Sen. Jeff Merkley

Maddy summaryThe End Solitary Confinement Act (S 3409) would prohibit solitary confinement in Federal correctional facilities, requiring all incarcerated people to have at least 14 hours daily of out-of-cell congregate interaction including programming, recreation, and social activities. The bill establishes strict limits on confinement (no more than 4 hours total in a 24-hour period for emergencies), creates a community monitoring body to oversee compliance, and provides incentives for states to adopt similar standards by tying federal funding to compliance. It also includes due process protections for people placed in restrictive housing, requiring neutral hearings with legal representation and medical assessments. The bill directly affects all people incarcerated in Federal facilities and would impact state and local facilities receiving Federal funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act of 2023 establishes a new Office of Drug Manufacturing within the Department of Health and Human Services to increase competition and lower prices for specific prescription drugs. The Office will manufacture or contract for drugs with expired patents or market shortages - including insulin, asthma/COPD inhalers, naloxone, epinephrine auto-injectors, and antibiotics - and sell them at "fair prices" based on cost, patient access, and public health impact. It requires the Office to produce at least 15 drugs within one year and 25 within three years, prioritizing those addressing health disparities, public health emergencies, or high-cost shortages. The Office must publicly report on drug manufacturing status, pricing, and impacts on competition and patient access to Congress annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a 50% tax on new single-family home acquisitions by large investment firms (defined as hedge funds or entities managing $50 million+ in assets). It also levies an annual tax of $50,000 per excess property held beyond legally allowed limits - starting at zero for hedge funds and gradually increasing for other investors over time. Revenue from these taxes funds a new down payment assistance program, prioritizing first-time homebuyers purchasing properties previously owned by these firms. The law directly affects major real estate investment entities, not individual homeowners or small landlords.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 464) expresses the U.S. Senate's support for Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence against transgender people in the U.S. and memorializing those who died in acts of violence between October 2022 and September 2023. It specifically highlights the disproportionate impact on transgender women of color and references 33 documented fatalities in 2023. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the crisis and honors victims, aligning with the annual observance established to remember transgender lives lost to violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires commercial fishing vessel operators and crew to receive safety training addressing behavioral and physical health risks, including substance use disorder and fatigue. It increases annual funding for these programs from $3 million to $6 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The bill also allows the Department of Transportation to transfer funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the training grant programs. These changes directly affect commercial fishing crews and vessel operators by mandating new wellness-focused safety training and providing dedicated funding for implementation.

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 Billionaires Income Tax Act requires individuals with annual income over $100 million or assets over $1 billion to pay taxes annually on their wealth gains, rather than deferring taxes through strategies like "buy, borrow, die." It eliminates tax deferral by implementing mark-to-market taxation, requiring billionaires to pay tax on asset appreciation each year as if they had sold the assets. The bill closes loopholes that allow the ultra-wealthy to transfer assets tax-free to heirs, requiring heirs to pay tax on gains when they sell assets. This means billionaires would pay taxes on their income as it's earned, just like working people pay taxes on wages.

Maddy summaryThe Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2023 directs the U.S. Department of Education to provide guidance to colleges and universities on removing criminal and juvenile justice history questions from admissions applications. It recommends institutions evaluate whether such questions are necessary, and if kept, requires specific safeguards like delaying inquiries until after admission decisions and training staff on handling this information fairly. The bill also mandates training for admissions, financial aid, and campus employment staff on supporting students with justice system involvement, and establishes a resource center for best practices. This policy directly affects higher education institutions and applicants with criminal or juvenile records, aiming to reduce barriers to college access. The guidance focuses on concrete changes to application processes, not on altering enrollment outcomes or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2219 (PUMP Technical Correction Act), makes a minor technical correction to existing law regarding breastfeeding accommodations for congressional employees. It updates references in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to correctly include specific sections related to breastfeeding coverage (sections 12(c), 18D, and 218d). The change does not alter the coverage itself or the rights of employees; it only fixes an outdated reference in the legal text. This technical correction directly affects congressional employees who rely on the existing breastfeeding accommodation provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from using facial recognition technology or facial matching software at airports without new congressional authorization. It requires the TSA to dispose of all existing facial biometric data (images and videos) within 90 days of the law's enactment. The bill modifies existing aviation security laws to explicitly exclude facial recognition technology from provisions covering biometric systems and security technologies. These changes directly affect TSA operations and travelers passing through airports, as the law restricts how passenger biometric data can be collected and used.