Sen. Jeff Merkley

Maddy summaryThis bill requires group health plans (like employer-sponsored insurance) to provide equal cost-sharing (such as copays and deductibles) for oral anticancer medications as for intravenous or injected versions, provided a doctor deems the oral drug medically necessary. It prohibits plans from changing coverage to increase out-of-pocket costs for oral drugs or impose stricter limits on them compared to IV drugs. The requirement applies to FDA-approved anticancer drugs used to treat cancer, with plans still allowed to use prior authorization. The law takes effect for 2024 plan years.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing services to be provided from home and other locations, and expanding who can offer telehealth services. The bill repeals the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health and allows telehealth use in hospice care recertification. It also includes program integrity measures to address inappropriate billing patterns and requires posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology vendors by making telehealth more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved populations, those with mobility challenges, and individuals in areas with healthcare workforce shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the Thirteenth Amendment's exception that permits slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishment. It would directly affect all individuals within the U.S. criminal justice system by banning any form of forced labor for crimes, addressing a historical loophole that enabled mass incarceration of Black Americans post-Civil War. Key provisions explicitly state: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as a punishment for a crime," while clarifying it does not interfere with voluntary prison work programs, community service alternatives, or existing employment protections for incarcerated people. The amendment aims to align U.S. law with constitutional principles by eliminating this exception without altering current sentencing options.

Maddy summaryThe Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (S 1995) provides federal grants to strengthen public health systems across the U.S. It directly affects state, territorial, and local health departments serving 500,000+ people, plus tribal health departments. Key mechanisms include: 50% of funds for formula-based grants to all states/territories (prioritizing population, disease burden, and poverty), 30% for competitive grants targeting departments with highest infrastructure needs, and a requirement for grantees to achieve accreditation by 2027. The bill allocates increasing annual funding - $750 million in 2024 rising to $4.5 billion annually by 2028 - with 3% reserved specifically for tribal health departments. It defines "core public health infrastructure" to include surveillance, emergency response, equity-focused services, and workforce capacity.

Maddy summaryThe Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2023 expands tax benefits for low-to-moderate income workers and families with children. It lowers the minimum age for the Earned Income Credit from 25 to 19 (with exceptions for students, former foster youth, and homeless youth), removes the age 65 maximum, and increases credit amounts and income thresholds. The bill also establishes a permanent system for monthly advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, with higher payments ($300 monthly) for children under age 6 compared to $250 for older children. It includes inflation adjustments to maintain the value of these credits over time and creates mechanisms for determining eligibility and recapturing payments in certain circumstances. The provisions apply to all states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

Maddy summaryThe Right to Contraception Act (S 1999) establishes a federal statutory right for individuals to access contraceptives and related information without government interference, directly affecting all people seeking reproductive care and health care providers who offer these services. Key provisions prohibit state or federal laws that restrict contraceptive access, single out contraceptive services, or allow provider refusals based on personal beliefs, while requiring any restrictions to be narrowly tailored to advance access. The bill preempts conflicting state laws, allows enforcement through lawsuits by affected individuals or the Attorney General, and explicitly protects access for historically marginalized groups facing barriers. It does not alter existing insurance coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act but ensures contraceptive access remains protected from restrictive state policies.

Maddy summaryThe College for All Act of 2023 would establish a federal-state partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students at public community colleges and 4-year institutions. It would cover students from families earning under $125,000 (single) or $250,000 (married) annually, with the federal share of costs decreasing from 100% to 80% over five years. The bill also includes separate provisions to eliminate tuition at historically Black colleges and minority-serving institutions through dedicated grant programs, while requiring states to maintain higher education funding levels and improve student support services.

Maddy summaryS 305 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins (gold, silver, and half-dollar denominations) to mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($5 to $35 per coin) that will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with proceeds paid directly to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The coins will be sold from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and the surcharge structure ensures no net cost to taxpayers by covering production expenses through sales. This bill directly affects the U.S. Mint (in coin production), the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (as recipient of funds), and the public (as potential buyers).

Maddy summaryThe TEST Act addresses the backlog in evaluating fentanyl-related substances under the Controlled Substances Act. It requires the Attorney General to complete scheduling evaluations for identified fentanyl substances within 1 year for those identified before enactment and 3 years for newly identified substances. The bill creates a temporary 3-year scheduling mechanism for new fentanyl substances while establishing procedures to potentially remove substances from Schedule I if they're determined to have less abuse potential. It also streamlines research registration processes for scientists studying fentanyl-related substances to accelerate development of life-saving treatments. The legislation authorizes $50 million for these evaluations in fiscal years 2023-2024 and mandates public posting of evaluation results.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to exclude certain payments received by property owners from state-run disaster mitigation programs from taxable income. It directly affects homeowners who receive funds from state or state-regulated programs to make property improvements (like reinforcing roofs or fire-resistant landscaping) specifically designed to reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. The key provision creates a new tax exclusion for "qualified catastrophe mitigation payments" made for these sole purposes, meaning such payments won't be counted as income. The change applies to taxable years beginning after 2020, with an option for retroactive tax filings to claim the exclusion.