Maddy summaryThe Sustaining Our Democracy Act creates a federal program that provides states with funding for election administration improvements and increased voter access. It allocates $2 billion annually from a trust fund to support specific activities like upgrading voting equipment, expanding early and mail voting, recruiting election workers, and protecting election officials from threats. States must submit detailed plans describing how they'll use the funds for approved activities, and the program prohibits using funds for restrictions on voting access or improper audits. The Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation will oversee the program and ensure funds are used appropriately. This legislation directly affects all states participating in federal elections by providing resources to strengthen election systems and increase access for underserved communities.
Sponsored bills
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 summaryThis bill provides temporary civil protections for federal workers during government shutdowns. It allows workers who are furloughed or working without pay to seek court-ordered stays on rent, mortgage payments, student loans, taxes, and insurance premiums during the shutdown and for 30 days afterward. Key provisions include halting evictions, foreclosures, and student loan collections without court approval, while preventing penalties or negative credit reporting during the covered period. These protections apply to all federal employees and contractor staff, excluding criminal matters and child support.
Maddy summaryS 626, the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act, establishes a new Medicare model to provide coordinated care management for beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. It directly affects Medicare Part A/B enrollees (not in Part C or hospice) and their unpaid caregivers by requiring eligible entities like health systems or ACOs to deliver comprehensive services including continuous monitoring, personalized care plans, medication management, and caregiver support. Key provisions include assigning patients to care pathways based on health needs, requiring zero cost-sharing for beneficiaries, and paying providers via capitated payments with quality-based bonuses. The model aims to test whether this approach improves health outcomes, caregiver experience, and reduces Medicare spending without lowering care quality.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to allow agricultural producers to use loan funds for constructing or upgrading propane storage facilities primarily used in farming. It directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses seeking to store propane for on-farm production needs, such as powering equipment or heating greenhouses. The key change adds a specific eligibility category under the storage facility loan program, explicitly listing propane storage for agricultural production as an approved use. This clarifies that funds previously available for producer storage can now cover propane infrastructure, aligning with existing federal definitions in 7 CFR §4279.2.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the federal tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings, specifically boosting the credit rate from 20% to 30% for small projects (defined as those with qualified rehabilitation costs under $3.75 million and no prior credit). The total credit for any single project is capped at $750,000. It also expands eligibility by changing how building basis is calculated and adjusts rules for tax-exempt properties to simplify compliance. These changes directly benefit small-scale developers and owners rehabilitating certified historic structures.
Maddy summaryThis bill would remove longstanding U.S. restrictions on exports to Cuba by amending key laws including the Cuban Democracy Act and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act. It specifically eliminates prohibitions on exporting goods and services to Cuba that were in place under the Foreign Assistance Act, the Cuban Democracy Act, and the Trade Sanctions Reform Act. The bill allows U.S. businesses to export to Cuba without prior government approval, directly affecting American exporters and Cuban importers. However, it preserves the President's authority to impose new export controls under specific circumstances, such as declaring a new national emergency related to Cuba.
Maddy summaryThe Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act requires Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover specific cancer diagnostic tests, including genetic sequencing (like DNA and RNA tests) and their interpretation, for individuals diagnosed with cancer. It defines these tests to include advanced genetic analysis methods and limits coverage to once at initial diagnosis, once at recurrence, and as needed for treatment planning or monitoring. The bill mandates that these tests be covered without a deductible under Medicare and requires states to include them in Medicaid and CHIP coverage starting January 1, 2025. Additionally, it establishes a federal education program to inform healthcare providers and the public about genomic testing for cancer care.
Maddy summarySRES 90 designates March 2023 as "Endometriosis Awareness Month" and recognizes endometriosis as a chronic disease affecting millions of women in the U.S. The resolution specifically targets women with endometriosis - impacting roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age - and highlights the disease's debilitating symptoms, diagnostic delays, and healthcare burden. It requests federal health agencies (HHS, Defense, Veterans Affairs) to improve public education, update treatment resources, and advance research on endometriosis. As a non-binding resolution, it focuses on raising awareness and encouraging agency action, not enacting new laws or funding.
Maddy summaryThe Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2023 establishes a nonprofit Foundation for Digital Equity to promote digital inclusion, broadband adoption, and digital literacy, particularly for underserved communities including rural populations, Tribal communities, and older individuals. The Foundation will operate through a Board of Directors with government agency representatives and community stakeholders, and can award grants, establish for-profit subsidiaries to attract investment, and collaborate with federal agencies like the FCC and NTIA. It must submit strategic plans and annual reports detailing its activities, funding sources, and progress toward increasing access to affordable broadband, digital literacy training, and technology resources. The bill authorizes funding for the Foundation's establishment and operations beginning in fiscal year 2024.