Sen. Cory A. Booker

Maddy summaryThe Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act prohibits Amtrak from requiring customers to use private arbitration or waive class action rights for consumer and civil rights disputes. It invalidates pre-dispute agreements forcing arbitration or blocking collective claims related to Amtrak services (like personal injuries) or discrimination (e.g., based on race, gender, or disability). Courts, not arbitrators, will decide if a dispute falls under this law, ensuring customers can pursue claims in court. The bill applies to all claims arising after its effective date, directly affecting Amtrak and all its customers who use passenger services.

Maddy summaryThe Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2024 creates a federal grant program to establish treatment centers using a "hub-and-spoke" model, directly benefiting people with sickle cell disease and related blood disorders. These centers will coordinate comprehensive care - such as pain management, genetic counseling, mental health services, and pediatric-to-adult health transitions - through partnerships between medical hubs (like hospitals or clinics), community spokes (e.g., health centers or primary care providers), and community-based organizations. The program requires grantees to address social determinants of health (like housing and transportation access), collect patient outcome data, and prioritize underserved communities with high sickle cell disease prevalence, including rural areas and historically Black colleges. A National Sickle Cell Disease Coordinating Center will oversee implementation and report to Congress every five years on the program’s impact on patient health outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides federal grants to public school districts (covered local educational agencies) to reimburse legal costs - such as attorneys' fees and court expenses - when they defend the continued use of instructional materials or library resources after facing parent objections. It specifically covers costs incurred during appeals processes where a school district decides *not* to remove a book or resource, and the costs are not covered by the state or another party. Grants are capped at $100,000 per case, with $15 million authorized for fiscal years 2025-2029. The bill aims to support school districts in resisting challenges to materials without requiring the Secretary to consider the content of the challenged materials.

Maddy summaryThe SIGHT Act establishes a Chief Innovation Officer within USAID's Bureau for Global Health to coordinate research and development of health technologies designed for low-resource settings, such as diagnostics, treatments, and tools for diseases like malaria or HIV in low- and middle-income countries. It creates a Global Health Research and Development Advisory Council to advise USAID on priorities and requires a dedicated budget line for these activities. The bill authorizes a new grant program for NGOs to develop, test, and scale health technologies in partner countries, with annual reporting requirements to Congress on funding and outcomes. These changes aim to improve USAID's global health programs by increasing collaboration, focusing on community needs, and ensuring investments complement existing efforts without displacing current funding.

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 summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 845) symbolically recognizes September 23-29, 2024, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week" to honor institutions serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students. It does not create new laws or funding but encourages higher education institutions to seek support for programs addressing the needs of these student communities. The resolution highlights that these institutions enroll 46% of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduates despite representing only 6.9% of U.S. colleges. It urges the public and organizations to observe the week with activities supporting these institutions' educational missions.

Maddy summarySRES 846 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Americas being certified free of wild poliovirus by the World Health Organization on September 29, 1994. It honors the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary International, and the Pan American Health Organization for their role in eliminating polio from the region. The resolution encourages continued international funding and commitment to eradicating polio globally, noting that only Afghanistan and Pakistan currently face wild poliovirus transmission. This is a non-binding commemorative measure with no new policy or funding requirements.

Maddy summarySRES 848 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating September 23-27, 2024, as "National Hazing Awareness Week." It does not create new laws or requirements but formally recognizes the issue of hazing in college settings. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about hazing, which directly affects college students participating in campus organizations, as highlighted by statistics showing 55% of students in extracurricular activities reported experiencing hazing. The bill encourages nationwide observance through education and prevention efforts, emphasizing that awareness should extend beyond a single week.

Maddy summarySRES 851 is a Senate resolution designating November 2, 2024, as National Bison Day. It encourages the American public to observe the day with ceremonies and activities to recognize bison's cultural, historical, and economic significance. The resolution highlights bison's role in Indigenous traditions, conservation efforts, and U.S. heritage, as detailed in its preamble. It does not create legal obligations but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of bison's importance.

Maddy summaryS 5162, the Satisfactory Academic Progress Reset and Reform Act, would allow students who lost Federal student aid due to failing to meet academic progress requirements to regain eligibility after being away from college for 2 years. It requires colleges to establish reasonable SAP policies with clear communication, including financial aid warnings before students risk losing aid. The bill mandates that institutions detail SAP requirements to students before classes begin and maintain a system of academic probation for students at risk of losing aid. Students who reenroll after a 2-year absence would have previous SAP failures reset, though they can only use this reset twice. The bill also includes reporting requirements for the Department of Education to track outcomes for students who regain eligibility through this process.