Sen. Cory A. Booker

Maddy summaryS 94, the "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act," authorizes three congressional gold medals for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team members. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medals, with one medal displayed at each of three locations: the Lake Placid Olympic Center, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Minnesota, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs. The legislation also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing the team's 1980 Olympic victory, not a policy change affecting current legislation or constituents.

Maddy summarySRES 20 is a symbolic Senate resolution supporting Korean American Day, commemorating the January 13, 1903 arrival of the first large wave of Korean immigrants to the U.S. It urges all Americans to observe the day to recognize Korean Americans' contributions to U.S. society, including their economic, cultural, and military impacts. The resolution formally honors the 122nd anniversary of this immigration milestone and reaffirms prior bipartisan resolutions (H.Res. 487 and S.Res. 283) from 2005. As a non-binding commemorative measure, it does not create new laws or alter policies.

Maddy summarySRES 19 is a Senate resolution honoring former President Jimmy Carter's life and legacy, commending his decades of public service, humanitarian work, and diplomatic achievements including the Camp David Accords and founding The Carter Center. The resolution specifically recognizes his Nobel Peace Prize, efforts to combat diseases like Guinea worm, and 30+ years of Habitat for Humanity homebuilding. It formally mourns his passing and extends condolences to his family, while highlighting his role in establishing U.S.-China diplomatic relations and creating the Departments of Education and Energy. As a symbolic resolution with no policy impact, it directly affects no individuals or entities but serves as a formal Senate tribute to Carter's historical contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts tax credit rules for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act to make coverage more affordable for lower-income households. It replaces a flat income threshold with a sliding scale, reducing the percentage of income people pay for premiums based on their household income relative to the poverty line (e.g., 0% for incomes up to 150% of poverty, rising to 8.5% at 400%+). The change directly affects individuals buying insurance through health insurance marketplaces who qualify for tax credits. It takes effect for tax years beginning after 2025, modifying how the IRS calculates subsidy eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 13-member Commission to study the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and discrimination on African Americans, and to develop reparation proposals. The Commission will examine the institution of slavery from 1619-1865, discriminatory practices like redlining and Jim Crow, and current disparities in wealth, incarceration, and employment. It will identify evidence of these harms, study their lingering effects, and recommend educational approaches and potential remedies, including compensation calculations and eligibility. The Commission must submit its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of its first meeting. The bill authorizes $12 million for the Commission's work and requires it to terminate 90 days after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryThe Washington, D.C. Admission Act would admit Washington, D.C. as a new state called "Washington, Douglass Commonwealth," granting it full representation with two U.S. Senators and one U.S. Representative. The bill would establish the new state's boundaries, with the area serving as the seat of government (the "Capital") remaining under federal jurisdiction for specific purposes. It would repeal the District of Columbia's congressional delegate position and its participation in presidential elections, while providing for a transition period overseen by a Statehood Transition Commission to handle the shift from district to state governance.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds new federal district court judgeships to address growing case backlogs. It authorizes 66 permanent judgeships to be appointed starting in 2025 (with an additional 34 in 2029) across specific districts in Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, and others, based on current caseload data. It also creates temporary judgeships for Oklahoma districts (Eastern and Northern) that expire after five years if vacancies occur. The bill aims to reduce the average of 491 cases per judgeship by increasing staffing in overburdened courts, as identified by the Judicial Conference.

Maddy summaryThe Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2024 would establish a federal commission to investigate and document the historical impacts of Indian boarding school policies on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. The Commission would hold public hearings for survivors, families, and tribal representatives, work to locate unmarked graves and document records from these schools, and develop recommendations for healing and preventing similar practices today. It would include 10 diverse members representing tribal communities, experts in boarding school history, and healing practitioners, with an Advisory Committee composed of tribal organizations and survivors. The Commission would issue an initial report within three years and a final report within five years, making recommendations for federal action to address historical trauma and support mental health and cultural healing. This bill focuses on documenting the government's role in cultural termination and developing concrete steps for acknowledgment and healing.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (S. 1351) directs the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study child abuse in youth residential programs. The study, to be completed within three years and updated every two years for a decade, will examine the prevalence of abuse, funding sources, regulations, and barriers to community-based alternatives for youth. It will identify risk assessment tools, recommend improved oversight and training for staff, and provide best practices for care including reducing the use of seclusion and restraints. The bill directly affects youth in residential programs, child welfare systems, and the agencies that oversee them, with recommendations aimed at improving safety and care. The study will involve consultation with child advocates, health professionals, individuals with lived experience, and government agencies to ensure comprehensive recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill denies tax deductions for food companies that market unhealthy foods primarily to children under 14. It targets advertising across TV, digital media, schools, and product packaging for foods high in sugar, sodium, or unhealthy fats - specifically excluding marketing where less than 25% of the audience is children. Revenue generated from this tax change would fund the federal school fruit and vegetable program, with annual transfers equal to the prior year's tax revenue increase. The bill aims to reduce childhood obesity by curbing marketing of poor-nutrition foods to children, based on findings that such marketing disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic youth.