Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to increase annual federal funding for impact aid programs. It sets specific, rising funding amounts for four key areas: payments to school districts affected by federal property use ($90.3M in 2024, growing to $150.3M by 2029), basic payments to local school districts ($1.63B in 2024, growing to $2.45B by 2029), payments for children with disabilities ($60.3M in 2024, growing to $120.3M by 2029), and school construction grants ($22.9M in 2024, growing to $45.4M by 2029). These funds directly support school districts facing financial impacts from federal land ownership or operations. The bill advances toward full federal funding for these established programs by authorizing increased annual appropriations through 2029.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 849) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to set higher minimum pay rates for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers in specific locations where recruitment or retention is difficult. It allows pay increases up to 30% above standard rates (capped at Executive Schedule Level IV pay) when factors like higher non-Federal wages, remote locations, or hazardous working conditions hinder hiring. The Secretary must annually update regulations and notify affected employees if pay rates are reduced. This directly affects BIA public safety officers in challenging work areas, aiming to address staffing challenges through targeted compensation adjustments.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 112) designates the week of February 27-March 3, 2023, as "Public Schools Week" through a symbolic gesture. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or directly affect any policies or individuals. The resolution includes preamble language highlighting the importance of public education but contains no concrete policy changes. As a ceremonial resolution, it serves only to recognize public schools' role in communities.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 110) honoring the late James George Abourezk, the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. Senate (1973-1979) from South Dakota. It commemorates his legacy, including his work re-establishing the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and co-authoring key Native American rights legislation like the Indian Child Welfare Act. The resolution directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and send a copy to his family, acknowledging his service as a representative and advocate for Native American communities. As a procedural resolution, it has no legislative effect beyond commemoration.
Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes Medicare coverage for chiropractic care by removing the outdated limit that restricted beneficiaries to one annual chiropractic clinic visit. It expands coverage to include all chiropractic services within a provider's state license, specifically manual spinal adjustments to correct subluxations, aligning Medicare with VA, military, and private insurance standards. Chiropractors must complete a brief online training verification once to bill Medicare for these services. The change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking ongoing chiropractic treatment and chiropractors participating in Medicare.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses Congress's support for the Local Radio Freedom Act by opposing new fees for local radio stations playing music over the air. It states that imposing performance fees would harm the longstanding relationship between radio stations and the music industry, jeopardize emergency broadcasts and local programming, and cause economic hardship for radio stations and small businesses (like bars and retail stores) that rely on free music licensing. The resolution specifically urges against any new fee, tax, or royalty related to radio stations' public performance of sound recordings. As a non-binding statement, it does not create new law but formally advocates for maintaining the current system.
Maddy summaryS 732, the Biochar Research Network Act of 2023, establishes a national network of up to 20 research sites to study how biochar (a charcoal-like substance made from plant waste) improves soil health, sequesters carbon, and boosts farm productivity across different conditions. It directly affects farmers, ranchers, foresters, and land managers by funding research to provide practical, region-specific guidance on using biochar effectively. The bill mandates testing various biochar types, production methods, and soil applications to understand their impact on crop yields, climate mitigation, and ecosystem health, while generating data for models predicting environmental and economic outcomes. It authorizes $50 million annually (2023-2028) for this research, administered by USDA agencies in coordination with other federal departments.
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 summaryS 697, the "Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act," amends federal law to allow Indian tribes and counties to retain and use revenue from timber sales under "good neighbor agreements" for forest restoration projects. Specifically, it modifies Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 to explicitly include tribes and counties alongside governors as entities that can keep funds from timber sales to fund restoration services under these agreements. The bill requires that funds first cover restoration under the current agreement, with any remaining funds usable for other agreements. This directly affects tribes and counties participating in federal forest management agreements, changing how they access and use revenue from timber sales. The changes apply to projects initiated after the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act.
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.