Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Maddy summaryS 4223, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that stock contraception to provide it without delay when requested, or immediately offer referral/transfer options if unavailable. It prohibits pharmacies from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, or refusing service based on personal beliefs, while allowing exceptions for no prescription, inability to pay, or professional clinical judgment. The bill targets pharmacies serving patients seeking FDA-approved contraceptives or related medications, aiming to address barriers like refusals reported post-Dobbs v. Jackson. Violations carry $1,000 daily civil penalties or allow private lawsuits for affected patients.

Maddy summaryThe Choose Medicare Act (S 4231) would create "Medicare part E" plans available in individual, small group, and large group insurance markets. These plans would provide comprehensive coverage including essential health benefits, gold-level coverage, all reproductive services, and abortion coverage, with premiums adjusted by market type and location. The bill would establish $2 billion in startup funding for 2025, require employers to refer employees to health insurance navigators, and implement protections against high out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. It would also expand premium assistance for lower-income individuals and establish new mechanisms to protect consumers from excessive insurance rates.

Maddy summarySRES 664 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April as "Community College Month" to honor the role of over 1,000 U.S. community colleges. It recognizes these institutions for supporting access to higher education and workforce training, particularly for local communities. The resolution highlights their economic contributions, including serving millions of students and contributing to national prosperity, but does not create new programs or alter funding. This is purely a commemorative resolution with no binding policy effects.

Maddy summaryThe Next Step Home Act restores voting rights in federal elections for U.S. citizens who have completed sentences for federal felony convictions after December 21, 2018. It directly affects people released from federal custody who have served their sentences, requiring federal agencies to notify them of their voting rights upon release. Key provisions include mandating notification by the Bureau of Prisons or probation officers, establishing legal remedies for voting denial, and tying federal prison funding to compliance with the law. The bill applies only to federal elections (not state/local), does not override state voting laws, and takes effect for elections after its enactment.

Maddy summarySRES 655 is a Senate resolution passed on April 18, 2024, to honor the late Joseph I. Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1988-2013), following his death. The resolution recognizes his career, including his role in creating the Department of Homeland Security, establishing the 9/11 Commission, and advocating for civil rights and environmental protections. It directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and transmit a copy to his family, expressing the Senate's sorrow and respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, as it solely commemorates his legacy.

Maddy summarySRES 654 is a Senate resolution expressing concern about lead exposure affecting approximately 800 million children globally, citing World Health Organization data on lead's harmful effects on brain development and health. It calls on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate lead exposure prevention into international health, education, and environmental programs abroad. The resolution specifically urges USAID to address lead risks from sources like contaminated consumer goods and recycling practices in low-income countries. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but seeks to influence U.S. international development priorities.

Maddy summaryThe Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act of 2024 prohibits retailers from selling single-use beverage containers containing specific toxic substances (such as certain phthalates and bisphenols), polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polyethylene glycol, or non-transparent containers (except transparent blue or green). Violations carry fines up to $50,000 per violation, with collected funds supporting a new Local Clean Up of Plastics Fund. This fund provides grants to local governments for improving waste management, water systems, and recycling infrastructure, prioritizing rural and underserved communities. The law takes effect two years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Communities from Plastics Act of 2024 establishes new environmental justice protections for communities near plastics facilities by requiring environmental justice assessments for permits, setting a temporary moratorium on new permits for plastics facilities, and mandating new emissions standards. The bill directly affects covered facilities (plastics production facilities) and fenceline communities (low-income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous communities located near these facilities), requiring facilities to reduce emissions, provide community benefit agreements, and conduct environmental monitoring. It sets specific targets for reducing single-use plastics (25% source reduction by 2034) and increasing reusable alternatives (30% reuse/refill by 2034), with exemptions for medical products and certain food packaging. These provisions aim to address the disproportionate health and environmental impacts of plastics production on vulnerable communities through concrete regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 647) symbolically recognizes April 11-17, 2024, as the seventh annual "Black Maternal Health Week" in the U.S. Senate. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally acknowledges the disproportionate maternal health disparities affecting Black women, including higher mortality rates and systemic barriers in care. The resolution highlights the work of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which founded this annual observance to spotlight racial inequities in maternal health. It serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of ongoing health disparities, not a policy action.

Maddy summaryThe Forest Biomass Emissions Act of 2024 requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to account for total greenhouse gas emissions - from growing, harvesting, and burning forest biomass - when regulating electricity generated from this source. It mandates a one-year study by the EPA, in collaboration with the Energy and Agriculture Departments, to assess impacts on communities near biomass facilities, including air pollution, noise, dust, and socioeconomic factors. The study must collect data on air quality, community demographics, and facility compliance, then report findings to Congress and the Science Advisory Board within 60 days of completion. This bill directly affects EPA regulatory processes and communities living near forest biomass operations like wood pellet mills and power plants.