Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare's coverage for telehealth services by adding new categories of healthcare providers who can deliver these services and receive payment. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking therapy services (like physical, occupational, speech, or audiologic therapy) via telehealth, as well as the therapists and assistants providing them. Key provisions include authorizing Medicare to pay for telehealth services provided by qualified audiologists, occupational therapists and their assistants (under supervision), physical therapists and their assistants (under supervision), and speech-language pathologists. The bill also allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to specify additional eligible providers for telehealth services under Medicare.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution symbolically designates September 2023 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about voting rights history and current challenges. It recommends Congress pass specific voting rights legislation (like the Freedom to Vote Act and Democracy Restoration Act) and encourages public education on voting accessibility, registration, and historical voter suppression. The resolution has no binding effect on policy or funding - it serves as a symbolic recognition and call to action for voting rights advocacy.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires states to allow eligible voters to register or update their registration at polling places on election day for federal elections, starting with the November 2024 general election. It mandates that polling places provide the necessary forms for registration or changes, directly affecting voters and state election systems. States already without voter registration requirements for federal elections are exempt. The law includes a phased implementation for states needing time, requiring at least one compliant location per 15,000 voters in each jurisdiction before November 2026.
Maddy summaryThe Fostering Success in Higher Education Act of 2023 creates a federal grant program to improve higher education access and success for foster youth and homeless youth. It authorizes $150 million annually for states to use 25% of funds for direct outreach and support services (including financial aid guidance, career exploration, and summer preparation programs) and at least 70% for subgrants to colleges to improve services for these students. The bill requires states to develop plans for identifying and supporting these students, coordinate with child welfare and homeless services, and submit annual reports on program outcomes. This legislation directly affects foster youth (those who were in state or tribal care) and homeless youth (as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act), aiming to address barriers they face in accessing and completing postsecondary education.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits states from automatically removing voters from registration lists due to factors like not voting or not responding to mail. It requires states to use only objective evidence (such as death records or proof of permanent move out of state) for removals and mandates 48-hour notice to voters with reinstatement options. Voters who move within a state can update their address through election day to vote at their new location. The law directly affects registered voters and election officials who must implement these verification and notice requirements.
Maddy summaryThe Register America to Vote Act of 2023 would require states to automatically register eligible citizens to vote when they turn 18 or when they interact with state motor vehicle authorities for services like license applications, with an option to decline. States would need to establish electronic systems to transfer registration information from motor vehicle offices to election officials, updating voter registration without requiring additional action from citizens. The bill includes strong privacy protections for voter information and requires states to modernize registration systems to improve accuracy and accessibility, particularly benefiting young people, individuals with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. It also provides $3 billion in federal funding to help states implement these changes by 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hire the maximum number of new air traffic controllers each year from 2024 through 2028, based on the training capacity of the FAA Academy. It directly affects the FAA, which must set annual hiring targets aligned with its ability to train new controllers. The law does not change existing hiring rules but mandates that the FAA utilize its full training capacity each year for new controller hires during this period. It excludes certain individuals specified under federal law, but the core provision focuses on maximizing new controller recruitment within available training resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to exclude certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness assistance from taxable income. It specifically applies to veterinarians participating in programs under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 or similar state programs designed to increase rural veterinary access. The key change clarifies that financial assistance provided through these targeted programs is not considered taxable income for participants. This directly benefits veterinarians in rural areas who use these loan repayment options to practice in underserved communities.
Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would give Congress and states the authority to regulate campaign contributions and spending, including setting limits and prohibiting corporations from spending money to influence elections. It explicitly protects freedom of the press by stating the amendment cannot be used to abridge it. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, it would establish a new constitutional standard for campaign finance regulation.
Maddy summaryThe Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development Act of 2023 establishes a federal program to research and develop carbon dioxide removal technologies across multiple departments. It creates an Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management within the Department of Energy to coordinate research and authorizes over $10 billion in funding through 2033 for projects including direct air capture, forest restoration, soil carbon management, and ocean-based removal techniques. The bill requires lifecycle analyses and environmental justice assessments for all technologies and establishes competitive demonstration projects with specific cost requirements. Federal agencies must prioritize carbon removal research in their programs, directing billions of dollars toward advancing these technologies to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.