Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Maddy summaryThe HELP Copays Act (S 1375) changes how health insurance plans calculate patient cost-sharing. It requires that discounts, financial assistance, or third-party payments (like drug manufacturer coupons) count toward a patient’s deductible, copayment, or out-of-pocket limit. This directly affects individuals enrolled in group or individual health insurance plans who receive such assistance. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act and Affordable Care Act to ensure these payments reduce the actual out-of-pocket costs patients face, rather than being treated as separate expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1314) changes the definition of "spouse" and "surviving spouse" under veterans' benefits law to remove gender restrictions. It ensures that all individuals lawfully married to a veteran - regardless of gender, including same-sex marriages - are recognized for VA benefits like survivor pensions. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to update all relevant regulations to reflect this change. It directly affects veterans and their spouses in same-sex marriages who were previously excluded from certain benefits due to outdated definitions.

Maddy summaryS 1290, the Supreme Court Code of Conduct Act, requires the U.S. Supreme Court to create and publish a formal code of conduct for the Chief Justice and all justices within one year of the bill becoming law. The code must address conduct prejudicial to justice or violating federal law, and the Court must designate a person to handle public complaints about potential violations. This individual will publish anonymized complaint summaries and actions taken on the Court's website, while the Court's Marshal may use federal investigators to probe serious allegations. The bill directly affects Supreme Court justices and the Court's internal processes, establishing new transparency and accountability mechanisms for their conduct.

Maddy summaryThe COPS Reauthorization Act of 2023 (S 1306) reauthorizes the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program, which provides funding to local law enforcement agencies for hiring and training officers. It sets a new annual funding level of $651 million for fiscal years 2024 through 2029, replacing the previous $1.047 billion annual amount for 2006-2009. This bill directly affects state and local police departments that apply for these grants to support community policing initiatives. The key change is the reduced funding level for the program's next six-year authorization period.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint three commemorative coins in 2026 to honor Golda Meir (Israel’s first female Prime Minister) and mark the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Israel relations. It specifies $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar coins bearing her image and inscriptions like "Golda Meir, Israel 75, 2026," with surcharges of $35, $10, and $5 per coin respectively. All surcharge revenue will fund Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital in Israel, while the coins - minted only in 2026 - will be sold as collectibles with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryThe Love Lives On Act of 2023 restores survivor benefits for veterans' spouses who remarried before age 55 and before the bill's enactment, which they previously lost due to remarriage. It removes an expiration date for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship for surviving spouses and expands access to military commissaries and exchanges for remarried surviving spouses. The bill also extends TRICARE coverage to include remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage ended.

Maddy summaryThe INSULIN Act of 2023 sets cost-sharing limits for insulin products under most health insurance plans. Starting in 2024, health plans must cover selected insulin products with no deductible and cost-sharing capped at $35 per 30-day supply before 2025, and at the lesser of $35 or 25% of the negotiated price after 2025. The bill defines "selected insulin products" to include at least one of each dosage form (vial, pen, inhaler) and type (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, pre-mixed) of insulin. It also requires pharmacy benefit managers to pass through 100% of insulin rebates to health plans and mandates a report on insulin market competition and barriers to biosimilar adoption. This legislation directly affects millions of people with diabetes who rely on insulin and their health insurance plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain family members of eligible Filipino veterans from U.S. immigration visa limits. It directly affects spouses, children, and other relatives of Filipino veterans who were naturalized under specific historical laws (the 1990 Immigration Act or the 1940 Act related to WWII service). The key provision amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to create a new exemption category, allowing these family members to qualify for visas without being subject to annual numerical caps. This changes the process by removing a specific barrier to family reunification for this group. The bill focuses on updating visa eligibility rules, not creating new benefits.

Maddy summaryThe FISH Act of 2023 establishes a U.S. "black list" of foreign fishing vessels engaged in Illegal, Unreported, or Unregulated (IUU) fishing, including those using forced labor. Vessels on this list would be denied access to U.S. ports, services, and transshipment in U.S. waters, with sanctions imposed on their beneficial owners. The bill requires coordination between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State Department, and Customs and Border Protection to implement the list, verify seafood imports, and share data to combat IUU fishing. It also authorizes $20 million annually for enforcement and includes provisions for technical assistance to help nations improve fisheries management. The law directly affects foreign fishing vessels, their owners, and U.S. agencies responsible for enforcement and import verification.

Maddy summaryS 1235 "Bruce's Law" creates new federal programs to address fentanyl contamination in illegal drugs. It mandates public education campaigns targeting youth, parents, schools, and first responders about the dangers of fentanyl-contaminated drugs, including prevention strategies and early warning signs of addiction. The bill establishes a Federal Interagency Work Group to coordinate efforts across health, law enforcement, and education agencies, and authorizes grants for community coalitions in areas with significant fentanyl-related overdoses to implement evidence-based prevention programs focused on youth. These provisions apply directly to communities experiencing fentanyl-related overdoses and require annual reporting to Congress on strategies to reduce overdoses.