Maddy summaryThe Innovation Zone Act (S 3675) creates a voluntary program allowing colleges and universities to test regulatory flexibility aimed at improving student outcomes. Participating institutions can request waivers of certain federal higher education rules (like financial aid administration or reporting requirements), provided they don’t affect core protections like antidiscrimination laws or student safety. The program focuses on measurable goals such as reducing student debt, increasing retention and completion rates - especially for historically underrepresented students (including low-income, first-generation, or homeless students), and improving graduation employment. The Department of Education will select experiments based on evidence, require rigorous data collection and reporting, and mandate biennial public reports on results to Congress.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 531) formally designates January 21-27, 2024, as "National School Choice Week." It recognizes existing annual events celebrating parental choice in K-12 education options, including public schools, charters, private schools, and homeschooling. The resolution encourages parents to learn about educational choices and urges the public to participate in awareness events during this week. It does not create new laws, funding, or regulations - it is a symbolic recognition of an established observance.
Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2024 This bill eliminates certain restrictions relating to Medicare coverage of mental health services that are provided through telehealth. Current law allows for coverage of such services regardless of the geographic location of the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), as long as the beneficiary previously received in-person services and continues to receive in-person services at specified intervals (effective January 1, 2025). The bill eliminates these in-person requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to add restrictions on drawing down petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. It prevents the Secretary of the Interior from selling reserve oil if land has been withdrawn from oil/gas leasing by the President, Interior Secretary, or Agriculture Secretary, requiring the Interior Inspector General to make a determination within 30 days and publish it in the Federal Register. The restriction does not apply during severe energy emergencies caused by sabotage, war, terrorism, or natural disasters. The bill does not directly lower gas prices but limits when the government can sell oil from the reserve under specific land withdrawal circumstances.
Maddy summaryS.1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023, repeals the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die after the bill's enactment. It also modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption (adjusted for inflation) and creating a new tax rate schedule for gifts. This bill directly affects high-net-worth individuals who would have paid estate or gift taxes on large transfers of wealth. The changes take effect after the bill's passage, with the exemption adjusted annually for inflation.
Maddy summaryThe Hire Veterans Act (S 3636) creates a 5-year pilot program to help veterans secure jobs at five federal land management agencies (Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation). Veterans apply through the Office of Personnel Management, take tests assessing skills for 20 specific career fields (like firefighting, ecology, and land surveying), and may receive noncompetitive hiring for positions if they pass. If veterans don’t initially qualify, agencies must refer them to training programs and retest them until they meet requirements. The program aims to streamline hiring for veterans with relevant skills while requiring annual reports to Congress.
Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires abortion providers to give women seeking an abortion specific, detailed information at least 24 hours before the procedure and obtain a signed consent form. The form must include the probable gestational age, medical risks of the procedure, and developmental details about the unborn child (such as heartbeat and organ development), presented in person. Providers who fail to comply face civil penalties of $100,000-$250,000 per violation, and women can sue for damages including three times the abortion cost. Exceptions apply if following the requirements would endanger the woman’s life or cause major bodily harm.
Maddy summaryS 3624, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, restricts U.S. federal funding for organizations that perform, promote, or support abortions internationally. It prohibits federal funds from being provided to foreign or domestic groups (including NGOs and multilateral organizations) that conduct abortion services, provide related counseling or referrals, develop abortion tools, or financially support such activities. The bill also blocks funding for groups that fail to maintain strict separation between abortion-related work and other programs receiving U.S. aid. This directly affects foreign aid recipients and domestic organizations administering international programs that involve abortion-related services.
Maddy summaryThe Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2024 clarifies that states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy centers and similar life-affirming programs that provide services like counseling, parenting classes, baby supplies, and referrals to health or housing resources - without offering or referring for abortions. It directly affects pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes currently receiving TANF funding in states such as Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, and Ohio. The bill amends federal law to explicitly permit TANF funding for these programs and prohibits the federal government from discriminating against them or imposing unwarranted requirements. It also establishes legal remedies, including lawsuits for damages, if the government violates these provisions.