Maddy summaryThe Farewell to Foam Act of 2023 bans the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene food service ware (like takeout containers and cups), expanded polystyrene loose fill (packing peanuts), and expanded polystyrene coolers starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects food service providers (restaurants, grocery stores, schools), manufacturers, distributors, and retailers selling these products. Violations require written warnings for first offenses, with escalating civil penalties starting at $250 for repeat violations, though small businesses with lower annual revenue face limits on how often penalties apply. The bill excludes coolers used for medical or drug storage, focusing the ban solely on consumer food and packaging items.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3449, the Pathways to Health Careers Act, provides federal grants to help low-income individuals (earning up to 200% of the Federal poverty level) enter health care careers through training programs. The bill requires grant recipients to provide support services including child care, transportation, adult basic education, career coaching, and case management. It includes specific demonstration projects for people with arrest or conviction records seeking health careers, and for training in maternal health careers like doulas and midwives. The bill appropriates $425 million annually from 2024-2028 to fund these initiatives, with at least 25% of funds dedicated to each demonstration project type.
Maddy summaryThe Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act creates a new tax credit for developers and owners of middle-income housing projects. The credit equals a percentage (5-20%) of the qualified basis of buildings that meet specific affordability requirements: at least 60% of units must be rent-restricted for households earning 100% or less of area median income. The credit is available for 15 years, with projects required to maintain affordability through a 15-year commitment period. This policy change aims to incentivize the development of housing for middle-income households earning between 60-100% of area median income.
Maddy summaryThe Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act (S 2973) requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to operate with greater transparency and accountability in Medicare Part D and Medicaid programs. The bill mandates that PBMs provide detailed annual reports to Part D plans and the government about drug pricing, rebates, and fees, including specific information about how they structure their compensation. It prohibits PBMs from earning revenue through certain types of rebates or markups that could create conflicts of interest, and requires them to pass through cost savings to plans. The bill also includes provisions to improve pharmacy access for seniors and prevent abusive pricing practices in Medicaid. These changes aim to increase transparency and ensure cost savings directly benefit Medicare beneficiaries and the Medicare program.
Maddy summarySRES 445 is a Senate resolution recognizing the U.S.-Israel economic relationship and affirming that trade under the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement (signed in 1985) can support Israel's economy during the Hamas conflict. It highlights that bilateral trade has grown significantly since 1985, with the U.S. being Israel’s largest trading partner in 2022 ($14.2 billion in U.S. exports to Israel). The resolution states the agreement has fostered robust trade, investment (e.g., $10.6 billion in Israeli U.S. investments in 2022), and job creation, and urges maintaining this economic partnership amid the conflict. It does not create new policy but formally endorses existing trade mechanisms as a support tool.
Maddy summaryThe SAFER Banking Act provides legal protections for banks and financial institutions that serve state-legal marijuana businesses and related service providers. It creates a "safe harbor" preventing federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for offering services to these businesses, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The bill also allows income from state-legal marijuana businesses to be considered "legal income" for mortgage qualification purposes and establishes guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. Similar protections are extended to hemp-related businesses and service providers, without requiring banks to serve these businesses.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 483) formally commends the officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service for their 225 years of service protecting public health. It recognizes their work in disease prevention, emergency response (including pandemics like COVID-19), and care for underserved communities. The Senate passed this symbolic resolution to mark the Corps' anniversary, with no policy changes or funding impacts. It is a ceremonial gesture, not a legislative action affecting laws or programs.
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 exempts low-alcohol kombucha (under 1.25% alcohol by volume) from federal taxes currently applied to wine and beer. It directly affects kombucha manufacturers who produce beverages meeting the defined criteria: fermented solely by bacteria/yeast, made from ingredients like tea, sugar, or fruit juice, and sold as kombucha. The law removes kombucha from taxable "wine" and "beer" classifications under the Internal Revenue Code, reducing compliance costs for qualifying producers. The exemption applies to products meeting these specific standards, effective after the bill's enactment.
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.