Sen. Cory A. Booker

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in federal funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2024. The ACP provides internet subsidies to help low-income households afford service, directly supporting millions of qualifying families. This funding ensures the program can continue operating throughout 2024, with the money remaining available until fully spent.

Maddy summarySRES 516 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or species; instead, it symbolically recognizes the ESA's role in protecting over 2,000 species and preserving ecosystems. The resolution highlights the Act's success in preventing extinction for species like the bald eagle and grizzly bear, as well as its broader benefits for clean air, water, and biodiversity. This is a non-binding commemorative gesture, not a policy change.

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.

Maddy summaryS 3518, the Reengage the Workforce Act, provides federal grants to help secondary school dropouts aged 16+ re-enter education or training. It funds programs offering flexible credit recovery (like virtual learning or waived seat time), career workshops, and supportive services (childcare, transportation) to support re-enrollment in school or high school equivalency programs. Grants are competitively awarded to partnerships between schools, local governments, and community groups, with priority given to low-income communities or evidence-based approaches. The bill authorizes $5.52 million annually from 2024-2034 and requires detailed annual reports tracking program participation, completion rates, and workforce outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe Youth Mental Health Data Act of 2023 establishes a federal task force to improve how youth mental health data is collected and shared across government agencies and health systems. The task force, including federal agency heads and non-federal members (like youth advocates and medical experts), must develop a national strategy for real-time data integration covering demographics (age, race, gender), health system involvement (juvenile justice, child welfare), and digital technology impacts. It will track electronic health record usage, foster public-private research partnerships, and create a public website displaying youth mental health trends and federal efforts. This bill directly affects federal agencies, state governments (via reports to governors), and youth mental health systems by standardizing data collection to better understand needs and evidence-based interventions.

Maddy summaryThe Predatory Lending Elimination Act (S 3549) would extend the military lending rate cap - currently protecting service members and their families - to most consumer credit products, including credit cards, while exempting residential mortgages, car loans used solely for vehicle purchases, and Federal credit union loans. It sets a maximum interest rate and restricts certain fees on credit cards, such as those for credit insurance and ancillary products, to prevent hidden costs. States may enforce these rules through their attorneys general or regulators within three years of a violation, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must issue implementing rules within one year that align with existing military lending protections. This bill directly affects creditors offering consumer credit and aims to limit predatory lending practices across most credit markets.

Maddy summarySRES 500 is a Senate resolution designating November 8, 2023, as "National First-Generation College Celebration Day." It recognizes first-generation college students - those whose parents did not earn a bachelor's degree - and commemorates the anniversary of the 1965 Higher Education Act, which established key support programs like Federal TRIO and Pell Grants. The resolution urges all Americans to celebrate this day, acknowledge the contributions of first-gen students to the future workforce, and honor the Higher Education Act's role in expanding access to higher education. This is a symbolic designation with no new funding or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe TRUTH in Labeling Act requires food manufacturers to display standardized front-of-package labels highlighting added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat content, directly affecting how packaged foods are marketed and helping consumers make informed choices. These labels must use a consistent, prominent symbol system placed visibly on packaging to quickly convey nutritional information without requiring advanced nutrition knowledge. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue final regulations within three years of the bill's enactment to define the label design and implementation. Additionally, the bill mandates a report to Congress within five years to evaluate if the labeling influences the availability of products with low-calorie sweeteners and guide future monitoring.

Maddy summaryS 3509, the Healthy MOM Act, creates a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals in health insurance plans, allowing them to enroll when they report their pregnancy to their insurer or healthcare provider (effective for plan years after December 2024). It requires group health plans and insurers to cover maternity care - including pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum services - for all dependents, regardless of age. The bill also mandates 12-month continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals (starting in 2025), replacing shorter coverage periods. This directly affects pregnant individuals, their dependents, health insurers, and Medicaid/CHIP programs by expanding access to timely coverage and mandated maternity benefits.

Maddy summarySRES 494 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the need for the federal government to develop a national biodiversity strategy. It urges the creation of a coordinated strategy to protect biodiversity, including setting goals like conserving 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 (30x30), restoring ecosystems, and integrating indigenous knowledge. The resolution emphasizes addressing biodiversity loss that disproportionately impacts communities of color, low-income populations, and Tribal communities, while coordinating federal agency efforts with states, tribes, and private landowners. It does not create new laws but calls for a strategy to secure ecosystem services and advance U.S. leadership on global biodiversity goals.