Sen. Debbie Stabenow

Maddy summaryThis bill allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refund duties paid on specific steel and aluminum imports during the pandemic. It applies to importers who paid duties on covered steel (classified under 9903.80.01) or aluminum (9903.85.01) products that were retroactively approved for exclusion from tariffs in 2020-2021. Importers must submit a request within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, and refunds must be issued within 90 days of processing. The refund is paid without interest, reversing duties that should have been waived under prior pandemic-era exclusions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $50 million annually (2023-2027) for the VA to award grants to states to improve outreach and assistance for veterans and their families (including spouses, children, and parents) regarding veterans' benefits. States must use funds to hire more veterans service officers, expand outreach programs, or provide training, with priority for areas lacking officers, high veteran suicide rates, or frequent crisis line referrals. Grantees must submit detailed plans ensuring equitable distribution across urban/rural areas and addressing needs of underserved veterans (e.g., Native American, elderly, women veterans), while tracking benefit application timelines and outcomes. The VA will monitor performance, require remediation plans for underperforming states, and report annually to Congress.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 471) expresses formal support for National Adoption Day (observed November 18, 2023) and National Adoption Month (November 2023). It promotes awareness about children in foster care awaiting adoption, celebrates adoption success stories, and encourages U.S. citizens to support efforts securing permanent, safe homes for all children. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight adoption needs. It specifically references foster care statistics (e.g., 114,000 children awaiting adoption) to underscore its purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy (MNT) services beyond current limits. Currently, Medicare Part B only covers MNT for beneficiaries with diabetes or kidney disease. The bill would add coverage for 14 additional conditions, including obesity, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, and eating disorders, as defined in the law. It also broadens who can provide these services to include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and registered dietitians, not just physicians. This change would directly affect Medicare beneficiaries with these chronic conditions and the healthcare providers who deliver MNT.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to the Hmong people in recognition of their service during the Vietnam War. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal and transfer it to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research. The medal honors the Hmong's military contributions, including fighting communist forces, gathering intelligence, and suffering high casualties. The bill specifically affects the Hmong community in the U.S. (over 327,000 people), acknowledging their historical role and displacement after the war.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new 15% Medicare bonus payment for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in designated shortage areas. It directly affects licensed mental health professionals like clinical psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and counselors who treat these conditions. The bonus applies to services furnished on or after January 1, 2024, in areas identified as having mental health provider shortages by the Secretary. This expands existing Medicare incentives to specifically target mental health and substance use disorder care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance to states within 12 months of enactment. The guidance will help states use Medicaid and CHIP programs to boost mental health and substance use disorder care provider education, training, recruitment, and retention - especially in rural and underserved areas. It specifically directs states to leverage existing Medicaid tools like section 1115 waivers and authorities under Titles XIX/XXI of the Social Security Act. The bill directly affects states administering Medicaid and CHIP, aiming to strengthen their behavioral health workforce capacity through concrete program strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal funding rules to support stillbirth prevention programs. It allows funds under the Social Security Act to cover evidence-based activities like tracking fetal movements, improving birth timing for high-risk pregnancies, smoking cessation support, and community home visits. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals, particularly those in higher-risk groups identified in the findings (such as Black mothers, those with medical conditions like diabetes, or those aged 35+). Key provisions update funding language to explicitly include stillbirth prevention research and programs, aiming to address disparities where stillbirth rates are significantly higher among certain demographics. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand access to proven prevention strategies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates October 16, 2023, and October 16, 2024, as "World Food Day" in the United States. It encourages Americans to observe these dates through appropriate ceremonies and activities to raise awareness about global hunger and malnutrition. The resolution aligns with the United Nations' longstanding observance of October 16 as World Food Day, which focuses on addressing food insecurity worldwide. It does not create new policies or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight ongoing global food challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) by raising the federal share (FMAP) by 10 percentage points for states during 2024-2025, capped at 95%. States must apply with plans to use these funds to increase wages and benefits for home care workers (like paid leave and hazard pay), reduce waiting lists for services, help people return from institutional settings, and cover related costs like equipment or training. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing state spending and be reported on by states by 2027. It directly affects states administering Medicaid HCBS programs, home care workers, and people receiving community-based care.