Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces "Columbus Day" with "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" as the official federal holiday observed on the second Monday in October. It amends U.S. Code Section 6103(a) and updates all existing federal laws, regulations, and official documents to use the new holiday name instead of Columbus Day. The change directly affects federal government operations, including employee pay, public office closures, and official communications on that date.

Maddy summaryThe FEMA Equity Act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to implement new processes to ensure equitable disaster assistance for underserved communities, including racial minorities, rural areas, low-income communities, people with disabilities, and others affected by persistent inequality. It mandates FEMA to develop equity criteria for all disaster programs, establish metrics to measure equity outcomes, create an Equity Advisor position, and form a steering group to monitor implementation. The bill also requires FEMA to consult with underserved communities and submit annual reports on equity progress to Congress. Additionally, it directs the Government Accountability Office to review FEMA's factors for disaster declarations and assistance authorization to assess their impact on equity for marginalized groups.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 361, introduced on September 26, 2023, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which established key anti-discrimination protections for people with disabilities. The resolution recognizes the Act's role in advancing civil rights through provisions like Section 504 (prohibiting disability discrimination in federally funded programs) and Section 508 (ensuring accessible technology), while calling for continued efforts to address remaining barriers. It specifically urges Federal agencies to strengthen enforcement of accessibility standards and focus on equity for people with disabilities from underserved communities, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and those in rural or low-income areas.

Maddy summarySRES 355 is a Senate resolution recognizing that Native American communities on federal reservations, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian communities face critical barriers to clean drinking water, with nearly half lacking reliable access. It affirms the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to address this issue and directly urges the executive branch to take concrete action. The resolution calls for creating an interagency task force to expedite water infrastructure projects, provide technical assistance to tribes for accessing federal funding, and ensure infrastructure development is not delayed by unresolved water rights disputes. It emphasizes that existing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act requires better support to be effectively implemented, without tying progress to water rights settlements. This resolution expresses the Senate’s policy stance but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThe End Diaper Need Act of 2023 increases funding for diaper assistance through the Social Services Block Grant Program, allocating $1.9 billion over four years (2024-2027) to help low-income families with infants, toddlers, medically complex children, and adults with disabilities. The bill requires states to distribute free diapers and incontinence supplies through community programs, integrate with existing assistance programs like Medicaid and WIC, and report on how funds are used while ensuring funds supplement rather than replace existing state funding. It also expands the definition of "medically necessary diapers" for tax purposes and requires Medicaid waivers for medically complex children to include 200 diapers per month, with additional amounts available if a healthcare provider specifies medical need. The law includes evaluation requirements to measure the program's impact on health outcomes related to diaper need, with reports to Congress and public availability of results.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Agency Accessibility Compliance Act of 2023 requires all federal agencies to appoint a dedicated accessibility compliance officer within 90 days of the law's enactment. These officers must ensure agency websites and digital services meet current accessibility standards, reporting directly to agency leaders. Starting one year after enactment, agencies must publicly post annual certification of compliance or a detailed timeline for achieving it on their websites. Smaller agencies with fewer than 20 full-time employees may appoint an existing staff member for this role if their primary duties align with accessibility requirements.

Maddy summaryS 2895, the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023, makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable. This change directly affects low-income adoptive parents who previously could not claim the credit if they owed no federal income tax. The bill restructures the credit in the tax code to allow families to receive it as a direct payment, even if their tax liability was zero. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and includes a transitional rule for credits carried forward from prior years. The law does not alter the credit amount or eligibility criteria, only its refundability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs to create clear anti-harassment policies covering harassment based on race, sex, disability, religion, and other protected characteristics. These policies must specifically prohibit harassment occurring online (via emails, social media, or institutional networks), on campus, in dorms, and during school-sponsored activities. It also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund campus prevention programs, counseling services, and training for students, faculty, and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. The law adds these requirements to existing federal protections under Title IX and the Civil Rights Act, without replacing them.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park in Illinois to preserve and interpret French colonial history. It designates specific sites - including Fort de Chartres, the Creole House, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ convent, and Kaskaskia remains - as part of the park. The National Park Service will manage the park, using the Adorers convent for an interpretive visitor center and collaborating with local governments. The park focuses on educating the public about the region’s French colonial heritage, multi-ethnic communities, and contributions of religious women and early enslaved laborers.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution symbolically designates September 2023 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about voting rights history and current challenges. It recommends Congress pass specific voting rights legislation (like the Freedom to Vote Act and Democracy Restoration Act) and encourages public education on voting accessibility, registration, and historical voter suppression. The resolution has no binding effect on policy or funding - it serves as a symbolic recognition and call to action for voting rights advocacy.