Maddy summaryThe Schedules That Work Act requires employers in retail, food service, hospitality, and cleaning industries to provide 14 days' advance notice of work schedules and pay predictability pay for last-minute changes. It gives eligible nonexempt workers the right to request schedule adjustments for family care, health needs, education, or second jobs, with employers required to grant these requests unless they have a bona fide business reason for denial. The law applies to covered employers with 15 or more workers and prohibits retaliation against employees who exercise these rights. The legislation aims to address widespread issues with unpredictable scheduling that disproportionately affect low-wage workers, particularly women and people of color, by providing greater schedule stability and control.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 346) commemorates Thai-American garment workers freed from a 1995 El Monte, California, sweatshop where they were trafficked and held against their will. It recognizes their landmark lawsuit - the first federal case against garment companies - which exposed exploitative conditions, spurred anti-sweatshop movements, and led to policy changes like S visas (later evolving into T/U visas for trafficking survivors). The resolution honors their courage and legacy, noting their induction into the U.S. Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor and their role in advancing workers' rights and corporate accountability. It does not create new laws but formally acknowledges their historical impact on labor policy and human trafficking protections.
Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would give Congress and states the authority to regulate campaign contributions and spending, including setting limits and prohibiting corporations from spending money to influence elections. It explicitly protects freedom of the press by stating the amendment cannot be used to abridge it. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, it would establish a new constitutional standard for campaign finance regulation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help nursing schools address faculty shortages by supplementing faculty salaries. Nursing schools can apply for grants to pay faculty members up to the difference between their current salary and the average salary of nurses working in clinical settings (adjusted for inflation), for up to three years. The program requires schools to submit detailed salary data and plans for sustaining higher pay after the grant ends, with $28.5 million authorized annually from 2024-2028. It directly affects nursing schools and faculty members, aiming to make teaching roles more competitive with hospital jobs.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the Access to Donor Milk Act of 2023, provides federal support for nonprofit donor human milk banks that serve high-risk infants. It amends the Child Nutrition Act to allow states to use existing funds for collecting, storing, and transferring human milk to registered nonprofit milk banks, and creates $3 million in emergency funding for milk banks during disasters or public health emergencies to cover collection, processing, and staffing costs. The bill also requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to launch a public awareness campaign educating clinicians, new parents (especially those in WIC), and community groups about the safety and benefits of donor milk. Additionally, it mandates the FDA to develop new guidance on standards for processing and handling donor milk within 18 months.
Maddy summaryThe Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2023 provides fertility treatment and counseling services to active duty military members and veterans with infertility conditions, along with adoption assistance for veterans. It requires the Department of Defense to establish fertility preservation procedures before deployment or hazardous assignments, including cryopreservation and storage of reproductive genetic material at no cost to service members. The bill ensures these services are provided without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status, with specific limits on in vitro fertilization (three completed oocyte retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers per medical guidelines). It creates coordination between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure seamless transitions of care and adds adoption assistance with a limit of three covered adoptions. The legislation specifically covers veterans with service-connected disabilities affecting reproductive health, such as spinal cord injuries, military sexual trauma, or certain mental health conditions.
Maddy summaryThe FABRIC Act (S 2817) would prohibit piece-rate pay in the garment industry, requiring employers to pay workers hourly wages at or above minimum wage. It would hold brand guarantors (companies contracting for garment manufacturing) jointly liable for wage violations with their contractors. The bill would require garment manufacturers and contractors to register with the Department of Labor, providing detailed information about ownership, employees, and compliance history. It would establish a new Office of the Garment Industry and create a grant program to support domestic garment manufacturing through workforce development and equipment investments.
Maddy summaryS 2776, the Disarm Hate Act, prohibits firearm sales, possession, shipment, or transport for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime or receiving an enhanced sentence for such a crime. It directly affects people convicted under state, federal, or tribal law of a misdemeanor involving bias motivation (based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability) and physical threat or force. The bill amends federal gun laws (18 U.S.C. §§922(d) and 922(g)) to add this restriction, while excluding cases where convictions were expunged, pardoned, or where legal rights were waived improperly. This is a concrete policy change affecting firearm access for a specific category of offenders, not a broader hate crime prevention measure.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides $16 billion in federal funding over five years (2024-2028) to stabilize the child care sector. It directly affects child care providers by offering grants to offset operating costs, support higher wages for early childhood educators without increasing fees for families, and expand access to high-quality care. Key provisions include funding for providers in underserved areas (like rural communities, infant/toddler care, and inclusive services for children with disabilities) and a requirement that 99% of funds go directly to providers. The funds are administered through the existing framework of the American Rescue Plan Act's child care program.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires current and new Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children (under 19 and IRS dependents), to divest or place most investments - including stocks, bonds, and derivatives - into qualified blind trusts within 120 days of enactment or assuming office, with limited 180-day extensions total. It prohibits acquiring new covered investments during congressional service, except for inheritances (which must be handled within 120 days), and excludes diversified funds, Treasury securities, and retirement plan holdings from the requirement. Non-compliance triggers monthly civil penalties equal to the member’s salary, enforced by ethics offices that must publicly report compliance details. The law aims to prevent conflicts of interest by separating lawmakers' personal financial interests from legislative duties.