Sen. Mazie K. Hirono

Maddy summaryThis bill restores U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by repealing recent restrictions on its appropriations. It directs the State Department to immediately resume funding for UNRWA, which provides essential aid - including 80% of humanitarian assistance in Gaza - to over 5 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The bill emphasizes UNRWA’s critical role in preventing famine and disease during Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, citing the agency’s implementation of reforms following an independent review. It requires quarterly reports on UNRWA’s progress implementing neutrality recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal law enforcement officers, Bureau of Prisons staff, and U.S. Marshals to immediately provide medical care to individuals in federal custody showing signs of medical distress (like breathing difficulties). It makes it a crime for these officials to negligently fail to act, punishable by fines or up to one year in prison. The bill also mandates Inspector General investigations into such failures and requires agencies to train staff on medical assistance, while allowing state attorneys general to pursue civil cases for affected residents.

Maddy summaryS 5395, the Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act, creates two new offices within the Supreme Court to strengthen ethics oversight. The Office of Ethics Counsel advises justices and their spouses on financial disclosures, gift acceptance, conflicts of interest, and other ethics matters. The Office of Investigative Counsel reviews and investigates ethics complaints filed by congressional leaders, conducts investigations, and reports findings to the Chief Justice (or senior associate justice if the Chief is the subject), with results made available to Congress. The bill requires annual reporting to Congress on ethics advice provided and mandates biannual ethics training for justices, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in the Court's operations.

Maddy summaryS 4259, the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior to study whether Lahaina, Maui (in Hawaii), should be designated as a National Heritage Area. The study will assess the area’s suitability and feasibility, involving consultation with Hawaii state officials, local historic preservation groups, tourism offices, and other relevant organizations. This bill does not create the heritage area or change current policies - it only authorizes a preliminary study to determine if designation is appropriate. The study area is specifically defined as the census-designated place of Lahaina in Maui County.

Maddy summarySRES 901 is a non-binding Senate resolution supporting Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence against transgender people in the U.S. It memorializes 38 transgender individuals, including transgender women of color, who were killed between October 2023 and September 2024. The resolution affirms the need for solutions to this violence while upholding the dignity of all transgender people. As a symbolic measure, it does not enact new policies or laws.

Maddy summarySRES 897 is a Senate resolution designating November 2024 as National Native American Heritage Month and recognizing the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day, as established by the 2009 Native American Heritage Day Act. It formally acknowledges the contributions of Native Americans to U.S. history, culture, and society, including their roles in agriculture, environmental stewardship, military service, and the influence of Indigenous governance concepts on the U.S. Constitution. The resolution encourages the public to observe these designations through educational programs and activities. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or communities.

Maddy summaryThe IDEA Act requires the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to collect voluntary demographic information (such as gender, race, and military status) from U.S. patent inventors during patent applications. This data must remain confidential, separate from patent reviews, and cannot influence patent examination. The USPTO must publish annual anonymized reports showing patent applications and grants disaggregated by demographic categories, technology fields, and state of residence. These reports will include data summaries and methodology, with biennial updates for Congress on the data collection process. The law aims to track patenting trends without affecting patent decisions or revealing individual inventors' identities.

Maddy summaryS 5320, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, allows U.S. federal agencies to enter 30-year contracts for purchasing renewable energy (like solar or wind) or energy from cogeneration facilities. This directly affects federal agencies that buy energy, streamlining their ability to secure long-term renewable power. The bill requires the federal government to create a standardized energy purchase agreement within 90 days of enactment, setting clear terms for these contracts. It also mandates that the federal energy management program provide technical assistance to help agencies implement these new procurement options. The law modifies existing energy conservation policy to facilitate longer-term renewable energy commitments by the federal government.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to allow military families to enroll in TRICARE Select health coverage when pregnancy occurs, treating it as a "qualifying event" similar to other life changes like separation from duty. It directly affects eligible military beneficiaries (including service members and their dependents) who become pregnant during the pilot period. The program requires the Secretary of Defense to track enrollment changes monthly, disaggregated by specific scenarios (e.g., service member separation, return to duty, or pregnancy itself), and submit annual reports to Congress starting in 2026. The pilot aims to test whether recognizing pregnancy as a qualifying event improves access to prenatal care without altering existing TRICARE enrollment rules permanently.

Maddy summarySRES 892 designates the week beginning October 13, 2024, as "National Wildlife Refuge Week" through a symbolic Senate resolution. It recognizes the National Wildlife Refuge System's role in conserving habitats, protecting species (including over 380 threatened or endangered species), and supporting recreation and local economies. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges the system's conservation work, recreational opportunities, and economic contributions, such as generating $3.2 billion annually for local communities. This is a ceremonial designation, not a policy change, aimed at raising public awareness.