Maddy summaryThe Carbon Dioxide Removal Research and Development Act of 2023 establishes a federal program to research and develop carbon dioxide removal technologies across multiple departments. It creates an Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management within the Department of Energy to coordinate research and authorizes over $10 billion in funding through 2033 for projects including direct air capture, forest restoration, soil carbon management, and ocean-based removal techniques. The bill requires lifecycle analyses and environmental justice assessments for all technologies and establishes competitive demonstration projects with specific cost requirements. Federal agencies must prioritize carbon removal research in their programs, directing billions of dollars toward advancing these technologies to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Green Ribbon Act of 2023 establishes a program to recognize schools and nonformal learning institutions (like museums and libraries) that meet three environmental goals: graduating environmentally literate students, reducing operational emissions from buildings, and improving environmental health for students and staff. It authorizes $10 million for fiscal years 2024-2029 to fund state grants, requiring at least 40% of grant funds to support underresourced schools, and provides $10,000 honoraria to recognized institutions. The bill creates a new Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education to oversee technical assistance and program implementation. Annual reports are required to track progress, with programs aligned to environmental and health science through consultation with the EPA and CDC.
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.
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 summarySRES 337 designates the week beginning September 10, 2023, as "National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week" to honor workers who provide essential in-home and community-based support to people with disabilities. The resolution recognizes these professionals - including personal assistants and in-home support workers - who help individuals live independently, avoid institutional care, and access community activities, while also urging the Bureau of Labor Statistics to collect specific data about this workforce.
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 summaryThe Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act requires employers to provide detailed paystubs showing wage calculations, timely final payments within 14 days of termination, and strengthens workers' ability to recover stolen wages. It increases civil penalties for wage theft violations from $10,000 to $22,030 per employee affected for initial violations, and extends the statute of limitations for wage theft claims from 2-3 years to 4-5 years. The bill creates a $50 million grant program to fund community partnerships that prevent wage theft and assist workers in recovering unpaid wages. These provisions target widespread wage theft that disproportionately affects low-wage workers, women, immigrants, and racial and ethnic minorities.
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 summaryS 638, the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, requires large multinational corporations (with annual revenue above a set threshold) to disclose financial data broken down by country or tax jurisdiction. Covered companies must report aggregated revenue, profit, taxes paid, employees, and assets for each tax jurisdiction where they operate, including subsidiaries without a tax residence. The reports, to be submitted in machine-readable format and made publicly available online, must align with U.S. or international standards. This applies to U.S. public companies that are part of multinational enterprise groups meeting the revenue threshold. The bill does not change tax laws but mandates transparency about corporate financial activity across jurisdictions.