Maddy summaryThis bill would significantly strengthen pesticide regulations by requiring the EPA to immediately suspend registration of pesticides that may cause cancer, neurological harm, or other serious risks if they aren't reviewed within specified timeframes. It would ban the use of organophosphate pesticides, neonicotinoids, and paraquat, which have been linked to health problems in children and environmental harm to pollinators. The bill also mandates full disclosure of all ingredients on pesticide labels, including inert chemicals that can be toxic, and creates a mandatory reporting system for farmworker pesticide exposure incidents with penalties for non-compliance. These changes would directly affect pesticide manufacturers, farmers, and farmworkers, while aiming to protect children, communities, and the environment from harmful pesticide exposure.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Caring for All Families Act expands family medical leave protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include more relatives and domestic partners. It adds new provisions allowing employees to take leave for school activities related to their children or grandchildren, routine medical appointments for family members (including domestic partners and elderly individuals with family-like relationships), and care for elderly individuals who are not biologically related but have a close family-like bond. Employees may take up to 4 hours per 30 days or 24 hours per year for these purposes, in addition to existing leave entitlements. This bill applies to both private sector employees covered by the FMLA and federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The changes clarify that "family" includes domestic partners, extended family members like grandparents and siblings, and individuals with a significant personal bond that functions like a family relationship.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to create a new eligibility standard for education support professionals (ESP) in public schools, such as paraeducators, secretaries, custodians, and food service workers. It allows these employees to qualify for leave if they’ve worked at least 60% of their expected monthly hours from the previous school year, rather than requiring full-time hours. Employers must maintain records of each employee’s expected monthly hours for review by the Secretary. The change directly affects school support staff in public K-12 schools and institutions of higher education funded by state taxpayers.
Maddy summaryThe Farm System Reform Act of 2023 directly impacts large factory farms (concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs) and meat packers. It prohibits new large CAFOs from operating after enactment and requires existing large CAFOs to cease operations by January 1, 2041, while establishing a voluntary debt forgiveness and transition assistance program to help CAFO owners shift to alternative farming practices. The bill also amends the Packers and Stockyards Act to require meat packers to purchase at least 50% of livestock through spot market sales from nonaffiliated producers and to prohibit certain unfair contract practices. Additionally, it restores mandatory country of origin labeling for beef and pork and extends this requirement to dairy products, with new labeling rules requiring meat products labeled "Product of U.S.A." to be exclusively derived from animals born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States.
Maddy summaryS 237, the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act of 2023, modifies federal safety requirements for mifepristone (used in medication abortions) to expand access. The bill requires the FDA to remove in-person dispensing rules, allow telehealth prescriptions, and permit certified pharmacies to mail the drug directly to patients. It directly affects patients seeking medication abortion and healthcare providers/pharmacies dispensing mifepristone. The law mandates these changes for mifepristone’s risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), while preserving FDA authority to adjust safety measures based on scientific evidence.
Maddy summaryS 222, the Border Airport Fairness Act of 2023, designates specific airports near the U.S. northern and southern borders as official ports of entry. It directly affects primary airports located within 30 miles of the international land border that are formally linked to a border crossing or seaport meeting U.S. Customs criteria. The bill requires the President to formally designate these airports as ports of entry and eliminates user fees for them under the 1984 Trade and Tariff Act. This policy change removes a financial barrier for travelers and airlines using these border-area airports.
Maddy summaryThe Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act of 2023 requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to create electronic, searchable databases for firearm records within three years. This affects ATF, licensed gun dealers (who must provide electronic access to their required records), and law enforcement agencies using the system. Key provisions include making databases searchable by firearm details (like serial number and model) but not by personal identifiers, restricting database access to law enforcement investigations or foreign intelligence purposes, and allowing dealers to turn over paper records after 10 years. The law overrides funding restrictions to ensure implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It lowers the required employment duration from 12 months to 90 days for most workers to qualify for leave, and extends this 90-day rule to federal, presidential, and congressional employees. The bill also reduces the employer size threshold from 50+ employees to just 1+ employee, requiring nearly all employers to provide FMLA leave. These changes directly affect workers seeking leave and small businesses previously exempt from FMLA requirements. The provisions apply to leave taken on or after the bill's enactment date.
Maddy summaryThe JOBS Act of 2023 expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs that provide 150-600 clock hours (8-15 weeks) of instruction aligned with in-demand local industries. It directly affects students enrolled in eligible career-focused programs at institutions of higher education, requiring programs to offer industry-recognized credentials and meet validation standards from employers or sector partnerships. Key provisions include mandatory industry validation of program quality, institutional credit articulation for noncredit programs, and lowering the minimum Pell Grant percentage from 10% to 5% for qualifying students. The bill ensures these programs count toward students’ total Pell Grant eligibility period while maintaining standard Pell Grant terms and conditions.
Maddy summaryS 173, "Ethan's Law," requires firearm owners to store guns securely in homes where minors (under 18) or individuals ineligible to own firearms might access them. It amends federal law to make non-compliant storage an offense punishable by a $500 fine per violation, with enhanced penalties (up to 5 years in prison) if injury or death results. The bill creates a federal grant program to support states with laws matching its secure storage requirements, offering funding incentives for states that enact similar measures. It directly affects homeowners with firearms in households containing minors or prohibited persons, aiming to reduce accidental child access and firearm-related injuries.