Sen. Edward J. Markey

Maddy summaryThis bill restores the ability for individuals to deduct property damage from events like storms or fires (casualty losses) on their federal taxes, with a new $50,000 annual cap for non-disaster losses. It specifically exempts losses from federally declared disasters from this cap. The bill also extends the deadline for filing tax refunds related to these losses by one year. It applies to losses incurred in tax years starting after December 31, 2017.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $25 million annually from 2024 to 2029 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study barriers to gender-affirming care and how those barriers affect health outcomes. It does not change existing healthcare access or services but focuses solely on research funding. The research aims to identify obstacles faced by individuals seeking gender-affirming care and their health impacts. This funding is in addition to existing appropriations for similar purposes.

Maddy summaryS 2217, the IDEA Full Funding Act, mandates specific annual federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support public education services for students with disabilities. It requires the federal government to appropriate increasing percentages of the total estimated cost - starting at 14.2% for FY 2024 and rising to 40% by FY 2033 - based on the number of eligible students and national average per-pupil spending. This directly affects public schools and state education agencies that receive IDEA funding, guaranteeing phased increases in federal support over a decade. The bill sets concrete, legally binding funding targets without altering eligibility or service requirements for students.

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 summaryThe CADETS Act (S. 467) modifies the Student Incentive Payment Program at State maritime academies by requiring students to meet the Navy Reserve's age requirement for enlistment or commission at the time of graduation, rather than at the time of enrollment. This change directly affects students enrolled in State maritime academies who seek financial incentives to support their education. The bill updates the eligibility criteria in 46 U.S.C. § 51509 to align graduation-age requirements with Navy Reserve standards. It ensures students qualify for payments only if they are eligible to join the Navy Reserve immediately after completing their studies.

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 summarySRES 274 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the chamber's commitment to achieving zero traffic fatalities by 2050. It calls on Congress and the Department of Transportation to adopt a "safe systems approach" focusing on data-driven policies, improved crash data collection, and addressing safety disparities affecting communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. The resolution specifically urges federal agencies to replace the term "accident" with "crash" in official communications and prioritize proven safety countermeasures like speed management and vehicle safety technologies. It does not create new laws but sets a goal and outlines policy priorities for federal transportation agencies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution approves 1996 regulations governing labor-management relations for Senate employees. It applies standard federal labor rules (from Chapter 71) to specific Senate workplaces, including leadership offices, committees, and staff units like the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. The regulations define covered employees and outline how labor-management procedures - such as collective bargaining and grievance processes - will operate within these Senate offices. As a procedural approval of existing rules (not new policy), it does not change current workplace practices but formally adopts the 1996 framework for Senate staff.

Maddy summaryThe Student Mental Health Rights Act (S 2163) requires the U.S. Department of Education to study mental health disabilities among college students and issue guidance to help institutions comply with existing disability laws. It mandates a voluntary student survey on mental health and substance use disorders, followed by a report on campus policies for students on leave or returning from leave due to such conditions. The guidance will clarify how colleges must provide reasonable accommodations for students with mental health disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act. The bill does not create new legal rights but aims to improve implementation of current protections for students at higher education institutions.