Maddy summaryThe Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2023 provides fertility treatment and counseling services to active duty military members and veterans with infertility conditions, along with adoption assistance for veterans. It requires the Department of Defense to establish fertility preservation procedures before deployment or hazardous assignments, including cryopreservation and storage of reproductive genetic material at no cost to service members. The bill ensures these services are provided without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status, with specific limits on in vitro fertilization (three completed oocyte retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers per medical guidelines). It creates coordination between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure seamless transitions of care and adds adoption assistance with a limit of three covered adoptions. The legislation specifically covers veterans with service-connected disabilities affecting reproductive health, such as spinal cord injuries, military sexual trauma, or certain mental health conditions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2807, the Help Our Kelp Act, creates a federal grant program to fund projects conserving, restoring, and managing kelp forest ecosystems. It directly affects eligible entities like fishing industry groups, Indian Tribes, universities, nonprofits, and local governments, which can apply for grants totaling $5 million annually (2024-2028), with at least $750,000 reserved for tribal projects. Key provisions require applicants to address significant kelp declines, prioritize ecosystem resilience and Indigenous knowledge integration, and provide a 15% non-Federal cost share (with limited waivers). The program mandates science-based project evaluation and focuses on concrete actions like restoring natural food chains through urchin removal and monitoring kelp health.
Maddy summaryS 2776, the Disarm Hate Act, prohibits firearm sales, possession, shipment, or transport for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime or receiving an enhanced sentence for such a crime. It directly affects people convicted under state, federal, or tribal law of a misdemeanor involving bias motivation (based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability) and physical threat or force. The bill amends federal gun laws (18 U.S.C. §§922(d) and 922(g)) to add this restriction, while excluding cases where convictions were expunged, pardoned, or where legal rights were waived improperly. This is a concrete policy change affecting firearm access for a specific category of offenders, not a broader hate crime prevention measure.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides $16 billion in federal funding over five years (2024-2028) to stabilize the child care sector. It directly affects child care providers by offering grants to offset operating costs, support higher wages for early childhood educators without increasing fees for families, and expand access to high-quality care. Key provisions include funding for providers in underserved areas (like rural communities, infant/toddler care, and inclusive services for children with disabilities) and a requirement that 99% of funds go directly to providers. The funds are administered through the existing framework of the American Rescue Plan Act's child care program.
Maddy summaryThe SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act raises the asset limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility, allowing more savings without reducing benefits. It increases the individual resource limit from $2,250 to $20,000 (and couples from $1,500 to $10,000) in 2023, with future increases tied to inflation. The bill automatically adjusts these limits annually using the Consumer Price Index to maintain purchasing power. This directly affects low-income elderly, disabled, and blind individuals who rely on SSI by reducing the financial penalty for saving modest amounts.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires car manufacturers to include AM radio receivers as standard equipment in all new vehicles sold in the U.S., without additional cost to buyers. It mandates that AM radio controls be clearly visible on the dashboard for drivers. For vehicles sold before the rule takes effect, manufacturers must label them to disclose the absence of AM radio. The bill aims to maintain access to AM radio broadcasts, which are used for emergency alerts, but does not mandate new emergency systems.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $30 billion in federal funding for hazardous fuels reduction projects on federal lands adjacent to at-risk communities and high-value watersheds, aiming to reduce wildfire risks by removing flammable vegetation through methods like prescribed fire and thinning. It also establishes a County Stewardship Fund, directing 25% of receipts from federal wildfire management contracts to counties for local use, and reauthorizes forest restoration programs with updated provisions for collaborative landscape projects. The funding prioritizes areas with very high wildfire hazard potential or within fire regimes classified under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. These changes directly affect communities in wildfire-prone regions and local governments managing federal land contracts.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a national framework for peer support specialists - individuals with lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery who provide support to others. It requires the federal government to add "peer support specialist" to the standard job classification system by 2025 and creates a new Office of Recovery within SAMHSA to lead workforce development, share best practices, and support career pathways for these specialists. The bill also mandates a federal report analyzing state criminal background check policies for peer specialists, aiming to reduce barriers to certification while reviewing evidence on their effectiveness. These changes directly affect individuals seeking recovery support, their families, and the growing peer support workforce across states.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires National Park Service units to eliminate the sale of disposable plastic water bottles and other single-use plastics (like food containers and bags) within 180 days of enactment, after regional directors assess factors like waste reduction, costs, visitor safety, and concessioner impacts. It mandates visitor education about water refill stations, consistent implementation across parks, and biennial evaluations tracking visitor satisfaction, waste collection rates, and safety outcomes. The policy directly affects park operations, concessionaires (park vendors), and visitors who rely on park-provided water products.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Supreme Court to establish a code of conduct for justices within 180 days of enactment, with public access to these rules on the Court's website. It sets minimum disclosure standards for gifts, income, and reimbursements received by justices and their law clerks, and strengthens recusal requirements when justices have financial ties to parties in cases. The bill creates procedures for filing complaints about justices' conduct and establishes a judicial investigation panel to review such complaints, while also requiring parties and amicus curiae to disclose gifts to justices and lobbying activities related to the nomination of justices. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in Supreme Court operations.