Maddy summaryThis bill targets insurance fraud in health plan enrollments by imposing new penalties on agents and brokers who provide false or negligent information. It creates civil penalties of $10,000-$50,000 for negligent errors and up to $200,000 for intentional fraud, with criminal penalties (up to 10 years in prison) for willful violations. New verification requirements mandate consent documentation, delayed commission payments until enrollment issues are resolved, and consumer notifications for unauthorized changes. The bill also establishes audits to monitor compliance and sets stricter rules for marketing organizations involved in enrollment. These changes apply to all health insurance agents, brokers, and marketing groups working through government health insurance Exchanges.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new research program to study family caregiving, allocating $30 million annually from 2025 through 2029 for data collection and evidence-based practices. It defines "family caregiver" as an adult relative or informal provider of unpaid care for older adults or individuals with Alzheimer's, excluding professional caregivers. The bill also updates the National Family Caregiver Support Program to focus on family caregivers, adding a specific definition for "older relative caregivers" (55+ individuals caring for children or disabled relatives under certain legal arrangements). These changes aim to improve support services by aligning program definitions with current caregiving realities.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program under the Older Americans Act to fund peer support services for family caregivers. It authorizes $10 million annually (2025-2029) for grants to states, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and educational institutions to develop in-person and virtual peer programs. These programs help family caregivers navigate administrative systems, provide emotional support, and offer mental health resources, with special focus on underserved groups like low-income communities, immigrants, LGBTQ+ caregivers, and those with disabilities. The bill requires grant recipients to provide language access services and prioritizes projects serving communities identified as having limited peer support access.
Maddy summarySRES 765 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma following his death on July 9, 2024. The resolution commemorates his 28-year Senate service (1994-2023) and 52 years in public office, highlighting his work on defense policy, aviation legislation, infrastructure projects, and support for military bases in Oklahoma. This procedural resolution expresses the Senate's condolences and formally recognizes his legacy, rather than enacting any policy changes.
Maddy summarySRES 763 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating July 2024 as "Plastic Pollution Action Month." It does not create new laws or regulations but formally recognizes the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution - citing statistics on global plastic production, low recycling rates, ocean contamination, and human microplastic exposure. The resolution encourages all U.S. individuals to voluntarily reduce plastic use, participate in cleanup efforts, and support reuse initiatives during July 2024 and year-round. It serves as a non-binding awareness tool, referencing existing public efforts like Plastics Free July and the International Coastal Cleanup. This resolution directly affects the public by promoting voluntary action, not by imposing legal requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to award a single Congressional Gold Medal to Jens Stoltenberg, former Secretary General of NATO, recognizing his leadership during his nine-year tenure. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and allows for the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. The medal honors Stoltenberg's role in strengthening NATO's defense spending, enlargement, and unity - particularly during Russia's invasion of Ukraine - though the bill itself creates no new policy or obligations. The award is purely ceremonial and affects only Stoltenberg as the recipient.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 4691 (No Tax Breaks for Drug Ads Act), removes a tax deduction for pharmaceutical companies that spend on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. It directly affects drug manufacturers by eliminating the ability to deduct expenses for ads targeting the general public through TV, radio, print, online, or social media platforms. The key provision prohibits tax deductions for all such advertising costs starting after the bill's enactment date, without changing advertising rules or banning ads. This is a concrete tax policy change affecting pharmaceutical industry spending, not a regulatory measure.
Maddy summaryThe Keep Families Together Act (S 4723) limits the separation of children from parents or legal guardians at or near the U.S. border or within 100 miles of it. It prohibits separation solely to deter migration or enforce immigration laws, allowing separation only under specific conditions: a state court order, a child welfare agency’s safety determination, or documented findings by border officials regarding trafficking, parentage, or immediate danger to the child. The bill requires agencies to document separations, provide monthly updates to families on children’s well-being, develop a public system for locating separated children, and mandate training for border agents on child welfare and trauma. It directly affects children under 18 without permanent U.S. immigration status and their families, applying to border enforcement agencies like Customs and Border Protection.
Maddy summaryThe Baby Food Safety Act of 2024 establishes safety limits for toxic elements like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in infant and toddler food (not including infant formula) and foods primarily made of fruit or vegetable purees or juices. Manufacturers must implement regular testing programs for these contaminants, maintain detailed records for two years, and establish environmental monitoring to verify sanitation controls. The Food and Drug Administration must set specific limits by 2025-2028 (lead and arsenic by December 2025, cadmium by April 2026, mercury by April 2028), with regular reviews every four years. The law includes enforcement mechanisms for products exceeding established limits, directly affecting food manufacturers producing products for infants and toddlers under age two.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4554) is a non-binding resolution expressing Congress's "sense" that protections for abortion access should be supported after the *Dobbs* decision and that *Roe v. Wade* protections should be restored. It does not create new laws or change existing policies; it is solely a statement of congressional opinion. The resolution directly affects no individuals or entities, as it lacks legal force. Key provisions (Section 2) state Congress supports post-*Dobbs* reproductive health care access and aims to restore *Roe*-era protections, but these are declarative statements only.