Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to reduce veteran suicide by improving transition support for service members leaving the military. It requires the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments to provide a mandatory group module (covering suicide risk factors, resources, and firearm safety) and one-on-one counseling with VA social workers before discharge, including medical records transfer and referrals. The program will operate at 10+ military locations serving 300+ service members annually, with annual congressional reports assessing participation, activities, and outcomes. It directly affects service members transitioning to civilian life, particularly those at higher suicide risk, by connecting them to VA care and support services during a critical transition period.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023 aims to improve recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Key provisions include covering costs for licensure exams for VA scholarship recipients, modifying pay structures for physicians, dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists, increasing pay caps for medical center directors, and expanding geriatric care training and services. The bill also allows pay waivers for mission-critical roles and requires regular reports to Congress on implementation. These changes directly affect VA healthcare workers, including clinicians, administrators, and support staff, with the goal of enhancing healthcare delivery to veterans.
Maddy summarySRES 67 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating February 2023 as "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to recognize CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand careers. It does not create new policies or funding but expresses Senate support for CTE programs that connect students with workforce skills in fields like healthcare, technology, and construction. The resolution encourages educators and parents to promote CTE as a valuable educational pathway, referencing the 106th anniversary of the foundational Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct impact on legislation or affected individuals.
Maddy summaryThis symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 69) designates February 18-25, 2023, as "National FFA Week" to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the National FFA Organization. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing future agricultural leaders through its educational programs, which serve over 850,000 students across all 50 states and territories. The resolution has no legal effect - it is a ceremonial expression of support, not a policy change. It directly affects the FFA organization and its members by highlighting their educational mission during a designated week.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax relief to new car dealers who sold inventory due to supply chain disruptions between March 2020 and January 2022. It allows dealers using the LIFO tax accounting method to avoid recognizing income from those sales in the year they occurred, instead deferring tax consequences until they replace the sold vehicles. Dealers have until 2026 to repurchase similar vehicles; if they fail to fully replace the inventory within this window, they must pay back the tax plus interest. The relief directly affects new car dealers who held LIFO inventory during the specified period and are subject to IRS tax rules.
Maddy summaryS 433 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to form a 10-20 member expert panel within 90 days to review the Forest Service’s national forest inventory program. The panel must assess progress on forest carbon monitoring, climate change impacts, forest health, and sustainable wood products, focusing on modernizing with remote sensing technology and exploring public-private partnerships. The panel must submit a report to Congress by March 31, 2024, detailing its findings. This bill directly affects the Forest Service’s program and involves state agencies, researchers, and industry experts in evaluating how the program meets national forest monitoring needs.
Maddy summaryThe Outdoors for All Act establishes a federal grant program to fund outdoor recreation projects in underserved communities. It provides funding for eligible entities (like cities, counties, tribes, or nonprofits) to acquire land for parks or develop outdoor facilities in qualifying areas - urban regions with 25,000+ people, adjacent clusters, or tribal lands. Grants prioritize projects that improve park access in low-income neighborhoods, engage youth, create jobs, and support cultural gathering spaces, while requiring a 100% cash or in-kind match (with possible waivers). Funds cannot cover maintenance, indoor facilities, or restricted-access land, and recipients must submit annual progress reports to the Interior Secretary.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 63) is a symbolic Senate measure formally celebrating Black History Month. It acknowledges the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history and society, recognizes the origins of Black History Month (beginning as Negro History Week in 1926), and encourages nationwide reflection on this history. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal Senate acknowledgment of the significance of Black History Month in February. It aims to honor the legacy of African American pioneers and promote learning about their impact on the nation.
Maddy summaryThis symbolic Senate resolution designates March 3, 2023, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to honor the value of speech and debate programs in schools. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but encourages educational institutions, businesses, and communities to recognize these programs. The resolution highlights how speech and debate education develops communication, critical thinking, and civic skills in students. It formally affirms the importance of these programs without imposing any requirements or funding changes.
Maddy summaryS 411, the EAGLES Act of 2023, reauthorizes and expands the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) within the U.S. Secret Service to prevent targeted violence, particularly in schools. The bill requires the NTAC to provide training, research, and consultation on threat assessment to schools, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, with specific mandates to hire staff specializing in child psychology and school threat assessment. It directs the Center to develop evidence-based programs, track training participation by state, and report annually to Congress on implementation. The bill uses unobligated DHS coronavirus funds for this purpose and explicitly prohibits using these funds for firearm training.