Freedom to Decide Act This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress to (1) affirm that federal law authorizes the distribution of medication abortion, including by mail, as stated in a 2022 Department of Justice memorandum; and (2) condemn restrictions on the access and coverage of reproductive health care, including medication abortion.
Maddy summaryThe Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2023 amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to improve services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence. The bill authorizes $270 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2028, with specific allocations including 12.5% for Tribal grantees, 2.5% for culturally specific services, and funds for national hotlines and resource centers. It establishes a national domestic violence hotline, a National Indian Domestic Violence Hotline, and resource centers for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian populations, requiring all services to be trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and accessible to underserved populations including racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and Tribal communities. The bill also mandates a study on financial stability support for survivors of domestic violence.
Maddy summaryHR 2630, the Safe Step Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to establish a clear, transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically force patients to try cheaper drugs first before covering more expensive alternatives. The bill mandates that plans must approve exceptions when prior treatments failed, delay would cause serious harm, a treatment is unsafe, or a patient is stable on a previously approved drug, with strict 72-hour (or 24-hour in emergencies) decision timelines. It also requires plans to publish the exception process online and limit documentation requests to only necessary medical information. This law directly affects health insurers, employers offering health plans, and patients using step therapy for prescription drugs.
Maddy summaryHJRES 54 proposes a constitutional amendment stating that only natural persons (human beings) have rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, explicitly denying constitutional rights to corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities. It would require governments to regulate or restrict corporate political contributions and spending to ensure equal access to elections, mandate public disclosure of all political spending, and clarify that campaign finance rules do not violate the First Amendment. This amendment directly affects corporations and other artificial entities by removing their constitutional standing in legal challenges and subjecting their political activities to stricter government oversight. If passed, it would fundamentally change how corporations interact with election laws and constitutional protections, though it preserves press freedom under Section 3. The bill is a proposed amendment requiring ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.
Maddy summaryThe School Meals Expansion Act (HR 2567) amends the National School Lunch Act to make it easier for schools to provide free meals to all students. It lowers the income threshold to 25% (from a higher previous rate) and increases the eligibility multiplier to 2.5 for school years starting July 1, 2023. This means school districts with 25% or more students from low-income families can now qualify for full federal funding to offer free meals to all students without requiring individual applications. The bill directly affects local school districts that choose to participate in the community eligibility program under the National School Lunch Act.
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, including hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. Current law provides for an increase of up to 200 positions per fiscal year beginning in FY2023, with a total increase of 1,000 positions; each hospital may receive up to 25 additional positions. Current law also provides for an additional increase of up to 200 positions for FY2026, with at least 100 of these positions for psychiatry or related specialties; each hospital may receive up to 10 additional positions. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2025-FY2031; during this period, each hospital may receive up to 75 additional positions in total under the bill and current law. Additionally, one-third of the positions that are made available under the bill must be allocated to hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies to increase the diversity of the health professional workforce, including with respect to representation from rural, low-income, and minority communities.
Maddy summaryThe Women's Health Protection Act of 2023 would protect access to abortion services by prohibiting states from imposing restrictions that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures. The bill would ensure people can obtain abortion services before fetal viability without unnecessary limitations like mandatory waiting periods or biased counseling, and after viability when necessary to protect the patient's life or health. It would preempt state laws that conflict with these protections and allow for civil enforcement actions to challenge restrictive state laws. This bill directly affects people seeking abortion services (including transgender and nonbinary individuals who can become pregnant), health care providers, and states that have implemented abortion restrictions.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 279, introduced April 6, 2023) designates April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to symbolically honor Dolores Huerta's civil rights work. It recognizes her role co-founding the farm workers movement, advocating for labor rights (including the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act), promoting women's equality, and originating the "Sí Se Puede" slogan. The resolution has no binding policy effect - it is purely commemorative, celebrating her legacy without creating new laws or affecting any group directly. It was introduced by multiple House members as a formal expression of support for her contributions to social justice.
Maddy summaryHR 1465, "Violet’s Law," requires federal research facilities to establish standards for placing eligible animals (dogs, cats, primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits) no longer needed for research with animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or individuals. Federal departments and agencies operating such facilities must create these placement standards within one year of the law's enactment. The law mandates that animals must be vet-certified as healthy (free of infectious disease or physical issues) before placement and prohibits facilities from using animals for commercial trade, breeding, or public exhibitions. This policy directly affects federal research facilities and aims to provide permanent homes for research animals through defined, safe pathways.
Minorities in Aviation Education Act of 2023 This bill establishes grants for increasing the exposure and access of students to the aviation industry, with a particular focus on women and minorities. Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must establish the Bessie Coleman Aviation Education Program to award the grants to state and local governments or educational agencies for activities that increase exposure and access to aviation-related education and jobs, such as programs to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in aviation degree programs. DOT must prioritize grant applicants that propose to use the funds to encourage the participation of women, minorities, and individuals in rural and urban areas in the aviation industry.
