Sen. Christopher A. Coons

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Delaware River Basin Conservation program through 2030, extending its current deadline. It updates the basin's definition to include Maryland as a fifth participating state (previously a four-state basin) and adjusts cost-sharing rules to provide greater federal funding for projects serving small, rural, or disadvantaged communities - increasing the federal share to 90% (or up to 100% in cases of financial hardship). The changes directly affect the five basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and now Maryland) and communities qualifying under the new cost-sharing provisions. The bill makes no new program creation but extends existing conservation funding mechanisms with expanded eligibility for vulnerable areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires standardized presentations about Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits during preseparation counseling for service members transitioning from military to civilian life. It mandates that these presentations be reviewed by the VA and veterans service organizations before use, include information on how to file claims, and cannot promote specific organizations. The VA must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing which veterans service organizations participated, attendance numbers, and recommendations for improvement. The bill directly affects service members receiving transition assistance, ensuring they receive consistent, accurate information about VA benefits.

Maddy summaryS 2895, the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023, makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable. This change directly affects low-income adoptive parents who previously could not claim the credit if they owed no federal income tax. The bill restructures the credit in the tax code to allow families to receive it as a direct payment, even if their tax liability was zero. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and includes a transitional rule for credits carried forward from prior years. The law does not alter the credit amount or eligibility criteria, only its refundability.

Maddy summaryS 2889, the NO TIME TO Waste Act, establishes an Office of Food Loss and Waste within the Department of Agriculture to coordinate national efforts to reduce food loss and waste. The bill creates grant programs for state, local, and Tribal governments to collect data on food waste reduction policies and requires federal contractors to report on their food waste prevention efforts. It also mandates annual reports to Congress on progress toward a 50% reduction in food loss and waste by 2030, while funding a national education campaign to teach consumers about food preservation, safety, and composting. The legislation promotes public-private partnerships and regional coordination to improve food recovery infrastructure and support food recovery organizations. The bill authorizes $1.5 million annually for the Office and additional funding for related programs through 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to include hazing incidents in their annual security reports and publish detailed public transparency reports. It defines hazing as intentional acts causing physical or mental harm during group initiation or membership, and mandates institutions to create annual Campus Hazing Transparency Reports. These reports must list verified hazing incidents, organizational involvement, investigation timelines, and sanctions - while protecting student privacy - starting 12 months after enactment. Reports must be updated twice yearly and remain publicly available for seven years. The law applies to all U.S. institutions participating in federal higher education programs.

Maddy summaryThe Updated Drug Labeling for Patient Safety Act (S 2886) allows generic drug manufacturers to update their product labels - including safety information - using the same process as brand-name drug companies, without requiring a full new application. The bill requires the FDA to order consistent label changes across all equivalent generic drugs when one manufacturer updates its labeling for safety reasons. This ensures patients and healthcare providers receive uniform safety information across similar medications. The bill directly affects generic drug manufacturers and the FDA, streamlining safety updates to improve patient safety without delaying necessary label changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare's coverage for telehealth services by adding new categories of healthcare providers who can deliver these services and receive payment. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking therapy services (like physical, occupational, speech, or audiologic therapy) via telehealth, as well as the therapists and assistants providing them. Key provisions include authorizing Medicare to pay for telehealth services provided by qualified audiologists, occupational therapists and their assistants (under supervision), physical therapists and their assistants (under supervision), and speech-language pathologists. The bill also allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to specify additional eligible providers for telehealth services under Medicare.

Maddy summarySRES 353 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating the week of September 16-23, 2023, as "National Estuaries Week." It expresses the Senate’s support for raising public awareness about the ecological and economic importance of estuaries. The resolution highlights estuaries’ role in supporting jobs, economic output, and critical habitats, while acknowledging threats like pollution and habitat loss. This procedural resolution has no direct regulatory or funding impact - it serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of estuaries’ value.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution symbolically designates September 2023 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about voting rights history and current challenges. It recommends Congress pass specific voting rights legislation (like the Freedom to Vote Act and Democracy Restoration Act) and encourages public education on voting accessibility, registration, and historical voter suppression. The resolution has no binding effect on policy or funding - it serves as a symbolic recognition and call to action for voting rights advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 11, 2023, as a "National Day of Service and Remembrance" to honor victims and first responders of the 2001 terrorist attacks. It encourages all Americans to observe the day through volunteerism, reflection, and community service - aligning with the existing tradition established by the 2009 Serve America Act. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes an annual observance already practiced nationwide.