Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the Social Security wage base cap from $160,000 to $400,000 and adds a 1.2% tax on income exceeding $400,000 for individuals or $500,000 for joint filers. It applies to both wage earners and self-employed taxpayers, with new tax revenue allocated to Social Security trust funds (71.3% to Old-Age/Survivors, 10.3% to Disability, and 28.7% to Hospital Insurance). The changes directly affect high-income earners, specifically those with annual earnings above these thresholds. The tax provisions take effect for 2024 and future years.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new incentive pay program for Department of Justice (DOJ) employees with specialized cyber skills needed to combat online fentanyl trafficking. It allows the Attorney General to award up to 25% of an employee's base pay as a bonus for positions requiring expertise in computers, networks, or internet technology to detect, prevent, or prosecute fentanyl trafficking. The incentive pay is excluded from standard pay limits for calculating annual compensation and is treated as base pay for retirement purposes. The program requires funding through annual appropriations and applies only to DOJ roles directly focused on digital aspects of fentanyl trafficking.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in healthcare and social service sectors to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans for their workers. It applies to a wide range of facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, mental health clinics, and community care settings, affecting healthcare and social service workers who provide care in these environments. The plans must include risk assessments, hazard prevention measures, incident reporting procedures, and annual training for employees. Employers must maintain records of violent incidents, conduct annual evaluations of their prevention plans, and submit annual summaries of workplace violence data to the Secretary of Labor. The bill also prohibits retaliation against workers who report violence or safety concerns and ensures compliance with existing safety standards.

Paying a Fair Share Act of 2023 This bill requires an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million (high-income taxpayer) to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax). The amount of the tax is the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of (1) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year; over (2) certain tax credits. The bill provides for a phase-in of such tax and requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2023. The bill also expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.

Maddy summarySRES 151 is a Senate resolution designating March 31, 2023, as "César Chávez Day" to honor the legacy of César Estrada Chávez, a civil rights leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers and championed nonviolent organizing for farmworkers' rights. This commemorative resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or groups; it serves solely as a symbolic recognition. The resolution highlights Chávez's life work advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity for agricultural laborers. It follows longstanding tradition of honoring Chávez through official designations, including existing state holidays in California, Colorado, and Texas. The resolution encourages the public to reflect on his legacy of service and nonviolent activism.

Maddy summarySRES 147 designates April 2023 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" to recognize the importance of local news for informed citizenship and community engagement. The resolution highlights the decline in local news outlets - over 2,500 print outlets lost since 2005 - and affirms local journalism as a public good essential for democracy. It underscores challenges like reduced newsroom staff, economic pressures, and gaps in coverage for rural and minority communities, without proposing new policies or funding.

Maddy summarySRES 120 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating March 23, 2023, as "National Women in Agriculture Day." It recognizes the significant contributions of women in U.S. agriculture, citing that they represent over one-third of agricultural producers and generated $148 billion in sales in 2017. The resolution encourages citizens to acknowledge women in the field and supports their roles as producers, educators, mentors, and leaders. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to highlight their impact on the agricultural workforce and food systems.

Maddy summaryS 1098, the Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act, changes U.S. aid rules for foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) receiving funding under the Foreign Assistance Act. It removes eligibility barriers for these NGOs if they provide health services (like counseling) using their own funds, as long as those services comply with local laws and would be legal in the U.S. It also eliminates extra restrictions on how foreign NGOs can use non-U.S. government funds for advocacy or lobbying, making these rules the same as those applied to U.S. NGOs receiving similar aid. This directly affects foreign health-focused NGOs working in international development and rights advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clery Act to require colleges and universities to provide all campus safety reports, emergency response plans, and related materials in accessible formats for students and staff with disabilities - including those who are blind, deaf, or have cognitive or communication disabilities. Key provisions include mandating that emergency evacuation procedures account for disability needs, requiring campus security personnel to receive disability-inclusive training, and ensuring complaint processes (like sexual assault investigations) are accessible with accommodations like interpreters. It also requires prevention programs and all campus communications to be accessible and timely, with clear procedures for requesting accommodations. The bill directly affects all institutions covered by the Clery Act, aiming to make campus safety information and resources equitable for people with disabilities.

Maddy summaryS 1086, the Disability and Age in Jury Service Nondiscrimination Act, prohibits federal courts from excluding potential jurors based on disability or age. The bill amends federal jury law to ensure individuals with disabilities or older adults are not disqualified if they can serve with reasonable accommodations, such as accessible facilities or modified procedures. It specifically adds "disability, age" to existing protections against exclusion and requires courts to consider accommodations for jurors with infirmities. This change directly affects prospective federal jurors with disabilities or age-related needs who were previously excluded under broad "infirmity" rules. The bill applies only to federal jury service, not state courts.