Sen. Cory A. Booker

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Farmworker Coordinator position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve how farmworkers access federal programs. The Coordinator will assess existing outreach, develop coordination plans across USDA agencies (like the Farm Service Agency and Food and Nutrition Service), and communicate program eligibility information directly to farmworker employers. Key duties include measuring program outcomes for farmworkers, identifying research priorities, and recommending new initiatives. The bill directly affects farmworkers by aiming to make USDA programs more accessible and effective, while requiring coordination across multiple USDA offices.

Maddy summaryThe Break the Cycle of Violence Act creates federal grant programs to fund community-based violence intervention initiatives that aim to reduce gun violence in high-risk communities. It authorizes $300 million in 2024, increasing to $700 million annually from 2026-2031, for grants to community organizations and local governments to implement evidence-based strategies that provide trauma-informed services, job training, and wraparound support to individuals at high risk of violence. The bill establishes a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate efforts, collect data, and share best practices, while also creating IMPACT grants for job training programs targeting opportunity youth in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. The legislation specifically addresses racial disparities in violence exposure, with findings showing Black children and teens are over 12 times more likely to be shot to death than White peers. The program requires grantees to use strategies that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration, and to partner with community organizations reflecting the populations impacted by violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to increase competition in the agricultural sector by limiting corporate consolidation. It imposes a moratorium on mergers by large agribusinesses with over $222 million in annual sales, requires retroactive review of mergers since 2006, and allows unwinding of harmful mergers that negatively impacted farmers, workers, or consumers. The bill reinstates mandatory country of origin labeling for beef, pork, and dairy products and strengthens protections against unfair practices by packers and processors under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Additionally, it increases funding for beginning, retiring, and socially disadvantaged farmers and creates new infrastructure grants for small processing facilities. These provisions are designed to help small-scale farmers compete more effectively while increasing transparency for consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to improve the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program for farmers. It directly affects producers who use this insurance, expanding eligible marketing methods to include direct-to-consumer sales, local/regionally sold products, and identity-preserved crops. Key changes include requiring crop rotation (replacing "may" with "shall"), allowing IRS Schedule F tax forms as sufficient revenue proof (with limited exceptions), reducing paperwork for farms with $1 million+ gross revenue, and expanding discounts to cover at least 10 commodities. The bill also sets a $500,000 limit on revenue growth adjustments and includes provisions to better account for disaster payments in revenue calculations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most employers from using credit history reports when making hiring decisions or taking adverse employment actions (like denying a job). It directly affects job applicants and current employees by preventing employers from considering their credit scores for these purposes. The law includes narrow exceptions for positions requiring national security clearances or when required by other laws. Employers cannot deny employment or take negative employment actions simply because an applicant refuses to authorize a credit check. The bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "ghost guns" as firearms (including frames and receivers) without a unique serial number from a licensed manufacturer or importer. It requires all new firearms to have a serial number engraved by a licensed maker and prohibits unlicensed individuals from manufacturing, selling, transferring, or possessing ghost guns after a one-year transition period (starting one year after enactment). The bill also bans unlicensed engraving of serial numbers on firearms and updates rules to ban undetectable firearms, with penalties including fines and up to 5 years in prison for repeat violations. These changes directly affect unlicensed gun builders, sellers, and possessors of ghost guns, while allowing licensed dealers a grace period for compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 3-year pilot program to provide guaranteed jobs in high-unemployment areas. Eligible local governments or tribal entities with unemployment rates at least 150% of the national average may apply for grants to create job programs. The program requires participating employers to offer jobs with wages at least the higher of federal, local prevailing, or collective bargaining rates, plus health insurance comparable to federal benefits, paid family/sick leave, and supportive services like childcare and job training. It mandates accessible job opportunities for people with disabilities and criminal records, while prohibiting job displacement of existing workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to change eligibility criteria for a specific immigration provision. It replaces the previous requirement of having entered the U.S. before July 1, 1924, or January 1, 1972, with a new rule requiring applicants to have entered at least 7 years prior to their application date. This change would directly affect long-term residents who entered after 1972 but have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least 7 years, making them eligible under this provision. The amendments take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce within the Department of Agriculture to improve access to USDA programs for farm and food system workers. The office, led by a Coordinator, will coordinate outreach, develop language-accessible communications, and provide recommendations to improve services for workers in food production, processing, transportation, and related fields. It establishes an Advisory Committee with worker representation and an Interagency Council to coordinate across federal departments. The office will issue annual reports on worker demographics, health outcomes, and barriers to accessing USDA programs. The bill terminates the existing Farmworker Coordinator position once the new office is fully operational.

Maddy summaryThe HEAL for Immigrant Families Act of 2023 would expand health insurance access for immigrants by removing immigration status barriers to Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act coverage. It makes all lawfully present immigrants eligible for these programs, including those with deferred action status like DACA recipients, and allows states to choose to extend coverage to individuals without lawful presence. The bill specifically addresses reproductive health coverage gaps, ensuring access to contraception, pregnancy-related care, and abortion services for immigrant women who face compounded barriers. It directly affects immigrant families, particularly Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQ, and disabled immigrants who currently experience significant health inequities. The legislation aims to address preventable pregnancy-related deaths and improve health outcomes by eliminating discriminatory eligibility restrictions based on immigration status.