Sen. Ron Wyden

Maddy summaryThe Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2023 prohibits states from restricting or penalizing individuals for traveling to another state to access legal reproductive health care, including abortion services. It also bans discrimination against those who assist with such travel or provide the care, and overrides conflicting state laws that interfere with these rights. The bill allows individuals, healthcare providers, and the federal government to sue to enforce these protections in court, with remedies including injunctions and attorney fees. It directly affects patients seeking care across state lines, healthcare providers, and organizations facilitating such travel.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals legal protections that previously shielded gun manufacturers from civil lawsuits related to gun violence. It allows gun violence victims to use firearm trace data from the ATF's database as evidence in civil court cases (including state, federal, and administrative proceedings). The key change makes gun trace information admissible and subject to discovery, meaning victims' legal teams can subpoena this data to prove how guns were obtained. This directly affects victims pursuing civil claims against gun manufacturers or dealers.

Maddy summaryS 2023, the *Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act*, establishes a $75 million annual funding set-aside to support the development of publicly available plant and animal varieties through federally funded breeding programs. It directly affects public research institutions (like land-grant universities), breeders developing non-proprietary varieties, and farmers who use these public cultivars or animal breeds. Key mechanisms include requiring that any public cultivar or animal breed developed with federal funds must be produced substantially in the U.S., prioritizing projects for climate resilience and Indigenous food systems, and creating a USDA coordinator to oversee research coordination and public reporting. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress tracking funded projects, commercialized varieties, and research gaps.

Maddy summaryThe Economic Inclusion Civil Rights Act of 2023 amends federal law to expand protections against racial discrimination in economic activities. It prohibits both intentional discrimination and policies with disparate impact, requiring businesses to justify practices that disadvantage non-White individuals. The bill defines "economic activity" broadly to include online and in-person transactions, hiring, contracting, and access to financial services. It lowers the burden of proof for plaintiffs by allowing claims based on race being a "motivating factor," not solely the cause, and ensures the right to jury trials for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to increase funding for incentives that help SNAP recipients buy fruits and vegetables. It raises annual funding from $100 million to $500 million for fiscal year 2024, then increases to $750 million for 2026-2027, and $1 billion annually starting in 2028. The program directly affects SNAP participants by providing them with extra benefits - such as doubling their purchase value - for buying fresh produce at grocery stores or farmers' markets. The key change is the significant, multi-year funding boost to expand access to healthy food for low-income households using SNAP.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires small business lenders to provide clear, standardized disclosures about loan terms, similar to consumer loan rules. It mandates that providers disclose the annual percentage rate (APR), payment amounts, term, finance charge breakdown, and prepayment costs for loans under $2.5 million to small businesses. Key provisions include standardized APR calculations for sales-based financing and factoring, prohibitions on "double-dipping" fees when refinancing, and requirements for transparent collateral terms. The law applies to all small business financing (including lines of credit and equipment loans) but excludes personal loans. It takes effect 36 months after enactment, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau required to issue final rules within two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for child care programs by appropriating $10 billion annually for child care entitlements to states, with annual increases based on inflation, and adds $5 billion annually for specific grants to improve child care workforce, supply, quality, and access in areas of particular need. It directs specific allocations for tribal communities (5%), territories (4%), and technical assistance, while requiring states to submit plans for how they'll use funds to address child care shortages in underserved areas, particularly focusing on low-income families, children with disabilities, dual language learners, and rural communities. The bill includes reporting requirements for states to track how funds are used and their impact on child care supply, quality, and access, with specific emphasis on improving workforce recruitment, retention, and facility quality. It is designed to increase access to high-quality child care services for families who need them most, with funds available starting October 1, 2023.

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 summaryThis bill creates new controls on the export of sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens and individuals in the U.S. to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting it for national security threats. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to identify categories of personal data that could harm national security if transferred abroad, and to establish thresholds (ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000 covered individuals) for when data exports require licensing. Companies would need licenses to transfer data to "restricted countries" above these thresholds, with exceptions for encrypted data, journalism, personal data of the individual themselves, and data transfers necessary for services. The bill also establishes a process for determining which countries are considered "restricted" based on their data protection laws and potential for exploitation by foreign governments.

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.