Maddy summaryThe TRUTH in Labeling Act requires food manufacturers to display standardized front-of-package labels highlighting added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat content, directly affecting how packaged foods are marketed and helping consumers make informed choices. These labels must use a consistent, prominent symbol system placed visibly on packaging to quickly convey nutritional information without requiring advanced nutrition knowledge. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue final regulations within three years of the bill's enactment to define the label design and implementation. Additionally, the bill mandates a report to Congress within five years to evaluate if the labeling influences the availability of products with low-calorie sweeteners and guide future monitoring.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Value in Health Care Act of 2023 simplifies participation in Medicare's Shared Savings Program for care coordination groups (like hospital-doctor networks). It removes barriers for smaller or rural groups by eliminating separate rules for "low" and "high" revenue groups, requiring benchmarks to exclude their own spending data, and creating a new 100% shared savings option where providers keep all savings but also bear full risk for losses. The bill adjusts payment thresholds for providers over time, gradually increasing the percentage of savings they can keep (starting at 50% for 2026-2027), and mandates technical support for rural or underserved providers. It directly affects Medicare ACOs and doctors/hospitals participating in value-based payment models, aiming to make cost-saving incentives more accessible and predictable.
Maddy summaryS 3509, the Healthy MOM Act, creates a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals in health insurance plans, allowing them to enroll when they report their pregnancy to their insurer or healthcare provider (effective for plan years after December 2024). It requires group health plans and insurers to cover maternity care - including pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum services - for all dependents, regardless of age. The bill also mandates 12-month continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals (starting in 2025), replacing shorter coverage periods. This directly affects pregnant individuals, their dependents, health insurers, and Medicaid/CHIP programs by expanding access to timely coverage and mandated maternity benefits.
Maddy summaryThe Kids Online Safety Act requires social media platforms and other online services used by minors to implement safety features protecting children under 17. It mandates default privacy controls, limits addictive features like automatic media playback, restricts advertising of harmful products (tobacco, gambling, alcohol) to minors, and requires annual transparency reports about online risks. Platforms with over 10 million monthly U.S. users must provide parental tools, conduct independent audits, and make de-identified data available for research on online harms. The bill focuses on preventing mental health disorders, bullying, sexual exploitation, and addictive behaviors through platform design changes.
Maddy summarySRES 494 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the need for the federal government to develop a national biodiversity strategy. It urges the creation of a coordinated strategy to protect biodiversity, including setting goals like conserving 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 (30x30), restoring ecosystems, and integrating indigenous knowledge. The resolution emphasizes addressing biodiversity loss that disproportionately impacts communities of color, low-income populations, and Tribal communities, while coordinating federal agency efforts with states, tribes, and private landowners. It does not create new laws but calls for a strategy to secure ecosystem services and advance U.S. leadership on global biodiversity goals.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 492) honoring the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It expresses the Senate's condolences for her passing and recognizes her lifetime of humanitarian work, including her advocacy for mental health care, founding of caregiver support programs, and service with The Carter Center. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is purely a commemorative statement. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use alternative evidence to determine eligibility for benefits when a veteran's military or medical records are lost or damaged after being held by the federal government. It directly affects veterans whose service records are incomplete due to federal record loss, enabling the VA to consider sources like medical exams soon after discharge, the veteran's own account of injuries, or credible buddy statements. The VA must create rules for this process within one year of the bill's passage, and benefits awarded under this provision will follow standard dating rules without delays based on claim submission timing. The law clarifies that veterans can use these alternative methods to prove service-connected disabilities or other benefits when official records are unavailable.
Maddy summaryThe Customs Modernization Act of 2023 updates U.S. Customs and Border Protection procedures to improve efficiency and enforcement. It requires electronic filing of import documentation and allows for advance electronic submission of information about merchandise before entry, which can expedite processing. The bill strengthens enforcement against counterfeit goods and copyright infringement by expanding seizure and forfeiture procedures for merchandise bearing counterfeit marks. It also streamlines administrative exemption processes for low-value imports and clarifies requirements for businesses involved in international trade. These changes primarily affect importers, exporters, and businesses using commercial platforms that facilitate international commerce.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires phone calls and texts to 9-8-8 (the national suicide prevention hotline) to be routed to the nearest participating crisis center based on the caller's location, rather than a single national center. It mandates that phone providers transmit all 9-8-8 calls/texts (including from phones without service plans) and protects caller privacy by preventing precise location disclosure. The bill affects mobile service providers (who must implement routing), crisis centers (who receive localized calls), and callers (who get geographically relevant support). It also updates phone system rules to allow direct dialing to 9-8-8, with implementation deadlines for providers and systems.
Maddy summaryThe Clean Competition Act establishes a carbon intensity charge on covered primary goods produced domestically or imported into the United States. It requires covered entities in specific industries (including petroleum, chemicals, cement, and coal) to report annual emissions data, calculates carbon intensity as emissions divided by goods produced, and imposes a charge when a facility's carbon intensity exceeds industry benchmarks. The charge equals the difference between a facility's carbon intensity and the industry benchmark, multiplied by the carbon price ($55 in 2025, increasing annually) and the weight of goods produced. The bill also includes rebates for exported goods and creates a grant program to fund carbon-reducing technology investments in eligible facilities. The carbon price increases annually based on inflation, with specific industry benchmarks determined by the Secretary.