Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the federal Food and Nutrition Act to allow Puerto Rico to transition from its current nutrition assistance system to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides federal benefits to low-income households. It requires Puerto Rico to submit a transition plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture within 60 days, with the agency having 180 days to approve it. Puerto Rico would operate under a 5-year transition period from its existing block grant system, during which the federal government must provide technical assistance and annual reporting. The bill directly affects Puerto Rico residents eligible for nutrition assistance and modifies federal funding formulas to support this transition.

Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2023 This bill increases funding for water infrastructure to control water pollution or protect drinking water. Specifically, it establishes a Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Trust Fund. The fund may be used for specified grant programs. The bill increases the corporate income tax rate to 24.5% to provide revenues for the fund. In addition, the bill revises requirements concerning the clean water state revolving fund (SRF) and the drinking water SRF, including by prohibiting states from providing financial assistance using amounts from the clean water SRF for projects that will provide substantial direct benefits to new communities other than projects for constructing an advanced decentralized wastewater system. It also creates or reauthorizes several grant programs related to water infrastructure, such as grants for removing lead from drinking water.

Maddy summaryThe Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2023 establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to coordinate federal efforts addressing gun violence. The Office, led by a Director appointed by the Attorney General, will integrate existing DOJ programs (like background checks, victim services, and community policing) and coordinate with other federal agencies (such as Health and Human Services and Education). It will evaluate current laws and data gaps, develop research priorities, and make policy recommendations to Congress and the President. The Director must also create an annual report detailing gun violence trends and prevention strategies, supported by an Advisory Council including survivors, public health experts, and community representatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 915) would require the President to appoint and the Senate to confirm the Inspectors General (IGs) for both the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Currently, these IGs may be appointed without Senate confirmation, but this bill would change that process for both positions. The key mechanism is amending federal law to add a new section (425) specifying that these IGs must be appointed by the President with Senate advice and consent, aligning their appointment process with other major agency IGs. The bill does not alter the IGs' duties or oversight authority, only the appointment procedure. This directly affects the Federal Reserve and CFPB by changing how their top internal auditors are selected.

Maddy summaryThe A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act requires all federal agencies to address disproportionate environmental burdens faced by communities of color, low-income communities, Tribal and Indigenous communities, and other vulnerable populations. Key provisions include mandating federal agencies to develop environmental justice strategies, consider cumulative impacts in permitting decisions, establish an Environmental Justice Clearinghouse, and create grant programs for environmental justice communities. The bill also creates a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council to coordinate federal efforts and requires federal employees to complete environmental justice training. It strengthens community protections under the National Environmental Policy Act by requiring agencies to assess potential impacts on environmental justice communities before approving projects. The legislation directly affects federal agencies, environmental justice communities, and communities disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental hazards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. foreign aid law to remove restrictions preventing federal funds from supporting abortion services as part of comprehensive reproductive health care. It directly affects U.S. international health programs and people in low- and middle-income countries who rely on U.S.-funded reproductive health services. The key provision explicitly allows foreign assistance funds to cover abortion services, training, and equipment for safe abortion care, alongside other reproductive health services. This changes how U.S. aid is allocated globally, aiming to increase access to safe abortion care in countries where it is legal.

Maddy summaryThe Junk Fee Prevention Act requires businesses to clearly display the total price of goods and services including all mandatory fees before a purchase, preventing hidden costs for consumers. It prohibits excessive or deceptive fees for short-term lodging, ticketing services, and communications providers, and bans fees for seating young children (13 or younger) adjacent to an adult on flights. The bill mandates clear refund policies and requires businesses to provide full refunds if they can't deliver advertised tickets or seat assignments. Covered entities include ticket sellers, lodging providers, and communications companies, with enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.

Maddy summaryS.895, "Ellie’s Law," authorizes $10 million annually from fiscal years 2024 through 2028 for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to fund comprehensive research on unruptured brain aneurysms. The research must study a broader, more diverse patient population across age, sex, and race. This funding is supplemental to existing brain aneurysm research budgets, not replacing them. The bill directly supports federal research efforts to address a condition affecting an estimated 6.6 million people in the U.S., with the goal of improving understanding and management of unruptured aneurysms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges to prove their programs prepare students for required professional licenses in the states where students live, plan to work, and where the institution markets its programs. Specifically, institutions must certify that graduates can take licensing exams and meet certification requirements in those states, including providing necessary clinical placements or internships. It adds new certification steps for "gainful employment" programs, requiring institutions to document compliance with licensure standards and avoid offering programs similar to those previously deemed ineligible due to poor student outcomes. The bill also strengthens state authorization rules for distance education programs to ensure they meet local requirements.

Maddy summaryS.836, the Sunshine in Product Safety Act, removes a specific disclosure requirement from the Consumer Product Safety Act. It amends Section 6 by striking subsection (b), which previously required manufacturers to disclose certain information about consumer products. This change directly affects product manufacturers and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as it eliminates a mandated disclosure process. The bill does not create new requirements but modifies existing ones to remove this specific disclosure obligation. The key provision is the deletion of subsection (b) in Section 6 of the Consumer Product Safety Act.