Sen. Gary C. Peters

Maddy summaryThe Tax Fairness for Workers Act (S 738) allows employees to deduct certain work-related expenses from their taxable income. It creates an above-the-line deduction for union dues and adds a new exception permitting miscellaneous itemized deductions for other employee expenses, such as uniforms or tools, that were previously limited. This directly affects wage-earning workers who pay union dues or have unreimbursed job costs. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and remove prior restrictions on these deductions.

Maddy summaryS 701, the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023, prohibits states from imposing restrictions on abortion that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures. It protects access to abortion before fetal viability (when a fetus could survive outside the womb) by banning requirements like unnecessary in-person visits, medically inaccurate counseling, or facility restrictions not applied to similar care. Post-viability abortions remain protected when medically necessary to safeguard a patient’s life or health. The bill preempts conflicting state laws and ensures enforcement through federal courts to uphold these access protections for patients and health care providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring working dogs, including $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar coins, to be sold starting January 1, 2025. A surcharge of $35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin, and $5 per half-dollar coin will be added to the sale price, with all surcharge funds directed to America’s VetDogs to support its service dog programs for veterans and people with disabilities. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued for one year (2025), with production limited to specified quantities (50,000 gold, 500,000 silver, 750,000 half-dollars). The bill does not create new government programs but uses commemorative coin sales to fund existing service dog initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the 2016 Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act to clarify which federal agencies handle tax refunds for Coast Guard veterans with combat-related injuries. It specifically ensures that when the Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security (not the Navy), the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Secretary of Transportation (during prior service periods), will process refunds for improperly withheld taxes on severance payments. The bill requires these agencies to identify and refund withheld amounts within one year of enactment. It directly affects Coast Guard veterans who received severance payments but had taxes withheld incorrectly due to unclear agency responsibilities. The change corrects a technical gap in the existing law, ensuring veterans receive refunds without needing to navigate complex jurisdictional rules.

Maddy summaryThe AFTER Act of 2023 requires U.S. federal research facilities to develop adoption programs for animals no longer needed for research and deemed suitable for retirement (excluding rats and mice). It mandates these facilities to create regulations within 90 days of enactment, prioritizing placement with animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, or shelters that meet specific non-commercial, non-breeding standards. The bill explicitly preserves stricter state animal welfare laws and ensures chimpanzees used in federal research can still access existing sanctuary programs. This directly affects federally funded research institutions and the animals they have used in studies, shifting policy toward adoption over euthanasia or indefinite holding.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins honoring the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the worst maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively) that will fund the Sultana Historical Preservation Society. The funds must be used to build, operate, and maintain a museum in Marion, Arkansas, to preserve the disaster’s history through exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs. The coins, sold only in 2023, are legal tender but will not circulate; the surcharge revenue directly supports the museum’s development and operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal grants to help small and medium businesses (50-500 or 500-10,000 employees) establish paid returnship programs for mid-career STEM workers seeking to re-enter the workforce, particularly women, racial minorities, and rural residents. It requires programs to last at least 10 weeks, offer compensation and benefits comparable to entry-level roles, and provide mentorship and training. Grant recipients must track participant demographics and outcomes, including transition rates to full-time STEM employment. The bill authorizes $50 million annually (2024-2028) to support these initiatives, aiming to address workforce gaps in STEM fields through employer-led re-entry pathways.

Maddy summarySRES 57 is a Senate resolution honoring David Ferdinand Durenberger, a former U.S. Senator from Minnesota (served 1978-1989). It commemorates his life and career, highlighting his role as the lead Republican sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act and his work protecting Minnesota's natural resources like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resolution directs the Senate to formally recognize his passing and transmit a copy to his family. This is a ceremonial resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on constituents.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor Navy pilot Everett Alvarez, Jr., for his service as a Vietnam War POW and subsequent public service. It directs the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore to arrange for the medal's presentation, specifying it must bear his name and image. Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. The bill is purely ceremonial, recognizing Alvarez's 8+ years as a prisoner of war and his post-military career. It does not create new policies or affect any government programs.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Step Act requires health insurance plans and employer-sponsored health coverage to create a transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically mandate trying a lower-cost drug first before covering a more expensive alternative. Exceptions must be approved if previous treatments failed, delaying coverage would cause severe harm, the required drug is unsafe, or the patient is stable on the requested drug. Health plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and make the process details available online.