Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Maddy summaryThis bill amends over 30 sections of the Internal Revenue Code to replace gendered language like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral terms such as "married couple" or "spouses." It directly affects all married taxpayers by ensuring the tax code refers to married couples in inclusive language, regardless of gender. The key mechanism is updating specific tax code provisions to use neutral terminology throughout, including changing "his spouse" to "the individual's spouse" in numerous sections. This is a technical correction to modernize the language of the tax code, not a change to tax rates, deductions, or policy. The bill does not alter tax obligations or benefits for married couples.

Maddy summarySRES 282 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing June 2023 as "LGBTQ Pride Month" to honor the contributions and resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals across the United States. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges historical challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, including discrimination, hate crimes (such as the Pulse and Club Q shootings), and barriers to equality in employment, healthcare, and housing. The resolution encourages all Americans to learn about the LGBTQ community's history of struggle and achievement during June 2023. Introduced by 44 bipartisan senators, it serves as a symbolic gesture of support without altering any legal rights or obligations.

Maddy summarySRES 265 is a U.S. Senate resolution supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's democratic development, pluralism, and efforts to join NATO and the European Union. It calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina's government to implement electoral reforms, combat corruption, and uphold the Dayton Accords ahead of the 2024 elections, while condemning actions that threaten the country's territorial integrity like genocide denial and secessionist rhetoric. The resolution also urges the U.S. to advance Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU and NATO membership processes and support the international stabilization force (EUFOR-Althea). This resolution directly influences U.S. diplomatic engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina and its political leadership.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office within the Department of Defense to coordinate direct engagement with communities affected by PFAS chemical contamination from military sites. It requires the DoD to provide technical assistance grants to help residents navigate environmental response efforts, interpret site documents, and participate in remediation planning. The bill also mandates restoring data sharing about PFAS water testing with states and advisory boards, and requires annual reports on community engagement and a GAO assessment of DoD cleanup efforts. These provisions focus on improving transparency and community involvement in addressing PFAS contamination near military installations.

Maddy summaryS 2204, the Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights Act of 2023, requires lenders offering federally backed loans for manufactured home communities to ensure leases include specific tenant protections. It mandates 1-year lease terms (renewable annually), 60-day written notice for rent increases (with extended notice for hikes over 5%), a 5-day rent grace period, and rights for tenants to sell their homes in place without relocation. The law directly affects tenants in manufactured home communities and borrowers seeking federal loan programs, requiring them to certify lease compliance and submit documentation. Violations trigger penalties like rent refunds, interest, or 2-year financing bans, with protections supplementing but not replacing stronger state laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the provision and advertising of conversion therapy for compensation, targeting therapists, clinics, and anyone offering paid services claiming to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It prohibits advertising that falsely claims such therapy is harmless, effective, or without risk, and makes it unlawful to profit from these practices. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general through civil actions. The law directly affects providers of paid conversion therapy while protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from potentially harmful and ineffective treatments.

Refund Equality Act of  2023 This bill permits legally married same sex couples to amend their tax returns to file as married filing jointly for returns outside of the statute of limitations.

Maddy summaryThe Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2023 requires drug manufacturers to submit a petition to the FDA within 60 days of knowing the information that would form the basis of a challenge before filing a lawsuit to delay generic drug approvals. The FDA must evaluate factors like multiple petitions, lack of supporting data, or timing close to approval deadlines to determine if a petition was filed primarily to delay approval. If a lawsuit is filed without following this petition process, courts must dismiss it (without prejudice for missing the petition, with prejudice for late filing). The bill also mandates that the FDA refer petitions deemed to delay approvals to the Federal Trade Commission for review. This aims to streamline the approval process for generic drugs by reducing strategic delays.

Maddy summarySRES 263 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating June 19, 2023, as "Juneteenth National Independence Day" to recognize June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas. It honors the historical significance of this date, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in the Southwestern U.S. after the Civil War. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges this observance as part of U.S. history and heritage, supporting nationwide recognition of the event. It affects all Americans by affirming a shared historical moment in the nation's journey toward freedom.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual funding cap for SBA 504 loans from $7.5 billion to $15 billion per fiscal year, directly affecting small businesses and local development companies seeking financing for major fixed assets like real estate. It modifies existing provisions in the Small Business Investment Act to replace the previous $7.5 billion funding limit with the new $15 billion cap for guaranteed loans under Section 503 and loans under Section 502(7)(C). The bill also includes a sunset provision, ending these changes on October 1, 2026, unless renewed by Congress.