Sen. Mazie K. Hirono

Maddy summaryThe Do No Harm Act amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not apply when federal laws protect against discrimination (like the Civil Rights Act of 1964), guarantee workplace protections (such as the Family and Medical Leave Act), prevent child exploitation, or ensure health care access. It specifically prevents religious freedom claims from blocking enforcement of these existing laws. The bill directly affects individuals or entities attempting to use RFRA to challenge such federal protections in court. This amendment ensures that religious freedom arguments cannot override established civil rights, workplace, child safety, or health care regulations.

Maddy summaryS.1190, the "End the Threat of Default Act," repeals the statutory debt ceiling (Section 3101 of Title 31, U.S. Code), eliminating the legal limit on federal borrowing. This directly affects how the U.S. Treasury manages debt issuance, as it removes the requirement for Congress to vote on raising the debt limit. The bill replaces all references to "debt subject to limit" with terms like "face value of obligations" to align with the repealed ceiling mechanism, preventing future government shutdowns or default risks tied to debt ceiling negotiations.

Maddy summarySRES 161 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April 22-30, 2023, as "National Park Week." It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but formally recognizes the National Park System's significance. The resolution highlights the parks' historical value, visitor impact (312 million visits in 2022), and economic contributions ($42.5 billion in 2021). It encourages public engagement with national parks but contains no funding, regulatory changes, or policy mechanisms. As a procedural resolution, it serves purely to honor the parks' legacy.

Paying a Fair Share Act of 2023 This bill requires an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million (high-income taxpayer) to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax). The amount of the tax is the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of (1) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year; over (2) certain tax credits. The bill provides for a phase-in of such tax and requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2023. The bill also expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.

Maddy summarySRES 147 designates April 2023 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" to recognize the importance of local news for informed citizenship and community engagement. The resolution highlights the decline in local news outlets - over 2,500 print outlets lost since 2005 - and affirms local journalism as a public good essential for democracy. It underscores challenges like reduced newsroom staff, economic pressures, and gaps in coverage for rural and minority communities, without proposing new policies or funding.

Maddy summarySRES 148 is a ceremonial Senate resolution (not a law) passed in March 2023 that formally recognizes the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women. It highlights their historical and ongoing achievements in areas like military service, business ownership, healthcare, arts, and civil rights through specific examples (e.g., veterans, entrepreneurs, activists). The resolution has no policy or funding mechanisms - it solely expresses the Senate's intent to honor these contributions and acknowledge the need to address barriers they face. It was introduced by Senators Murkowski, Schatz, and others with bipartisan support.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes the contributions of care workers in the U.S., including childcare providers, home health aides, and support staff for older adults and people with disabilities. It expresses support for designating April 2023 as "Care Worker Recognition Month" to honor their essential role in supporting families and communities. The resolution highlights care workers' impact on economic stability, family caregiving, and community well-being without creating new laws or funding. As a symbolic gesture, it does not impose legal requirements or alter existing policies.

Maddy summarySRES 154 is a symbolic Senate resolution supporting International Transgender Day of Visibility. It encourages the American public to observe this day through ceremonies and activities, celebrates transgender community achievements, and recognizes the community's fight for equality. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves solely as a statement of support. It directly acknowledges transgender individuals' contributions and the ongoing challenges they face, including discrimination in employment, education, and healthcare. The resolution was introduced by multiple senators and refers to transgender representation in government and media as part of its context.

Maddy summarySRES 144 is a Senate resolution (not a law) that calls on the federal government to create a "Transgender Bill of Rights." It would direct agencies to develop policies protecting transgender and nonbinary people’s rights in healthcare, employment, housing, education, and legal identity. Key proposals include amending anti-discrimination laws to explicitly cover gender identity, ensuring access to gender-affirming care, simplifying updates to government IDs, and improving safety protections. The resolution emphasizes that these steps are "only the first steps" toward equality and stresses involving transgender communities in policy design. As a symbolic measure, it does not change current law but urges future legislative action.

Maddy summarySRES 120 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating March 23, 2023, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the significant contributions of women in U.S. agriculture, citing that they represent over one-third of agricultural producers and generated $148 billion in sales in 2017. The resolution encourages citizens to acknowledge women in the field and supports their roles as producers, educators, mentors, and leaders. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to highlight their impact on the agricultural workforce and food systems.