Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Maddy summaryThis bill amends over 30 sections of the Internal Revenue Code to replace gendered language like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral terms such as "married couple" or "spouses." It directly affects all married taxpayers by ensuring the tax code refers to married couples in inclusive language, regardless of gender. The key mechanism is updating specific tax code provisions to use neutral terminology throughout, including changing "his spouse" to "the individual's spouse" in numerous sections. This is a technical correction to modernize the language of the tax code, not a change to tax rates, deductions, or policy. The bill does not alter tax obligations or benefits for married couples.

Maddy summarySRES 282 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing June 2023 as "LGBTQ Pride Month" to honor the contributions and resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals across the United States. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges historical challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, including discrimination, hate crimes (such as the Pulse and Club Q shootings), and barriers to equality in employment, healthcare, and housing. The resolution encourages all Americans to learn about the LGBTQ community's history of struggle and achievement during June 2023. Introduced by 44 bipartisan senators, it serves as a symbolic gesture of support without altering any legal rights or obligations.

Maddy summarySRES 276 is a non-binding Senate resolution opposing state laws that criminalize or punish individuals for seeking or providing essential health care, including abortion, contraception, and gender-affirming care. It specifically condemns state actions that penalize people for pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriages or self-managed abortions) and criminalize health care providers who support access to these services. The resolution affirms that people should access sexual and reproductive health care without fear of legal repercussions and notes that such criminalization disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, including people of color, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ people. As a formal statement of Senate opposition, it does not change existing laws but highlights concerns raised by medical and human rights organizations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 277) expresses the U.S. Senate's condolences and honors the memory of the seven victims killed in the July 4, 2022, mass shooting during Highland Park, Illinois' Fourth of July parade. It commemorates the first anniversary of the tragedy, which also injured 46 people, and acknowledges the community's healing efforts. The resolution specifically recognizes the victims by name and thanks emergency responders and healthcare providers who assisted victims. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but serves to unite the Senate in solidarity with the victims' families and the Highland Park community.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to help people cover travel and logistical costs when accessing abortion services across state lines following the Dobbs decision. It authorizes $350 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to community-based organizations that assist individuals facing barriers like transportation, lodging, childcare, meals, or lost wages while traveling for care. Grants specifically cover expenses related to accessing abortion services but cannot fund the abortion procedure itself. The program prioritizes organizations serving people in states with abortion bans or those traveling to another state for care, directly supporting those disproportionately impacted by restricted access.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the provision and advertising of conversion therapy for compensation, targeting therapists, clinics, and anyone offering paid services claiming to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It prohibits advertising that falsely claims such therapy is harmless, effective, or without risk, and makes it unlawful to profit from these practices. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general through civil actions. The law directly affects providers of paid conversion therapy while protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from potentially harmful and ineffective treatments.

Refund Equality Act of  2023 This bill permits legally married same sex couples to amend their tax returns to file as married filing jointly for returns outside of the statute of limitations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Women's Business Ownership Act to establish a specific mandate for the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise. It requires the committee to actively monitor federal agency programs and operations to identify barriers women entrepreneurs face when starting new businesses or accessing federal opportunities. The committee must now systematically track these barriers, including through published research, and report findings to the Council. This directly affects women business owners seeking federal contracts or assistance, and federal agencies managing programs that serve small businesses. The changes update committee membership and structure but center on creating a formal process to address systemic obstacles.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (S 5) amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury service. It expands existing protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by clarifying that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity constitutes sex discrimination, as established by the Supreme Court's Bostock decision. The bill directly affects businesses, employers, housing providers, financial institutions, and government services that receive federal funding, requiring them to provide equal access and treatment regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It includes specific provisions addressing discrimination in foster care and adoption, where LGBTQ individuals often face barriers, and clarifies definitions of terms like "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" for consistent application. The law creates a uniform national standard for nondiscrimination where many states lack such protections, aiming to eliminate barriers to full participation in society for LGBTQ individuals.

Maddy summaryS 886 (Women's Suffrage National Monument Location Act) specifies the location for the Women's Suffrage National Monument. It directs the monument to be placed within the "Reserve" area, overriding a previous location provision under 40 U.S.C. § 8908(c). This procedural bill does not change monument policies or affect people; it only sets the physical site for a monument already authorized by Public Law 116-217. The Commemorative Works Act generally applies, except for the specified location.