Maddy summaryThis bill retroactively restores pay, benefits, and seniority for senior military officers (O-7 rank or higher) whose promotions were delayed due to a Senate confirmation suspension starting in February 2023. It applies specifically to officers confirmed between December 5-31, 2023, who faced delays because the Senate paused its advice-and-consent process for such appointments. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to pay retroactive compensation from a defined date (the later of 30 days after Senate calendar placement or the original appointment date) and use that date for determining the officer's seniority in their new rank. It directly affects military personnel whose career progression was impacted by the confirmation delay, without creating new policy or changing appointment procedures.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 499 is a non-binding Senate resolution honoring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, for her career as an Arizona State Senator, judge, and advocate for civic education through her organization iCivics. The resolution formally acknowledges her legacy as a trailblazer and educational advocate, extends condolences to her family, and requests communication of the resolution to the House of Representatives and her family. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new law or policy but serves as a formal tribute to her lifetime service.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals, clinical diagnostic laboratories, imaging services providers, and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly disclose standardized pricing information for healthcare services in a machine-readable format. It mandates disclosure of gross charges, discounted cash prices, payer-specific negotiated charges, and other pricing details for a minimum of 300 "shoppable" services. The bill establishes civil penalties for non-compliance, with fines ranging from $300 per day for smaller facilities to over $10 million annually for larger hospitals. The goal is to make healthcare pricing more transparent for consumers, helping them compare costs and make informed decisions about their care. The requirements will take effect on January 1, 2025.
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 summaryS 3523 prohibits federal unemployment payments to individuals with an adjusted gross income of $1 million or more in a given year. It directly affects high-income earners who might otherwise qualify for unemployment benefits, regardless of their current employment status. The bill requires applicants to certify they do not meet the income threshold and mandates that these certifications be auditable by the Department of Labor or the Government Accountability Office. The rule applies to unemployment weeks beginning after the bill's enactment date.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies and contractors to terminate employees convicted of sexual assault offenses. For employees found responsible for sexual misconduct (through final administrative or court findings), it prohibits pay raises, bonuses, or promotions for five years. The law applies directly to all federal employees and contractor workers who face verified sexual misconduct findings. Key provisions mandate termination after convictions and enforce strict 5-year restrictions on compensation and advancement for those subject to sustained complaints.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from providing health care or processing health care claims for individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are not already eligible for VA benefits under existing law. It directly affects non-citizens without legal immigration status who would otherwise seek VA health services. The key mechanism bans VA health care services and claims processing for this group, while preserving eligibility for veterans and others legally residing in the U.S. The bill does not alter current VA eligibility rules for citizens or lawfully present individuals.
Maddy summaryThe Kids Online Safety Act requires social media platforms and other online services used by minors to implement safety features protecting children under 17. It mandates default privacy controls, limits addictive features like automatic media playback, restricts advertising of harmful products (tobacco, gambling, alcohol) to minors, and requires annual transparency reports about online risks. Platforms with over 10 million monthly U.S. users must provide parental tools, conduct independent audits, and make de-identified data available for research on online harms. The bill focuses on preventing mental health disorders, bullying, sexual exploitation, and addictive behaviors through platform design changes.
Maddy summaryThe Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2023 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose pricing information and prohibits them from keeping profit margins between what they charge health plans and what they pay pharmacies. It mandates annual reporting to the Federal Trade Commission about pricing differences, rebates, and formulary changes, and prohibits PBMs from arbitrarily reducing pharmacy reimbursements or increasing fees. The law affects PBMs, health plans, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers by requiring full transparency in drug pricing practices. It includes whistleblower protections for employees who report violations and establishes enforcement mechanisms through the FTC. This legislation aims to increase clarity in the prescription drug pricing system and reduce hidden costs for consumers and healthcare providers.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publish a detailed report on the U.S. fertilizer industry within one year of enactment. The report must cover market size trends over 25 years, import data (including sources and companies), pricing patterns, supply chain issues, industry concentration, emerging fertilizer technologies, regulatory impacts, and transparency needs for public price reporting. The bill directly affects the USDA, which must compile this data, and indirectly affects fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and agricultural producers by mandating greater industry transparency. It does not change existing regulations or prices but requires a comprehensive analysis to inform future policy discussions.