Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

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 expands paid parental leave for members of the reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces. It provides up to six days of paid leave per birth, adoption, or long-term foster care placement, and allows extensions beyond the standard one-year period for operational or training reasons. It also updates retirement credit calculations to include all parental leave (replacing "maternity leave" with "parental leave") for reserve members. The changes apply to leave periods beginning on or after the bill's enactment date.

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 summaryThe RISE Act requires colleges and universities to accept multiple forms of documentation, such as past Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans, to determine if a student qualifies for disability accommodations. It mandates that institutions clearly explain their accommodation processes to students and staff and report disability-related data (like enrollment numbers and accommodations provided) to federal databases. The bill also allocates $10 million for a national center to provide information and technical support to postsecondary students with disabilities. These provisions directly affect higher education institutions and students with disabilities seeking accommodations.

Maddy summaryThe Rural Hospital Support Act (S 1110) changes how Medicare calculates payments for two types of rural hospitals: sole community hospitals (the only hospital in their area) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (which rely heavily on Medicare for revenue). It recalculates payments using a 2016 base year instead of previous periods, potentially increasing reimbursements for eligible hospitals if this results in higher payments. The bill also extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program and low-volume hospital payment increases beyond 2024, while prohibiting adjustments to these payments for years before 2015. This directly affects eligible rural hospitals by increasing their Medicare funding and providing long-term program stability.

Maddy summaryThe Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2023 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants, zero or 1 percent interest loans, or loan modifications to eligible rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems. This assistance can help systems maintain public health and safety or address financial hardships in economically distressed areas, as determined by a residential affordability measure based on household water costs relative to median income. The bill requires the Secretary to establish this affordability indicator and related factors for determining eligibility. It amends existing law under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand flexible financial support options for rural water infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two specific legal authorizations for U.S. military force against Iraq: the 1991 authorization (Public Law 102-1) and the 2002 authorization (Public Law 107-243). If enacted, it would end the legal basis for military operations in Iraq under these two resolutions. The repeal directly affects the executive branch’s authority to use military force against Iraq under these specific laws. It does not create new policy but removes existing legal permissions.

Maddy summarySRES 136 is a Senate resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to communities across the United States. It highlights their service in areas like education support, disaster response, environmental protection, and assisting vulnerable populations, while encouraging the public to honor their work and consider joining national service programs. The resolution does not create new policies or allocate funds but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of their impact.

Maddy summaryThe Protection from Abusive Passengers Act creates a federal list of individuals who have committed specific abusive acts on flights, such as assaulting crew members, interfering with security systems, or threatening airline staff, barring them from boarding commercial flights until removed from the list. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must maintain this list, establish clear procedures for adding and removing names (including appeals for wrongly listed individuals), and provide written notifications within five days of a referral. The bill requires annual reports to Congress detailing the list's composition, including the number of people included, their offenses, and removal status, while permanently barring listed individuals from trusted traveler programs like PreCheck. Privacy protections prevent public disclosure of personal information on the list, and the law explicitly limits its use to flight boarding restrictions and trusted traveler ineligibility.

Maddy summaryThe EACH Act of 2023 requires federal health programs - including Medicaid, Medicare, the Indian Health Service, and others - to cover abortion services regardless of income or insurance type. It directly affects millions of low-income individuals, women of color (who are disproportionately enrolled in Medicaid), LGBTQ+ people, and people in states that currently restrict abortion coverage. Key provisions mandate that all federally funded health programs provide abortion coverage (Section 4), repeal a prior law restricting abortion coverage in private insurance (Section 5), and prohibit federal interference with private insurance coverage of abortion services. The bill aims to remove financial barriers to abortion care by ensuring coverage through federal programs and private plans.