Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - 223 women who served as Army Signal Corps telephone operators in WWI. They connected 26 million calls in France, worked 12-hour shifts under combat conditions, and were denied veteran benefits for 60 years despite wearing uniforms and facing combat hazards. The medal recognizes their pioneering military service, devotion to duty, and the decades-long struggle for recognition as soldiers. It directs the Treasury to strike the medal and place it in the Smithsonian for public display at institutions like the National WWI Museum.

Maddy summarySRES 812 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating September 20, 2024, as "National Concussion Awareness Day." It cites CDC data showing millions of annual sports-related concussions, especially among youth, and emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis and management. The resolution supports raising public and medical awareness about concussions, encourages collaboration among policymakers to improve concussion understanding, and urges further research and prevention efforts. It does not create new laws or directly affect specific groups, but aims to promote broader recognition of concussion risks.

Maddy summaryS 5160 amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to expand how U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can share information about suspected intellectual property rights violations during trade. The bill allows CBP to share nonpublic details about merchandise - such as data from online marketplaces, shipping companies, or freight forwarders - with other parties, including "any other party with an interest in the merchandise" as determined by CBP. This directly affects CBP, online platforms (like Amazon or eBay), shipping operators, and importers by broadening the scope of information shared to address IP infringement. The key change replaces vague terms like "suspects" with "reasonable suspicion" and explicitly includes packaging and shipping details in the information-sharing process.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the CARES Act to extend the termination date for certain pandemic spending provisions from 5 to 10 years. It directly affects federal programs authorized under the CARES Act that had a 5-year sunset period. The key mechanism is changing a specific reference in Section 4018(h) from "5" to "10" years, delaying when these spending authorities expire. This is a procedural adjustment to existing law, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the federal government to evaluate state and tribal protocols for handling children missing from foster care and provide technical assistance to improve these systems. It mandates the Secretary to assess how effectively states identify and respond to missing youth, identify obstacles, and share best practices for tracking and recovery. Additionally, it directs the Secretary to assist states in implementing mandatory screenings for sex trafficking risks when youth return to foster care after going missing, including documentation and appropriate service referrals. The bill directly affects states, tribes, and tribal organizations administering foster care programs under federal law.

Maddy summarySRES 828 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the chamber’s position that every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It highlights that abortion restrictions in emergencies force providers to choose between treating patients or risking criminal charges, disproportionately harming Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. The resolution specifically notes that such bans create dangerous uncertainty for life-threatening conditions like severe hemorrhage, sepsis, or placenta previa. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new law or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Federal Government Service Delivery Lead at the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate nationwide improvements in how federal agencies deliver services to the public. It requires each agency to appoint a senior official responsible for enhancing service quality, particularly for major programs serving individuals or businesses (called "high impact service providers"). The law sets standards focused on user experience factors like ease, accessibility, and efficiency, mandates data collection and annual reports to Congress, and directs agencies to use existing funds without new appropriations. All changes must align with existing digital service requirements, such as those from the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act.

Maddy summarySRES 823 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2024) and celebrating the cultural contributions and achievements of Latinos in the United States. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups; instead, it urges the public to observe the month through activities honoring Latino heritage. The resolution highlights Latinos' economic impact (e.g., $3.4 trillion purchasing power), demographic significance (19.5% of U.S. population), and historical military service, but these statistics serve as context, not policy changes. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal force and is intended to raise awareness, not alter government programs or funding.

Right to IVF Act This bill provides a statutory right to access fertility treatments (e.g., in vitro fertilization). Specifically, under the bill, individuals have the right to access fertility treatments and to make decisions about the use of their reproductive genetic material (e.g., embryos) without limitation or interference. Health care providers and insurers have the right to provide and cover these services, respectively. Manufacturers of applicable drugs or devices also have the right to provide these drugs or devices. The bill supersedes state laws that limit or otherwise interfere with the provision of fertility treatments as set out under this bill, including laws that require medically unnecessary procedures or services in conjunction with fertility treatments or that restrict the ability of individuals to receive fertility treatments based on marital status or sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity). The bill does not affect state health and safety regulations for medical facilities or health care providers that are in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards and for which the purpose cannot be achieved in another, nonrestrictive manner. The Department of Justice may bring civil actions against states, individuals, or entities that implement or enforce limitations or requirements that violate this bill. Individuals and health care providers may also bring civil actions.  In addition, the bill provides for coverage of fertility treatments under Medicare and Medicaid and for members of the uniformed services and veterans. It also requires private insurers that cover obstetrical services to also cover fertility treatments.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 819) designating September 25, 2024, as "National Lobster Day." It does not create new laws or policies, but formally recognizes the cultural and economic significance of the lobster industry in the U.S. The resolution encourages the public to observe the day with appropriate activities, highlighting lobster's role in coastal communities, sustainability efforts, and culinary traditions. It directly affects no specific group or entity, as it is a symbolic designation with no binding requirements.