Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Maddy summarySRES 435 is a Senate resolution designating October 30 through November 4, 2023, as "National Veterans Small Business Week." It formally recognizes the contributions of veterans who own small businesses, highlighting their role in the economy (over 1.7 million veteran-owned businesses employing 2.9 million people). The resolution expresses support for veterans' entrepreneurship, encourages policies reducing regulatory burdens for small businesses, and thanks veterans for their service through business ownership. This is a symbolic recognition with no new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThe Support Through Loss Act (S 3137) would provide eligible employees with 56 hours of paid leave per year to address pregnancy loss, unsuccessful assisted reproductive technology procedures, failed adoption or surrogacy arrangements, or medical events impacting pregnancy or fertility. This leave can also be used to care for a spouse or domestic partner experiencing these events. Employers with 5 or more employees would be required to provide this leave, with specific notice requirements and protections against discrimination for taking this leave. The bill also includes provisions for research and education on pregnancy loss through the Department of Health and Human Services, including $45 million annually for research on causes and treatments.

This resolution recognizes October 2023 as National Women's Small Business Month, honoring the role of women small business owners and entrepreneurs and encouraging the support and creation of women-owned small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to better support vulnerable youth experiencing homelessness or at risk of exploitation. It creates new grant programs that provide temporary shelter, counseling, and transitional housing for youth up to age 26, with special attention to those who are victims of trafficking or from marginalized communities. The bill requires services to be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and to include support for education and job skills, while expanding prevention services to help youth avoid homelessness. It authorizes $200 million annually for these programs through 2028, with specific funding allocations for different service types. The bill directly affects runaway, homeless, and street youth, particularly those from historically underserved populations who face barriers to accessing services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal funding rules to support stillbirth prevention programs. It allows funds under the Social Security Act to cover evidence-based activities like tracking fetal movements, improving birth timing for high-risk pregnancies, smoking cessation support, and community home visits. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals, particularly those in higher-risk groups identified in the findings (such as Black mothers, those with medical conditions like diabetes, or those aged 35+). Key provisions update funding language to explicitly include stillbirth prevention research and programs, aiming to address disparities where stillbirth rates are significantly higher among certain demographics. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand access to proven prevention strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) by raising the federal share (FMAP) by 10 percentage points for states during 2024-2025, capped at 95%. States must apply with plans to use these funds to increase wages and benefits for home care workers (like paid leave and hazard pay), reduce waiting lists for services, help people return from institutional settings, and cover related costs like equipment or training. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing state spending and be reported on by states by 2027. It directly affects states administering Medicaid HCBS programs, home care workers, and people receiving community-based care.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Schools Improvement Act (S 3105) requires states receiving federal education funding to mandate public elementary and secondary schools to adopt comprehensive anti-bullying policies. These policies must prohibit bullying based on protected characteristics like race, gender identity, disability, or religion, include annual parent/student notices, establish complaint procedures, and collect anonymized data on incidents. Schools must publicly report annual data on bullying frequency at the school and district levels. The law also requires states to submit biennial reports on implementation and triggers a federal evaluation to assess the policy's impact on reducing bullying. It explicitly states the law supplements, but does not replace, existing civil rights protections like Title IX.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Medicaid program specifically for disaster survivors, creating a 2-year "relief coverage period" starting from when a major disaster is declared by the President. It simplifies enrollment by removing documentation requirements, allowing survivors to self-attest to eligibility based on income (up to 133% of poverty line or home state standard), and providing continuous coverage without redeterminations during the relief period. The program includes special provisions for mental health services, home and community-based care, and retroactive coverage for medical services provided during the disaster. It also provides 100% federal funding for this coverage, with states required to provide medical assistance equal to what would be available under their regular Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryS. RES. 420 designates Betty K. Koed as Historian Emerita of the U.S. Senate, effective October 21, 2023, honoring her 25-year career as the Senate's first female Historian (serving from 2015-2023 after roles as Assistant and Associate Historian). The resolution recognizes her work preserving Senate archives, producing historical publications, and supporting educational programs about Senate history. It is a ceremonial honor with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or constituents.

This resolution states that the Senate stands with Israel as it defends itself, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls on all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas' war on Israel. The resolution also reaffirms the United States' commitment to Israel's security, supports emergency resupply and certain other types of assistance to Israel, and calls on the United States to lead an international effort to deprive Hamas of Iranian and other sources of funding and lethal assistance. Furthermore, the resolution states that nothing in it may be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization for the use of military force.