Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin

Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act of 2023 This bill modifies requirements for notifying a taxpayer of information that the Internal Revenue Service is seeking from third parties for tax administration purposes. Specifically it requires the notice to identify each specific item of information sought, extends the period during which the taxpayer must be notified, and gives the taxpayer a 45-days period during which the taxpayer may respond to the notice.

Maddy summaryThe Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (S 2213) establishes new services and programs to improve care for cancer survivors, who number approximately 18 million in the U.S. and are projected to reach 26 million by 2040. The bill requires Medicare to cover cancer care planning and coordination services, mandates Medicaid coverage for cancer fertility services, and creates demonstration programs to test new survivorship care models. It also establishes a comprehensive cancer survivorship program with resource centers for survivors and healthcare professionals, along with employment assistance programs for cancer survivors facing work barriers. The bill addresses disparities in care for racial/ethnic minorities, rural survivors, and children with cancer, focusing on transitions from cancer treatment to ongoing care. These provisions directly affect cancer survivors, their families, caregivers, and healthcare providers across the country.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Office for Gender Equity within the Department of Education to support schools and colleges in fully implementing Title IX. It authorizes $160 million annually to fund grants for educational entities to develop programs addressing gender equity gaps in athletics, STEM fields, career education, and campus safety. The bill provides training and resources for Title IX coordinators and "Title IX allies" to address sex discrimination, with specific attention to students facing discrimination based on multiple characteristics like race and gender. It also requires the Department to research and share evidence-based best practices for reducing sex discrimination in education.

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.

Work Without Worry Act This bill modifies eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for individuals who have a disability that began before age 22. Under current law, these individuals may obtain SSDI benefits based on the work record of a retired, disabled, or deceased parent. However, an individual with earnings after age 22 that exceed a specified monetary limit (i.e., constitute substantial gainful activity) permanently loses eligibility for such benefits. This bill allows individuals to retain eligibility for such benefits regardless of the amount of earnings after age 22. Additionally, individuals who apply for SSDI benefits on a parent's record and also independently qualify for Social Security benefits on their own record will receive the larger of the two benefit amounts.

Maddy summarySRES 263 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating June 19, 2023, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to recognize June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. It honors the historical significance of this date, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern U.S. after the Civil War. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges this observance as part of U.S. history and heritage, supporting nationwide recognition of the event. It affects all Americans by affirming a shared historical moment in the nation's journey toward freedom.

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 summaryThis bill adds multi-cancer early detection screening tests to Medicare Part B coverage, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries. It creates a new coverage category for FDA-approved blood tests (like those analyzing cell-free DNA) that screen for multiple cancer types simultaneously, as defined in the bill. Medicare would cover these tests once every 12 months, and the bill clarifies that this change does not impact existing coverage for standard cancer screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies. The policy change ensures beneficiaries can access these new screening options without unnecessary delays after FDA approval.

Maddy summaryThe Jordan McNair Student Athlete Heat Fatality Prevention Act requires colleges with intercollegiate sports to create and implement venue-specific emergency plans for heat-related illnesses. These plans must clearly identify symptoms like confusion or elevated body temperature, outline immediate care steps, and be posted in key areas like locker rooms and training facilities. They must be distributed to all athletes and staff before each season, rehearsed annually, and accompanied by annual compliance reports to the government. The bill aims to prevent heatstroke fatalities - highlighted by Jordan McNair’s 2018 death - by ensuring prompt recognition and treatment of symptoms.