Sen. Susan M. Collins

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 890) condemns Hamas for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people - including 40 U.S. citizens - and took hostages. It supports three specific outcomes: ensuring Israel's long-term security, preventing Hamas from regaining power in the region, and securing the safe return of U.S. hostages held in Gaza. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but expresses the Senate's position. The resolution was introduced by 45 Senators and passed unanimously on September 25, 2024.

Maddy summaryS 5183, the "BE GONE Act," amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felonies" by adding "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence." This change directly affects non-citizens (immigrants without citizenship) convicted of these specific crimes, making them subject to mandatory deportation under current immigration law. The bill adds these offenses to the existing list of serious crimes triggering deportation, without creating new penalties or programs. It is a definitional change within existing immigration enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to award Robert M. Gates, former Director of Central Intelligence and Secretary of Defense, a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his 27 years of public service to the United States. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, honors his roles in ending the Cold War, leading military transitions in Iraq/Afghanistan, and supporting veterans' welfare. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to the public to cover production costs. The bill is purely ceremonial, with no policy changes or direct effects beyond honoring Gates' career.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - 223 women who served as Army Signal Corps telephone operators in WWI. They connected 26 million calls in France, worked 12-hour shifts under combat conditions, and were denied veteran benefits for 60 years despite wearing uniforms and facing combat hazards. The medal recognizes their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and the decades-long struggle for recognition as soldiers. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and place it in the Smithsonian for public display at institutions like the National WWI Museum.

Maddy summarySRES 848 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 23-27, 2024, as "National Hazing Awareness Week." It does not create new laws or requirements but formally recognizes the issue of hazing in college settings. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about hazing, which directly affects college students participating in campus organizations, as highlighted by statistics showing 55% of students in extracurricular activities reported experiencing hazing. The bill encourages nationwide observance through education and prevention efforts, emphasizing that awareness should extend beyond a single week.

Maddy summaryThis resolution calls on Congress, schools, and state/local educational agencies to acknowledge dyslexia's significant impact on learning, particularly its effect on reading skills. It designates October 2024 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month" to highlight the need for early screening and evidence-based support. The resolution emphasizes that dyslexia - a common learning disability affecting up to 1 in 5 people - requires focused intervention to help students achieve reading fluency and academic success. It does not create new laws but urges educational institutions to prioritize addressing dyslexia's educational challenges.

Maddy summarySRES 852 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating October 20, 2024, as "National Early Childhood Literacy Awareness Day." It encourages states, schools, nonprofits, and families to observe the day with activities raising public awareness about early childhood literacy gaps. The resolution highlights research showing low-income children often hear 30 million fewer words by age 3 and that 66% of 4th graders scored below reading proficiency in 2022, but does not create new laws or funding. It serves as a call to action for existing organizations and caregivers to prioritize early literacy through reading, storytelling, and library visits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5148) allows certain unpaid family caregivers to contribute more to Roth IRAs. It directly affects individuals who provide in-home care for children or adults with special needs (like elderly adults requiring supervision), provided they complete at least 500 hours of unpaid caregiving while working fewer than 500 hours in paid employment during the tax year. The key provision amends tax law to set a higher Roth IRA contribution limit for these "qualified family caregivers" based on existing rules, effectively increasing their retirement savings potential. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows unpaid family caregivers who meet specific criteria to make additional contributions to their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), similar to those aged 50+. To qualify, a caregiver must provide 500+ hours of in-home care for a child or an adult with special needs (including elderly adults) during a taxable year, be unemployed or severely underemployed, and self-certify their hours. The bill expands IRA catch-up contribution eligibility to include these "qualified family caregivers" for up to a maximum of 5 years or 1 year per qualifying year, whichever is greater. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to create separate billing codes for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs based on their frame material (specifically distinguishing titanium/carbon fiber frames from other materials), effective January 1, 2025. It allows Medicare beneficiaries to purchase or rent upgraded titanium/carbon fiber wheelchairs after that date, with suppliers permitted to charge the difference between the standard wheelchair Medicare rate and the upgraded wheelchair's fair market value. Suppliers must provide an advance beneficiary notice explaining potential out-of-pocket costs before the sale or rental. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries using manual wheelchairs and wheelchair suppliers who bill Medicare.