Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the detention of pregnant, lactating, or postpartum noncitizens under U.S. immigration law, requiring immediate release unless specific, narrow exceptions apply (e.g., an immediate threat to safety). It bans physical restraints during labor, delivery, or postpartum care, mandates access to comprehensive reproductive health services - including abortion - and requires facilities to conduct biweekly reviews of detained pregnant individuals. Detention facilities must report quarterly on restraint use, detention lengths, and birth outcomes to ensure compliance. The law directly affects immigrant women in immigration custody and applies to all facilities holding such individuals under U.S. immigration authority.

Maddy summaryThe Puerto Rico Status Act (S 3231) establishes a process for Puerto Rico to determine its political status through a plebiscite on November 2, 2025, offering residents three options: independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood. If no option receives a majority in the initial vote, a runoff election will be held on March 8, 2026. The bill outlines detailed transition mechanisms for each potential status, including constitutional conventions, changes to citizenship and immigration laws, and continued federal benefits during a transition period. It requires bilingual voter education materials, establishes oversight for the voting process, and specifies how federal laws would change under each status option. The bill directly affects Puerto Rico's residents, the U.S. federal government, and Puerto Rico's government as it would transition to a new political status.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to fund career training for jobs in the offshore wind industry and the broader U.S. maritime sector. The Department of Labor will award grants to eligible entities like community colleges, labor unions, and maritime training centers to develop programs that lead to recognized credentials, with priority given to serving dislocated workers (e.g., from oil/gas or fossil fuel industries), veterans, and individuals facing employment barriers. Grantees must track and report on job placement, wages, and demographic data for participants, and at least 25% of funds must support registered apprenticeships. The program is funded at $25 million annually from 2024 through 2028.

Maddy summaryThe Flu Vaccine Act (S 3215) directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to conduct or fund research aimed at developing a universal influenza vaccine or preventative. It authorizes $200 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2029 to support this research effort. The bill directly affects NIAID scientists and research institutions receiving federal funding for influenza vaccine development. It establishes a specific funding mechanism for long-term research, without creating immediate public health programs or altering existing vaccine distribution.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding for police officers in schools and creates a $5 billion grant program to help schools replace law enforcement with mental health professionals like counselors, social workers, and psychologists. It requires schools to eliminate police contracts before receiving funds and mandates that grant money be used for trauma-informed services, restorative practices, and evidence-based mental health support. The law specifically aims to address racial disparities in school discipline by reducing arrests and referrals to law enforcement, particularly for students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ students. Over 10 million students attend schools with police but no social workers, and the bill directly affects these schools by providing funding to transition to supportive services instead of criminalization.

Maddy summaryThe Equal COLA Act (S 3194) changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for federal retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It requires that FERS annuities (retirement benefits) be adjusted each December 1 based on the annual change in the price index, rounded to the nearest 0.1%. This applies to all future COLAs, regardless of when the annuity began - whether before, on, or after the law's effective date. The bill directly affects federal retirees receiving FERS benefits, ensuring their payments rise with inflation as measured by the specified price index.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Social Security child benefits for students enrolled in qualifying post-secondary education until age 26, rather than the previous age limit of 19. It directly affects children of Social Security beneficiaries who are in at least half-time attendance at colleges, universities, or specific transition programs (like those for students with disabilities). The key provision defines "qualifying post-secondary school student" and allows benefits to continue through the end of a semester or quarter if a student turns 26 during their studies. It also clarifies the transition from high school to post-secondary education and adds specific definitions for related terms. The changes apply to applications filed 18 months after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 437) condemns antisemitism on U.S. college campuses following heightened incidents after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, directly affecting Jewish students, faculty, and staff who face fear and intimidation. It urges university leaders - including presidents, deans, and administrators - to publicly oppose speech that incites violence against people based on religion, national origin, or ancestry. The resolution encourages schools to collaborate with Jewish student groups and ensure Jewish members can study and work without fear. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it expresses official condemnation and recommends actions for institutions, not new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThe YALI Act of 2023 establishes a formal U.S. government program to develop young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa. It expands the existing Mandela Washington Fellowship, targeting individuals aged 25-35 (with regional centers also serving 18-35-year-olds) who demonstrate leadership in business, civic engagement, or public administration and have made community impact. Key mechanisms include creating four regional leadership centers for in-person and online training, increasing fellowship participation beyond 700 annually, and building an online network to connect participants with U.S. resources and global opportunities. The program requires annual reports on outcomes and expires after five years, focusing on U.S.-Africa partnership through leadership development, entrepreneurship, and governance support.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to limit corporate deductions for certain high executive compensation. It broadens the definition of "covered individual" to include executives who performed services for a company after 2022, not just current top officers, and requires publicly traded companies to file specific reports about executive pay. Companies can no longer deduct compensation paid to these individuals if it exceeds $1 million in a year, unless it's performance-based. The changes apply to tax years starting after December 31, 2022, and give the IRS authority to prevent companies from avoiding these rules through third-party arrangements. The bill directly affects publicly traded corporations that pay significant bonuses to executives.