Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce within the Department of Agriculture to improve access to USDA programs for farm and food system workers. The office, led by a Coordinator, will coordinate outreach, develop language-accessible communications, and provide recommendations to improve services for workers in food production, processing, transportation, and related fields. It establishes an Advisory Committee with worker representation and an Interagency Council to coordinate across federal departments. The office will issue annual reports on worker demographics, health outcomes, and barriers to accessing USDA programs. The bill terminates the existing Farmworker Coordinator position once the new office is fully operational.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Justice Department to develop a scenario-based training curriculum for law enforcement focused on de-escalation, officer safety, community relations, and crisis intervention. It establishes a grant program to fund states and local agencies in implementing this training (or substantially similar curricula) for law enforcement personnel. The curriculum must cover topics like use-of-force decision-making, stress response, and community engagement, with mandatory consultation with police associations and community groups. Grantees must report on training access and effectiveness, and the Justice Department must submit annual reports to Congress on participation rates and program improvements. The bill uses existing DOJ funding without authorizing new appropriations.
Maddy summaryThe Farm Program Integrity Act of 2023 sets new limits on federal farm payments to ensure they primarily benefit active farmers. It caps payments at $75,000 for marketing loan gains or deficiency payments per crop year and restricts total payments for farming operations: $250,000 if multiple active managers are involved, or $125,000 if only one is actively managing the farm. The bill requires "active personal management" (meaning owners must work the farm regularly) and reduces payments for entities where owners don’t meet this standard. These rules directly affect farmers, farm partnerships, and corporations receiving federal crop subsidies under current programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2647, SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023) provides federal funding to improve stillbirth data collection, research, and education. It authorizes $5 million annually for states to collect stillbirth data using existing health records while protecting privacy, $1 million for developing standardized data collection guidelines and public educational materials, and $3 million for specialized training programs in perinatal pathology and stillbirth research. The bill directly affects state health departments, medical professionals (like obstetricians and pathologists), and families impacted by stillbirth through improved data systems and educational resources. Key provisions require standardized data reporting, consultation with affected families and healthcare providers, and mandatory reports on program progress within five years of enactment.
Maddy summaryThe Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2023 allocates $20 billion annually for fiscal years 2024-2028 to fund improvements to public school facilities nationwide. It provides grants to states, which then distribute funds to local school districts based on need, prioritizing schools serving high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. The bill requires projects to meet energy efficiency standards, address health and safety concerns (like lead in water or toxic substances), and use American-made materials when possible. It also includes specific provisions for repairing schools with foundations damaged by pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes concrete deterioration.
Maddy summaryThe GusNIP Improvement Act of 2023 amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to expand access to healthy food for low-income individuals. It creates "Scaling grants" for organizations with proven success in running nutrition incentive programs, enabling them to expand operations to more retail settings like independent grocers, farmers markets, and food hubs. These grants require projects to last four years, spend at least $3 million annually, and dedicate 75% of funds to redeemed incentives. The bill also increases annual program funding to $150 million for fiscal years 2024-2028, up from $56 million in 2023.
Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 strengthens enforcement of the existing Animal Welfare Act by requiring dealers and exhibitors to maintain valid licenses for animal sales or transport. It expands enforcement authority for both the USDA and the Attorney General to pursue civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day), seize animals in violation cases, and use penalty funds to cover temporary care costs for animals during legal proceedings. The bill also clarifies that enforcement applies to rules and regulations under the Act, and mandates a new coordination agreement between the USDA and DOJ to address repeat violators. These changes directly affect animal dealers, exhibitors, and federal enforcement agencies, improving accountability for animal welfare violations.
Maddy summarySRES 312 is a non-binding Senate resolution recognizing the role of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in enabling independent living for people with disabilities and highlighting ongoing challenges like institutional segregation and disparities in healthcare, employment, and accessibility. It calls on federal agencies - including the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing, and Transportation - to take specific actions to improve home- and community-based services, accessibility, and economic opportunities for people with disabilities. The resolution emphasizes addressing barriers identified 33 years after the ADA's passage, including pandemic impacts and racial disparities affecting disabled communities. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but urges bipartisan collaboration and agency action to advance ADA goals.
Maddy summaryThe Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2023 aims to increase employee ownership in S corporations by making it easier for companies to adopt Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Key provisions include extending tax deferral for sales of company stock to ESOPs, creating a Treasury Department office to provide technical assistance for ESOPs, and amending small business laws to ensure ESOP-owned businesses remain eligible for small business programs. The bill also establishes a dedicated Advocate for Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor to promote ESOP adoption, provide education, and help resolve disputes related to ESOPs. This legislation directly affects S corporations considering employee ownership transitions, their employees who would become partial owners, and small businesses that want to maintain eligibility for small business programs after an ESOP transition. The bill seeks to expand a model that studies show provides employees with retirement savings and greater job stability compared to traditional companies.
Maddy summaryThis bill simplifies how farmers selling directly to consumers (like at farmers markets) can join federal nutrition programs. It requires the USDA to create either a single application for all covered programs or an information-sharing system that automatically qualifies farmers approved in one program for others. The bill also mandates that farmers have access to mobile or wireless technology, such as a single app, to process benefits like SNAP or WIC vouchers. This directly affects farmers seeking to accept benefits from programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC farmers' market nutrition programs.