Maddy summaryThe SAVES Act creates a new Department of Veterans Affairs program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that train and provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, capped at $2 million per organization, require nonprofits to be accredited by groups like Assistance Dogs International, offer specific training and aftercare for veterans and dogs, and ensure equal access for women veterans. Eligible veterans must be enrolled in VA healthcare and have disabilities including blindness, mobility issues, PTSD, or military sexual trauma. The program requires annual evaluations of grant effectiveness and is funded with $10 million yearly from 2024 through 2028. It specifically defines "service dogs" as those trained for disability-related tasks, excluding emotional support animals.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific eligibility standards for veterans to access community care through the Veterans Community Care Program, requiring the VA to provide care within defined timeframes (20 days for primary care, 28 days for specialty care) if VA facilities cannot schedule appointments within specified driving times (30 minutes for primary care, 60 minutes for specialty care). It requires the VA to notify veterans of eligibility, provide explanations for denials, discuss telehealth options, and document veteran preferences for scheduling appointments. The bill also mandates the VA to publish wait times for care at medical centers, develop a strategic plan for transitioning to value-based healthcare, and implement an online self-service module for veterans to manage appointments and appeals. These provisions aim to improve access, transparency, and efficiency of healthcare services for veterans through the Veterans Community Care Program.
Maddy summaryThe RELIEVE Act (S 1172) modifies eligibility for veterans to receive reimbursement for emergency medical treatment. It adds a new provision allowing veterans to qualify if they enrolled in the VA health care system within 60 days before receiving the emergency care. This change directly affects veterans seeking emergency treatment after enrolling in VA health services but before full enrollment processing. The policy change expands access to reimbursement by removing a prior barrier related to enrollment timing. The amendment applies to emergency treatment furnished one year after the bill's enactment.
Maddy summaryS 928, the "Not Just a Number Act," requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to publish an annual report on veteran suicide rates starting 18 months after enactment. The report must include detailed data broken down by age, gender, and race/ethnicity, plus comparisons between veterans who used VA health services (like Vet Centers or mental health care) versus those who did not, and veterans engaged with VA benefits programs (such as education assistance, disability compensation, or housing loans). The bill also mandates a toolkit for state/local coroners to better identify and report veteran suicides, and a study on creating a dedicated VA suicide prevention office. These requirements aim to improve data collection, analysis, and reporting on veteran suicide trends to inform prevention strategies.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grant programs to expand education and training for health professionals in palliative care and hospice services. It establishes requirements for training programs to emphasize interprofessional team-based care, patient and family engagement, and addressing gaps in care for individuals with serious or life-threatening illnesses. The bill prioritizes programs serving rural areas, medically underserved populations, pediatric patients, and racial/ethnic minorities, and authorizes $15 million annually for 2024-2028 to support these initiatives. It also includes provisions for disseminating palliative care information to patients, families, and health professionals through federal agencies.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends over 30 sections of the Internal Revenue Code to replace gendered language like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral terms such as "married couple" or "spouses." It directly affects all married taxpayers by ensuring the tax code refers to married couples in inclusive language, regardless of gender. The key mechanism is updating specific tax code provisions to use neutral terminology throughout, including changing "his spouse" to "the individual's spouse" in numerous sections. This is a technical correction to modernize the language of the tax code, not a change to tax rates, deductions, or policy. The bill does not alter tax obligations or benefits for married couples.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires lobbyists to disclose the name and address of any foreign government or political party (including regional or local units) that directs or controls their lobbying activities. It directly affects lobbyists representing foreign governments or political parties in the U.S. lobbying process. The key change amends existing law to mandate this new disclosure, overriding previous rules that didn't require naming foreign entities involved in directing lobbying efforts. This makes foreign influence in lobbying more transparent to the public and government.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal hiring rules to expand eligibility for certain remote work positions to military spouses. It directly affects spouses of active-duty, disabled, or deceased members of the Armed Forces by adding them to the list of eligible candidates for remote work roles in federal agencies. The key provision modifies Title 5, U.S. Code, to include military spouses as a designated category for appointment to positions requiring remote work, which is defined as work not requiring regular in-office presence. The bill does not create new positions but changes existing hiring criteria to prioritize military spouses for remote opportunities.
Maddy summarySRES 282 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing June 2023 as "LGBTQ Pride Month" to honor the contributions and resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals across the United States. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges historical challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, including discrimination, hate crimes (such as the Pulse and Club Q shootings), and barriers to equality in employment, healthcare, and housing. The resolution encourages all Americans to learn about the LGBTQ community's history of struggle and achievement during June 2023. Introduced by 44 bipartisan senators, it serves as a symbolic gesture of support without altering any legal rights or obligations.
Maddy summaryS 2173, the Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2023, clarifies that trademark licensing relationships between franchisors (or trademark owners) and related companies do not create employment relationships under labor laws. It specifically states that franchisors or trademark owners cannot be deemed employers simply because they license a mark or exercise limited control over its use to maintain quality, reputation, or uniformity. The bill explicitly excludes personnel-related policies (like hiring, pay, or work schedules) from being considered "control over the mark" under this provision. This protects franchisors and trademark owners from unintended labor law obligations tied to standard licensing practices.