Sen. Mazie K. Hirono

Maddy summarySRES 528 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating January 2024 as "National Stalking Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but urges organizations, schools, law enforcement, and the public to increase awareness and support services for stalking victims during that month. The resolution highlights stalking statistics (e.g., 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience stalking) and encourages efforts to combat stalking through education and improved victim support. It directly affects the public by promoting a national focus on stalking prevention and victim resources, while targeting community groups, campuses, and service providers to take action during January 2024.

Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal right for patients to access fertility treatments without unreasonable restrictions, protects health care providers who offer these services, and requires insurance coverage for such treatments. It guarantees patients the right to continue ongoing treatments under written agreements and retain control over reproductive materials. States cannot impose requirements that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures or that don’t significantly advance safety. Violations can be challenged in federal court by the government, patients, or providers, while states may still enforce health/safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to create and share public guidelines within one year of enactment, focusing on evacuation route planning for natural disasters. It directs the Secretary to work with FEMA and the Federal Highway Administration to develop best practices for state, territorial, tribal, and local governments. These guidelines will help communities plan road networks for evacuations, emergency supplies, and first responder access. The bill directly affects all state and local governments responsible for transportation infrastructure and disaster preparedness planning.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in federal funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024. The ACP provides internet subsidies to help low-income households afford service, directly supporting millions of qualifying families. This funding ensures the program can continue operating throughout 2024, with the money remaining available until fully spent.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a law with policy changes). It commemorates the 80th anniversary of the 1943 Magnuson Act repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The Senate resolution symbolically acknowledges the historical injustice of the exclusion laws and reaffirms commitment to civil rights for Asian Americans. It does not create new policies or directly affect any individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 510) expresses the Senate's support for respecting the FDA's scientific determination that mifepristone - a medication used for early pregnancy termination - is safe and effective. It calls for abortion care policies to be "equitable and based on science," emphasizing the FDA's authority to regulate the drug without interference, including its 2023 update allowing mail-order access. The resolution directly addresses the impact of state restrictions on medication abortion, noting that such policies disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous people, people of color, low-income individuals, rural communities, and other marginalized groups. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but urges alignment with FDA science to protect access to this time-sensitive care.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3540) creates a federal grant incentive for states that require cosmetology and barber license applicants to complete domestic violence prevention training. States implementing such training (covering recognition, response, and resource referrals) can receive up to a 10% increase in their existing federal crime prevention grants. The program authorizes $5 million annually (2024-2030) for these grant increases, with states limited to receiving the incentive for up to three years. It directly affects cosmetology and barber license seekers in participating states, while encouraging state-level adoption of domestic violence training in these professions.

Maddy summaryThe CONVENE Act of 2023 requires the U.S. Secretary of State to work with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau to establish or strengthen their national security councils (or similar bodies) for coordinating security and emergency response. These councils would focus on improving U.S. collaboration on disaster response, maritime security, counterintelligence, and combating illegal fishing. The bill mandates that equipment and services used by these councils meet cybersecurity standards, avoid certain foreign systems, and be interoperable with U.S. systems. It also requires annual reports to Congress for two years detailing progress, challenges, and assessments of the councils' effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThe POLL Act requires states to ensure no voter waits more than 30 minutes to cast a ballot in federal elections by implementing resource allocation plans and providing minimum voting systems and poll workers. States must submit public plans before elections detailing how they'll allocate resources equitably, considering factors like voting-age population, historical voting patterns, and community needs. The bill creates a private right of action allowing voters who wait over 30 minutes to seek damages, with higher penalties for intentional suppression. Federal funds will be provided to states to support these requirements, with payments based on voting-age population. The law aims to address systemic disparities in voting access that disproportionately affect communities of color, disabled voters, and other vulnerable populations.