Saving Our Mainstreet American Locations for Leisure and Shopping Act of 2023 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, income attributable to certain discharges of commercial or retail indebtedness secured by real property.
Maddy summaryThis bill would establish the Civilian Climate Corps, a national workforce program that would employ and train 50,000 to 400,000 young adults annually through 2028 to work on climate-related projects. The program would provide participants with a minimum living allowance of $17 per hour, health care benefits, and $25,000 in educational benefits per term of service. It would require 50% of projects to be located in under-resourced communities (with 10% specifically in Indian country) and ensure at least 50% of participants come from these communities. The Corps would focus on climate resilience, clean energy infrastructure, environmental remediation, and creating career pathways in the growing clean economy sector.
Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare standards. It gives the Attorney General authority to bring civil cases for violations, including seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation and injunctions to remove or relocate animals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General to coordinate through a new Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on repeat violators. These changes directly affect dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies by expanding civil enforcement tools and clarifying jurisdiction over rule violations.
Maddy summaryHR 4845, the Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act to remove a restriction that previously disqualified workers from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they were on strike. The bill changes eligibility rules so that striking workers are no longer automatically ineligible for SNAP benefits solely because they are participating in a labor strike. This change directly affects workers involved in strikes who rely on SNAP for food assistance, ensuring they can access benefits during labor disputes. The key provision removes specific language from Section 6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act that had barred strike participants from SNAP enrollment.
Maddy summaryThe John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 would strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by updating the criteria for which states and localities must obtain federal preclearance before changing voting practices. It would establish new standards for proving vote dilution and vote denial by requiring courts to consider historical discrimination, racial polarization in voting, and whether voting practices disproportionately burden minority voters. The bill would also require states and localities to provide public notice of voting changes and share demographic data about polling locations. These changes would primarily affect jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations, aiming to prevent discriminatory voting practices before they take effect.
Maddy summaryHR 5545 requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to create and implement a Global WASH in Healthcare Facilities Action Plan. The bill targets healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries - where 1 in 5 lack basic water access and 79% lack sanitation - to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Key provisions mandate handwashing stations at all care points, safe waste disposal, menstrual health support, and integration with pandemic preparedness. USAID must report annually on progress, spending, and outcomes like reduced infections, using World Health Organization metrics. The law directly affects patients, healthcare workers, and facilities in high-priority countries identified by USAID.
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is caused by a hormone imbalance. Symptoms can include infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth, and acne.
Maddy summaryThis bill improves access to donor human milk for high-risk infants by supporting nonprofit milk banks. It amends the Child Nutrition Act to allow states to use funds for collecting, storing, and transferring unprocessed human milk to registered nonprofit milk banks, and creates $3 million in emergency grants for milk banks facing high demand or supply shortages. The bill also requires a public awareness campaign distributing educational materials to healthcare providers (like pediatricians) and WIC program participants, focusing on the safety and benefits of donor milk. These changes directly affect nonprofit milk banks, healthcare providers, and families of high-risk infants needing this resource.
Maddy summaryThe Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023 bans cosmetic animal testing in the United States, prohibiting companies from conducting or contracting such testing after its enactment (effective 1 year later). It also bans selling or transporting cosmetics developed using animal testing conducted after that date within U.S. interstate commerce. The law directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers operating in the U.S. market, requiring them to use non-animal testing methods for safety evaluations. Exceptions exist for foreign regulatory requirements or when no alternative testing methods are available for specific ingredients.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grants to help hospitals with emergency departments improve follow-up care for patients experiencing acute mental health crises. It directly affects emergency departments licensed to treat mental health emergencies and the patients treated there, aiming to reduce gaps in transitioning to ongoing care. Grants can fund coordination with community providers, expand psychiatric bed availability, implement telehealth support in EDs, and establish follow-up systems like phone check-ins. The bill authorizes $15 million annually (2024-2028) for these programs, requiring hospitals to demonstrate needs and coordinate with local health systems before receiving funds.
