Maddy summaryThe Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act would expand the recreation area to include specific lands and waters in Oregon, directly affecting management of these areas and communities and tribes in the affected regions. It designates 24 river segments in Oregon as "wild" or "recreational" under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, with detailed descriptions of each segment's location and length. The bill requires a 5-year study of the expanded area, including assessments of natural values like streams, wetlands, and plant species, followed by management plan revisions to protect these values. It also includes provisions for tribal access to cultural sites and maintains existing protections under the Northwest Forest Plan and Roadless Rule for the expanded area.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2217, the IDEA Full Funding Act, mandates specific annual federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support public education services for students with disabilities. It requires the federal government to appropriate increasing percentages of the total estimated cost - starting at 14.2% for FY 2024 and rising to 40% by FY 2033 - based on the number of eligible students and national average per-pupil spending. This directly affects public schools and state education agencies that receive IDEA funding, guaranteeing phased increases in federal support over a decade. The bill sets concrete, legally binding funding targets without altering eligibility or service requirements for students.
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 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 summarySRES 276 is a non-binding Senate resolution opposing state laws that criminalize or punish individuals for seeking or providing essential health care, including abortion, contraception, and gender-affirming care. It specifically condemns state actions that penalize people for pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriages or self-managed abortions) and criminalize health care providers who support access to these services. The resolution affirms that people should access sexual and reproductive health care without fear of legal repercussions and notes that such criminalization disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, including people of color, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ people. As a formal statement of Senate opposition, it does not change existing laws but highlights concerns raised by medical and human rights organizations.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 280) designates May 2023 as National Foster Care Month to raise public awareness about challenges faced by children in foster care. It encourages Congress to develop policies improving outcomes for these children, without specifying new laws or funding. The resolution highlights issues like educational instability, lengthy stays in care, and the need for family reunification support, but does not create binding requirements. It focuses on recognition - honoring foster parents, youth resilience, and child welfare workers - rather than enacting policy changes. As a procedural resolution, it serves as a symbolic call to action, not a legislative measure with concrete policy effects.
Maddy summaryThis resolution approves 1996 regulations governing labor-management relations for Senate employees. It applies standard federal labor rules (from Chapter 71) to specific Senate workplaces, including leadership offices, committees, and staff units like the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. The regulations define covered employees and outline how labor-management procedures - such as collective bargaining and grievance processes - will operate within these Senate offices. As a procedural approval of existing rules (not new policy), it does not change current workplace practices but formally adopts the 1996 framework for Senate staff.
Maddy summaryThe ARROW Act requires the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and NOAA to conduct annual atmospheric river reconnaissance along the West Coast from November 1 to March 31. This program directly supports communities in the western United States that face flooding and disruptions from atmospheric rivers, which account for up to 50% of annual precipitation and over 90% of major flood events. The bill mandates specific data collection using aircraft to improve storm forecasts in oceanic regions where satellite observations are limited, aiding water management and flood forecasting. It also requires both agencies to submit resource reports to Congress within 90 days to ensure continued funding through 2035.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes restrictions that prevent people in jail before trial from accessing Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and VA health benefits. It directly affects individuals held in custody pending court proceedings, including veterans. Key provisions amend federal health laws to exclude "individuals in custody pending disposition of charges" from standard inmate exclusions in these programs. The changes ensure pretrial detainees can receive covered health services without losing eligibility. The VA regulations will also be updated to apply this exception to veterans in similar situations.
Maddy summaryThe INSPIRES Act creates a federal grant program to fund the renovation and modernization of school facilities for STEM education. It specifically targets schools in rural areas, on tribal lands, or serving Native American students, requiring states to reserve at least 10% of funds for these schools. States would receive allotments based on eligible school counts and must provide 25% matching funds, while local agencies must provide 10% matching funds for subgrants. The grants support improvements like updated labs, technology infrastructure, and energy efficiency to create better learning environments for hands-on STEM education. This program aims to address the shortage of STEM workers by improving educational opportunities in underserved communities.