Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Maddy summaryS 2798, the Equal Employment for All Act of 2025, prohibits most employers from using credit reports for hiring decisions or employment-related adverse actions. The bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to ban employers from accessing or using credit history information (like credit scores or debt records) when making job offers, promotions, or other employment decisions, except for roles requiring national security clearances or when legally required. It also states that even if a job applicant consents to a credit check, employers cannot use it for hiring purposes. This directly affects most employers across all industries and job seekers who would otherwise face employment barriers due to credit history.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans forced arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, antitrust, and civil rights disputes. It prohibits agreements that require individuals to resolve such disputes through private arbitration before any conflict arises, and also blocks waivers that prevent people from joining class or collective lawsuits. The law directly affects workers facing workplace issues, consumers with purchase disputes, and individuals alleging discrimination or civil rights violations. It ensures these cases can be handled in court rather than private arbitration, applying to disputes occurring after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryThe Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 revises how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are calculated by replacing the "thrifty food plan" with a new "low-cost food plan" based on actual food costs for a standard 4-person family. It requires annual adjustments to this plan using current food prices and establishes a $140 standard medical deduction for elderly or disabled SNAP households, adjusted yearly for inflation. The bill eliminates the cap on excess shelter expenses and removes time limits on certain SNAP eligibility rules. These changes directly affect SNAP recipients by modifying benefit amounts and administrative rules, aiming to better align assistance with current food costs and household needs.

Maddy summaryS 2784, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, is a commemorative resolution honoring civil rights pioneer Constance Baker Motley. It authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional gold medal to her son, Joel Motley III, and niece, Constance Royster, recognizing her historic role as the first African-American woman on the LDF legal team for *Brown v. Board of Education*, her service as a federal judge, and her civil rights advocacy. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, with proceeds from bronze duplicates covering costs. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it solely serves to commemorate Motley's legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exclude certain union-provided payments to workers during strikes from taxable income. Specifically, it adds a new tax code section (139M) to exempt "qualified strike benefits" - payments from tax-exempt labor organizations (like unions) that replace lost wages during strikes, lockouts, or work stoppages arising from labor disputes - from gross income calculations. The change applies to compensation received after December 31, 2025, and also updates the Earned Income Tax Credit rules to include these excluded benefits. It directly affects union members who lose wages due to labor disputes and rely on union financial support during work stoppages.

Maddy summaryS 2777, the Small Business RELIEF Act, exempts small businesses from import duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 (related to national emergencies) for goods they import. It requires the President to refund all duties paid under that order within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects small business concerns as defined by the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632), which typically covers businesses with fewer than 500 employees. This policy change removes a financial burden on qualifying small importers and provides retroactive refunds for past payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill would make several administrative changes to the Social Security Administration, including exempting it from the jurisdiction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and certain executive orders, restricting political appointees from accessing beneficiary data systems, and preventing closure of field offices while requiring maintenance of staff levels. It also creates new offices within the SSA for civil rights, transformation, and analytics, and provides additional funding for administrative costs and customer experience improvements. These provisions would directly affect how the SSA manages its operations, protects beneficiary data, and delivers services to beneficiaries. The bill's title is misleading as it does not address billionaires or their relationship with Social Security.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for family and medical leave under the FMLA for paraprofessionals and education support staff (ESP) in schools. It lowers the required work hours for eligibility from 1,250 hours per year to 60% of the expected monthly hours for their specific role (based on the previous school year’s schedule). Employers must document each employee’s expected monthly hours in a file for the Secretary’s review. The law specifically covers school staff providing services like clerical work, food services, custodial duties, or student health support, aligning with existing definitions from education law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Medicaid funding rules to help safety-net hospitals that serve many low-income patients. It changes how "disproportionate share hospital" (DSH) payments are calculated, allowing states to use unspent DSH funds from prior years to increase payments to these hospitals without exceeding new caps. States can retroactively adjust their Medicaid plans to boost payments for past years, as long as the total doesn’t exceed the annual allotment. The key change ensures hospitals serving high numbers of Medicaid patients receive more consistent federal support, directly affecting hospitals and state Medicaid programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a one-time federal grant of $5-10 million to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (operated by its designated nonprofit entity) to cover operational, security, and maintenance costs. The grant requires the museum to provide free admission to veterans, first responders, and victims' families, plus weekly free public hours, and allow annual federal financial audits. It also mandates annual reports to Congress detailing how funds were spent. The museum must use the funds solely for these specified purposes, with no new funding authorized beyond existing appropriations.