Maddy summaryThe Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2023 establishes a grant program (the Innovation Voucher Grant Program) that provides small businesses with funds to purchase technical assistance and services from eligible entities like universities or research labs. It directly affects small businesses, particularly those in underserved markets (including rural areas, HUBZones, or owned by veterans, women, or socially disadvantaged individuals), by offering grants of $15,000-$75,000 to cover 50-75% of costs for developing new products or services. The bill requires 40% of annual funding to target underserved businesses or regions historically lacking federal R&D support, with mandatory reporting on project outcomes and program impact. This creates a structured mechanism for small businesses to access research expertise and advance innovation without requiring new infrastructure.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Community College Agriculture Advancement Act of 2023 creates a new federal grant program to support community colleges and their consortia in expanding agriculture and natural resources education and workforce training. Eligible colleges can apply for competitive grants to fund equipment, faculty development, apprenticeships, and courses on farm business management, accounting, and finance - prioritizing partnerships with local agriculture businesses for hands-on student training. The bill authorizes $20 million annually from 2024 to 2029 for these grants, with colleges required to use funds to strengthen program capacity and share findings with agriculture communities. It also establishes "Centers of Agriculture Advancement" to demonstrate best practices and mandates a congressional report on the program’s impact within three years.
Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification 2.0 Act or the BENES 2.0 Act This bill requires Social Security account statements for individuals attaining ages 60 to 65 to include information about Medicare eligibility, late enrollment penalties, benefit coordination, and related resources. Statements with the required information must be mailed to individuals at least three months before they turn 65; the required information must also be mailed to those who are age 65 or over and are entitled to Social Security benefits three months before their initial Medicare enrollment period begins.
Maddy summaryThe Reforming Disaster Recovery Act establishes a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to provide grants for long-term recovery after major disasters, primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income households in communities most impacted by disasters. It creates a new Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program that requires grantees to allocate at least 70% of funds to help low- and moderate-income people, with funds distributed based on unmet needs for housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure. The bill mandates detailed planning with public input before funds are distributed, requires grantees to prioritize mitigation activities in hazard-prone areas, and includes provisions for preliminary funding to speed up recovery before final assessments are complete. It also requires annual reporting on fund usage to ensure transparency and accountability, while coordinating with FEMA and other agencies to prevent duplication of benefits.
Maddy summarySRES 215 is a Senate resolution designating May 9, 2023, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. It supports raising public awareness about the dangers of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills, which are often disguised as legitimate medications and contribute to overdose deaths. The resolution encourages existing law enforcement efforts to combat counterfeit pill distribution and acknowledges the severe impact of fentanyl on young people, citing statistics on rising overdose deaths. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the issue through congressional support.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 14-20, 2023, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. It recognizes 444 officers killed in 2022 (including specific names listed in the resolution) and acknowledges 32 officers killed in 2023, while expressing support for law enforcement personnel. The resolution encourages the public to observe this week by honoring law enforcement officers and promoting awareness of their essential service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or alter existing laws.
Maddy summaryThe Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act amends the law governing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), allowing the federal government to use grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for its operation instead of only contracts. It clarifies that the OPTN’s management must be separate from the entity supporting its board of directors. The bill also mandates a two-year review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the OPTN’s historical financing - including how registration fees were used - and requires a report to Congress with recommendations. These changes directly affect the OPTN, its operating entities, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and governments that provide significant financial or material support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or their affiliates. It requires the President to block transactions with those supporting these groups and to suspend U.S. aid to governments providing material support for their terrorist activities. The bill also mandates regular reports on foreign countries' efforts to disrupt Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fundraising, financing, and money laundering networks. Specific exceptions include military use and humanitarian aid for medicine and food. The bill includes a sunset provision, terminating either after 3 years or when Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are no longer designated as terrorist organizations.
Maddy summaryThe Employee Equity Investment Act of 2023 creates a new program to provide financial leverage to companies that invest in small businesses through employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) or worker-owned cooperatives. The bill sets specific requirements including minimum investment percentages (75% in covered investments, 50% in ESOP-related investments), the need for independent trustees to evaluate transactions, and detailed demographic reporting on plan participants. It also establishes a Protege EEIC program to help new investment companies with guidance from experienced managers, creates an Office of Employee Ownership for education and technical assistance, and modifies procurement rules to help employee-owned businesses access government contracts. The program has a sunset provision, ending 20 years after the first license is approved.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates new authorities for the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to detect, identify, monitor, and mitigate drone threats to designated high-risk facilities including critical infrastructure, government buildings, airports, and other security-sensitive locations. It establishes a 5-year pilot program allowing select state and local law enforcement agencies to use specific drone detection technologies, with strict requirements for privacy protections, training, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill limits the use of technologies that disrupt radio or electronic signals, requires intercepted communications to be maintained for no more than 180 days, and mandates annual congressional reporting on the use of these authorities. It also includes detailed provisions for risk-based assessments, privacy safeguards, and coordination with transportation authorities to ensure national airspace safety.