Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a national framework for peer support specialists - individuals with lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery who provide support to others. It requires the federal government to add "peer support specialist" to the standard job classification system by 2025 and creates a new Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to lead workforce development, share best practices, and support career pathways for these specialists. The bill also mandates a federal report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer specialists, aiming to reduce barriers to certification while reviewing evidence on their effectiveness. These changes directly affect individuals seeking recovery support, their families, and the growing peer support workforce across states.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe TAG Act requires federal agencies to provide clear, plain-language notices and appeal options when using automated systems to make critical decisions affecting individuals' rights, benefits, or well-being - such as access to healthcare, housing, government assistance, or employment. Within 180 days of enactment, the OMB must issue guidance mandating these disclosures, including notices at the point of interaction with automated systems and structured appeal processes for those harmed by such decisions. Agencies must implement this guidance within 270 days and track system performance to ensure accuracy, reliability, and explainability. The Act expires 10 years after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 41) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific immigration rule issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2023, addressed "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" in immigration processing. The resolution would formally block the rule from taking effect by directing Congress to disapprove it under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This action directly affects how USCIS and immigration courts implement certain immigration pathways.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the U.S. government can use technical data from defense contractors. It specifically clarifies when the government may release or use detailed manufacturing data without the contractor's permission, directly affecting defense contractors and government agencies managing military contracts. The key provision adds a new exception allowing data use for "operation, maintenance, installation, or training" during wartime or contingency operations if the original supplier cannot meet military needs. This applies only when an agency head determines such data is necessary for military readiness and the supplier cannot fulfill requirements. The change adjusts existing rights under Title 10 of the U.S. Code without creating new government authority.
Maddy summaryThe AMERICAN DRUGS Act (S 2683) requires federal health programs to prioritize domestically-manufactured generic drugs starting January 1, 2025. It creates a notification system for the FDA to alert Medicare, Veterans Affairs, and Defense when domestically-manufactured generic drugs are in short supply or when fewer than two domestic options exist for a particular drug. The bill prohibits Medicare Part B and Part D from covering foreign-made generic drugs after 2025 unless there's a shortage or the drug is essential for patient health. Medicaid states must exclude coverage for foreign-made generic drugs if a domestically-made version is available, and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense must only procure domestically-manufactured generic drugs after 2025, with exceptions for shortages or essential health needs.
Maddy summaryS 2686 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the economic and health effects of the U.S. pandemic response. The GAO must examine specific strategies used during the emergency, including school/business closures, masking rules, testing, and vaccination efforts, along with their scientific effectiveness, economic costs, mental/physical health impacts, and federal funding used. The study must be completed within 18 months of enactment, with a report submitted to the Senate Health Committee and House Energy Committee containing findings and recommendations for future pandemic responses. This bill directly affects how the federal government evaluates past pandemic measures and informs future public health planning.
Small Business Growth Act This bill increases from $1 million to $2.5 million the limitation on expensing of depreciable business assets. It also increases the asset threshold amount used to reduce the expensing limitation.
Maddy summaryThe Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2023 prevents Congress from reducing the Crime Victims Fund below a three-year average amount in appropriations bills, unless the reduction is $2 billion or less. The fund, financed by criminal fines and penalties (not taxpayer dollars), directly supports victims of crimes like child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence through services and compensation. This bill addresses a long-standing issue where over $10 billion in collected funds was withheld from victims since 2000, ensuring funds are disbursed as required by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.
Financing Our Energy Future Act This bill expands the types of partnerships that qualify for treatment as publicly traded partnerships instead of as corporations for tax purposes. Under current law, partnerships that meet certain gross income requirements (i.e., at least 90% of the partnership's gross income in a taxable year consists of qualifying income) are excepted from being treated as a corporation for tax purposes. This bill expands the sources of income that are considered qualifying income and make a partnership eligible for such an exception. Specifically, the bill provides that income derived from the generation of specified alternative energy, alternative fuel projects, or the associated property, storage, or transportation for such projects (e.g., the conversion of renewable biomass into renewable fuel or the storage or transportation of such fuel) is considered qualifying income.
Maddy summaryThe NRCS Hire Local Act of 2023 requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to give hiring preference to state residents for positions at or above GS-11 in its state field offices. This means the NRCS must prioritize applicants living in the state where the office is located when filling these specific roles. The bill directly affects the hiring process for these senior positions and applicants seeking them. It does not alter required qualifications but adds residency as a factor in selection decisions.