Maddy summaryThe Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2023 strengthens enforcement against energy market violations by giving federal regulators new authority to prohibit companies from trading electricity or natural gas. It directly affects energy companies that violate rules on price reporting or market practices, such as submitting false data about natural gas prices or engaging in prohibited transactions. Key provisions allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to block violators from buying, selling, or trading electricity, natural gas, or related services - temporarily or permanently - after violations of specific sections (e.g., sections 221/222 for electricity, sections 4A/4B for natural gas). The bill focuses on preventing market manipulation by imposing direct consequences for false reporting or prohibited conduct, without changing consumer protections or pricing structures.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySRES 188 is a symbolic Senate resolution celebrating the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding on May 14, 2023. It formally recognizes Israel's establishment, reaffirms the U.S.-Israel partnership, and highlights shared democratic values, security cooperation, and diplomatic achievements like the Abraham Accords. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on individuals or legislation - it serves solely as a ceremonial expression of support. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and passed without implementing new laws or funding.
Maddy summarySJRES 4 is a joint resolution that removes the 1972 deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was originally proposed in House Joint Resolution 208. It declares that the ERA is valid as part of the U.S. Constitution if ratified by three-fourths of states (38), regardless of the expired deadline. The resolution directly affects the ERA ratification process, making it possible for states to complete ratification without time constraints. As of 2023, 38 states had already ratified the ERA, and this resolution would finalize its inclusion in the Constitution if enacted.
Maddy summaryThe Child Care for Working Families Act establishes a new federal program to provide affordable, high-quality child care for working families with children under age 6. It requires states to implement a sliding fee scale (with no copayment for families earning up to 85% of state median income) and develop a tiered quality system for child care providers, with payment rates that support staff wages comparable to elementary educators. The bill prioritizes access for underserved populations including children with disabilities, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, and children from low-income families, while requiring states to improve child care quality and supply through dedicated funding streams. States must submit detailed plans demonstrating how they will meet these requirements to receive federal funding, which will be provided through a combination of direct child care assistance and quality improvement activities.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, or increasing premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance solely because someone is a living organ donor, without considering actual health risks. It also updates the Family and Medical Leave Act to include recovery from organ donation surgery as a qualifying condition for leave for private-sector employees and federal workers. Additionally, the bill requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about living organ donation within six months, covering benefits, risks, and the new insurance protections. These changes directly affect living organ donors, insurers, and employers who must comply with the updated leave and insurance rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1378, the COMPLETE Care Act) increases Medicare payments for primary care providers who integrate behavioral health services (like mental health and substance use treatment) into routine care. It provides higher reimbursement rates (175% in 2025, decreasing to 125% in 2027) for specific services using defined billing codes, and waives budget rules to allow these increased payments. It also requires participating providers to report on how well they integrate behavioral health services and establishes funding for technical assistance to help practices adopt these models. The bill directly affects Medicare-participating primary care providers and aims to improve access to combined physical and mental health care for beneficiaries.
Maddy summaryThe Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (S 1376) would prohibit businesses from requiring customers, employees, or small businesses to agree to private arbitration for future employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights disputes. It also bans agreements that prevent people from joining class or collective lawsuits in these areas. The bill makes such forced arbitration clauses unenforceable and ensures courts - not arbitrators - decide if the law applies. This directly affects individuals and small businesses in disputes involving workplace discrimination, product issues, unfair competition, or civil rights violations, allowing them to seek justice collectively in court.
Electronic Communication Uniformity Act This bill applies the mailbox rule to documents and payments electronically submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Specifically, it provides that such documents and payments shall be deemed filed or made on the date on which they are sent electronically, regardless of the date on which the IRS actually receives or reviews them.
Maddy summaryThe Election Worker Protection Act of 2023 provides federal grants to states for recruiting and training election workers (including poll workers and election volunteers) with specific requirements for cultural competence and diversity in recruitment efforts. It also funds physical security services and social media threat monitoring for election workers to protect them from threats. The bill establishes new criminal penalties for intimidating, threatening, or harassing election workers while they perform their duties, and creates a grant program to help protect election workers' personally identifiable information from public disclosure. These provisions apply to workers involved in federal elections and require states to submit reports on how the funds are used.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits states from restricting or interfering with lawful reproductive health care services (including abortion, contraception, and related care) provided by health care providers like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in states where such services are legal. It creates federal enforcement mechanisms, allowing the Attorney General, providers, or affected individuals to sue states or officials enforcing violating laws and seek court orders to stop such restrictions. The bill also blocks federal funding for states pursuing legal actions against providers offering lawful reproductive care and allocates $40 million for legal defense grants to providers and $40 million for security grants to protect facilities and patients. It explicitly prevents health insurance companies from denying coverage or suing providers solely for offering lawful reproductive services.