Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Banking Act provides legal protections for banks and financial institutions that serve state-legal marijuana businesses and related service providers. It creates a "safe harbor" preventing federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for offering services to these businesses, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The bill also allows income from state-legal marijuana businesses to be considered "legal income" for mortgage qualification purposes and establishes guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. Similar protections are extended to hemp-related businesses and service providers, without requiring banks to serve these businesses.

Maddy summaryThe GOSAFE Act prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition magazines (holding more than 10 rounds) in interstate or foreign commerce, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, pre-enactment owners, and certain firearms like single-shot weapons. It requires the Attorney General to publish a list of prohibited firearms within 180 days and establishes a process for manufacturers to seek approval for new firearm designs before selling them to civilians. The bill also authorizes buy-back programs using Byrne grants to compensate individuals who surrender prohibited firearms and magazines, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 or up to 12 months in prison for violations.

Maddy summaryThe Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2023 authorizes $500 million to $1 billion annually to expand community schools that provide comprehensive student and family support. The bill targets schools with at least 40% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch or schools identified for improvement, requiring them to establish leadership teams with parent, educator, and community representation. It mandates schools receiving funds to provide integrated student supports (including health services), expanded learning opportunities, family engagement activities, and collaborative leadership structures that address academic, social, and emotional needs. The legislation requires schools to track progress on student outcomes including academic achievement, mental health, school climate, and family engagement, with a focus on reducing achievement gaps for historically marginalized students.

Maddy summaryS 3356, the Postal Police Reform Act of 2023, clarifies the duties of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) police officers. It specifies that these officers protect mail, USPS-owned or controlled property, people on that property, and USPS employees on duty anywhere in the U.S. The bill revises existing law to explicitly state that officers may act beyond USPS property when necessary to fulfill these protective duties. It also corrects a minor typo in the legal reference. This bill directly affects USPS police officers by defining their scope of responsibility more precisely.

Maddy summaryThe FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023 extends FISA surveillance authorities through 2035 while adding significant new protections for U.S. persons. It requires the FBI to implement stricter procedures for queries of communications, including mandatory training, approval processes for certain queries, and detailed annual reporting on surveillance activities. The bill also mandates accuracy certifications for FISA applications, enhances congressional oversight, and establishes a new FISA Reform Commission to review the surveillance system. These changes aim to balance national security needs with privacy protections for U.S. citizens.

Maddy summaryThe Restore Honor to Service Members Act of 2023 establishes a Department of Defense "Tiger Team" to help former service members with certain discharge characterizations (discharged under pre-2011 policies like "former section 654") seek review of their military records. The team will collaborate with veterans' groups, the VA, and other stakeholders to identify eligible veterans, contact them about the review process, and simplify the request by removing documentation requirements. It mandates regular reports to Congress on outreach efforts, the number of veterans contacted, and outcomes, including how many received honorable discharge upgrades. The bill also clarifies that veterans' benefits from the change in discharge status apply from the effective date of the review, not retroactively.

Maddy summaryThe PROKID Act establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsperson within the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor and advocate for immigrant children in government custody. The Ombudsperson will conduct regular facility visits (at least monthly for influx/unlicensed facilities), investigate complaints of abuse or mistreatment, and review data on children's custody conditions. The bill requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement to collect and publicly share detailed data about immigrant children in custody, including length of stay, facility conditions, and demographic information. It also mandates a coordination agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure unobstructed access for oversight activities and compliance with standards like the Flores settlement agreement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3324) increases penalties for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1993. It adds criminal penalties for intentional telemarketing violations, including up to 1 year in prison for basic offenses and up to 3 years for aggravated cases (like making over 10 million calls yearly, causing $5,000+ in losses, or targeting felonies). It also raises civil penalties for false caller ID information from $10,000 to $20,000 per violation. The bill directly affects telemarketers, robocallers, and businesses making unsolicited calls, strengthening enforcement against abusive calling practices.

Maddy summarySRES 462 is a non-binding Senate resolution passed on November 14, 2023, expressing support for U.S. efforts to deter Iran and its proxies (like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the IRGC) from escalating violence in the Middle East following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It urges the President to maintain military deterrence, recognizes Israel's right to self-defense, encourages the safe release of Hamas-held hostages, and supports diplomatic talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize relations. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses existing U.S. actions, including military positioning and strikes against Iran-linked groups. It directly addresses U.S. foreign policy toward Iran and its proxies, emphasizing regional security concerns.

Maddy summaryThe Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2023 increases federal reimbursements for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It adds a fixed 10-cent payment per meal or snack served, adjusted annually, to existing reimbursement rates for all CACFP providers, including child care centers and family day care homes. This change applies to all meals and supplements served under the program and takes effect in the first month after the bill is enacted. The amendment modifies multiple sections of the National School Lunch Act to incorporate this additional reimbursement into payment calculations.