Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan

Maddy summaryThe Turn the Tide Act (S 3663) authorizes billions of dollars in federal funding for substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery programs from 2024-2027. It appropriates specific annual amounts for services including medication-assisted treatment ($506 million/year), first responder training ($56 million/year), residential treatment for pregnant women ($40 million/year), mental health services ($75 million/year), and opioid overdose reversal medications. The bill also removes insurance barriers to treatment, improves Medicaid payments for behavioral health services, and expands drug-free community programs. These measures directly affect state and local health agencies, healthcare providers, and individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders.

Maddy summaryThe Innovation Zone Act (S 3675) creates a voluntary program allowing colleges and universities to test regulatory flexibility aimed at improving student outcomes. Participating institutions can request waivers of certain federal higher education rules (like financial aid administration or reporting requirements), provided they don’t affect core protections like antidiscrimination laws or student safety. The program focuses on measurable goals such as reducing student debt, increasing retention and completion rates - especially for historically underrepresented students (including low-income, first-generation, or homeless students), and improving graduation employment. The Department of Education will select experiments based on evidence, require rigorous data collection and reporting, and mandate biennial public reports on results to Congress.

Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to ensure military offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) are treated equally with civilian offenses in child exploitation cases. It updates references throughout Title 18 to replace outdated phrasing (like "section 920 of title 10") with "the Uniform Code of Military Justice" in key provisions. The changes directly affect military personnel facing federal prosecution for child exploitation, ensuring their cases align with civilian legal standards. The bill makes no new penalties but clarifies that UCMJ offenses are considered equivalent to state offenses under federal sentencing guidelines.

Maddy summaryThe Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2024 requires manufacturers of certain home-use medical devices - such as blood pressure monitors, sleep apnea machines, and in-home chemotherapy equipment - to design user interfaces that are accessible to blind or low-vision individuals. This applies to class II or III devices with screens or mobile apps that are cleared for home use, not solely for healthcare providers. The law mandates that interfaces must provide equal privacy, independence, and ease of use for blind or low-vision users as for sighted users, with manufacturers able to request waivers for "fundamental alteration" or "undue hardship" (e.g., excessive cost). The Secretary of Health and Human Services must develop implementing regulations within two years and provide manufacturer training.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal right for patients to access fertility treatments without unreasonable restrictions, protects health care providers who offer these services, and requires insurance coverage for such treatments. It guarantees patients the right to continue ongoing treatments under written agreements and retain control over reproductive materials. States cannot impose requirements that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures or that don’t significantly advance safety. Violations can be challenged in federal court by the government, patients, or providers, while states may still enforce health/safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive.

Maddy summaryS 1507, the POWER Act, authorizes $20 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2023 to provide grants to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. The grants allow agencies to purchase chemical screening devices and train personnel to identify substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other narcotics. Agencies must certify that at least one employee will be trained to operate the devices and interpret results, and must share devices with neighboring agencies when applicable. Recipients must submit annual reports on how funds were used to meet identified needs, such as improving substance identification speed and officer safety.

Maddy summaryS 993, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, makes the illicit distribution and use of xylazine illegal under federal drug laws. The bill defines xylazine broadly (including multiple chemical variants) and prohibits all human use or non-lici distribution, while allowing only veterinary and pharmaceutical uses approved under existing regulations. It requires the DEA and FDA to report to Congress within a year on xylazine's spread and impacts, with a follow-up report four years later. This directly affects drug traffickers and distributors adding xylazine to illicit drugs like fentanyl, aiming to address a public health threat linked to severe health consequences including necrosis.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution condemns attacks by Iran-backed militia groups on U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria, which have injured over 60 service members and damaged infrastructure. It urges the Biden administration to increase pressure on Iran to stop supporting such attacks and to take steps to deter future incidents, including maintaining U.S. military presence in the region. The resolution also emphasizes the importance of U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria for regional stability and counterterrorism efforts, while commending military actions taken in self-defense.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 510) expresses the Senate's support for respecting the FDA's scientific determination that mifepristone - a medication used for early pregnancy termination - is safe and effective. It calls for abortion care policies to be "equitable and based on science," emphasizing the FDA's authority to regulate the drug without interference, including its 2023 update allowing mail-order access. The resolution directly addresses the impact of state restrictions on medication abortion, noting that such policies disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous people, people of color, low-income individuals, rural communities, and other marginalized groups. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but urges alignment with FDA science to protect access to this time-sensitive care.