elder Pride Act amends the Older Americans Act to better serve LGBTQI older adults and individuals with HIV. It adds specific definitions for "LGBTQI" and "HIV" to the law, establishes an Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Administration on Aging, and creates a new Rural Outreach Grant Program. This program provides $5 million annually (2025-2029) to fund community partnerships in rural areas that reduce isolation, improve cultural competency among service providers, expand nondiscrimination policies, and deliver sexual health services for LGBTQI older adults and others in protected classes. The law directly affects LGBTQI older adults and those with HIV, particularly in underserved rural communities, by requiring federal agencies to coordinate services and report on progress.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal obscenity laws to remove outdated references to abortion and "immoral" materials. It revises Title 18 sections 552, 1461, and 1462 by deleting phrases like "procuring abortion" and "indecent or immoral use," and updates definitions to focus solely on "obscene materials." The changes clarify that federal mail and commerce restrictions apply only to obscene materials, not to medical information or other protected content. This directly affects how federal laws regulate the mailing or transportation of materials, particularly impacting the legal treatment of abortion-related medical information in postal and shipping contexts.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status in federally funded child welfare services. It directly affects LGBTQ youth in foster care - who are overrepresented in the system and face higher risks of poor outcomes - and prospective foster and adoptive parents who experience bias. Key provisions include requiring child welfare agencies to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity, establishing a National Resource Center for LGBTQ youth in foster care, mandating cultural competency training, and setting compliance deadlines with potential funding consequences for non-compliance. The bill aims to improve safety, well-being, and permanent family placements for LGBTQ youth by addressing systemic discrimination in the child welfare system.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 740 is a formal apology by the U.S. Senate for the historical discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who served in the military, Foreign Service, and federal civil service. It specifically addresses the forced discharges and exclusion of thousands of LGBT service members and employees from the 1940s through the 1990s, including policies like the 1949 military ban and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The resolution acknowledges the harm caused, apologizes on behalf of the U.S. government to affected individuals and their families, and reaffirms the commitment to equal treatment for all service members and employees. This resolution does not change current laws or provide benefits; it is a symbolic acknowledgment of past wrongs with no legal or financial impact.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program through 2030, extending its expiration date from June 30, 2021 to December 31, 2030 for workers and firms. It updates funding periods for training (2025-2031 instead of 2015-2021) and ensures workers with petitions filed between July 1, 2021, and enactment date receive benefits under current rules. The bill also requires reconsideration of denied certifications for workers and firms whose petitions were pending before the bill’s enactment. It directly affects U.S. workers, businesses, and farmers displaced by international trade who qualify for TAA support.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care program, which provides temporary relief for family caregivers supporting individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions. It updates the definition of "family caregiver" to include all unpaid caregivers (removing the previous "adult" restriction) and extends federal funding for the program from fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The key change ensures the program continues supporting caregivers across all age groups while maintaining the same core purpose of offering short-term care to prevent caregiver burnout. This directly affects millions of unpaid family caregivers and the people they support, primarily seniors and individuals with disabilities. The bill makes no new policy changes beyond extending existing funding and clarifying the caregiver definition.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to enhance the safety of state and local judges and court staff by establishing State judicial threat intelligence and resource centers. These centers, funded through eligible national nonprofits with expertise in judicial security, will provide security training, conduct threat monitoring, and coordinate with law enforcement to address safety risks. They will also develop standardized reporting systems, a national threat database, and security assessments for courts and judicial staff. Annual reports to Congress will track the number and severity of threats faced by judges and court personnel.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and extends existing Alzheimer's disease and dementia programs through fiscal year 2029. It specifically provides $33 million annually for states and public health departments to support Alzheimer's initiatives, including community-based care and research translation. Key provisions require translating clinical trial findings into community practices and strengthen coordination with the CDC. The bill directly affects state health agencies and public health departments receiving federal funding for dementia care programs. It does not create new programs but extends current funding mechanisms and adds a new requirement to apply research findings to community-level interventions.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes federal funding for pediatric emergency medical services programs through 2029. It increases the annual grant amount from $22.3 million (for fiscal years 2020-2024) to $24.3 million per year (for fiscal years 2025-2029). The funding directly supports state and community programs that provide specialized emergency care for children. This change extends existing support at a higher level, ensuring continued access to pediatric emergency medical services nationwide.