Maddy summaryS 1202, the "Keep Our PACT Act," mandates increased annual federal funding for two key education programs. It requires specific minimum funding levels for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (which supports schools in high-poverty areas) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, which funds specialized education for students with disabilities) from fiscal years 2024 through 2033. The bill sets annual dollar targets that increase each year, with IDEA funding eventually reaching 40% of national per-pupil spending for students with disabilities by 2033. These funds directly affect public schools serving low-income students and students with disabilities across all states. The bill does not change eligibility or program requirements but ensures specified funding levels are appropriated annually.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 1196, the "Ending Qualified Immunity Act," amends Section 1983 of federal law to remove qualified immunity as a defense for government officials who violate constitutional rights. It directly affects state and local officials (like police officers) sued under Section 1983 for civil rights violations. The bill eliminates four specific defenses: claims of acting in "good faith," believing conduct was lawful, arguments that rights weren't "clearly established," or that the law was unclear at the time of the violation. This change would allow lawsuits to proceed without requiring plaintiffs to prove the right was explicitly defined before the incident. The bill aims to restore the original intent of Section 1983, which Congress states was never meant to include these immunity defenses.
Maddy summaryThe Community Broadband Act of 2023 prohibits states from banning local governments, cooperatives, or public-private partnerships from providing broadband services. It ensures these community-based providers (like city-run networks or utility cooperatives) can offer internet access without state restrictions, while requiring them to apply rules fairly to competing private providers. Key provisions define "public provider" (e.g., a city or county), "cooperatively organized provider" (tax-exempt co-ops), and "public-private partnership," with anti-discrimination safeguards to prevent favoritism. The bill does not override existing federal or state regulations governing all broadband providers. It directly affects communities seeking to build local broadband infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas.
Maddy summaryThe Do No Harm Act amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not apply when federal laws protect against discrimination (like the Civil Rights Act of 1964), guarantee workplace protections (such as the Family and Medical Leave Act), prevent child exploitation, or ensure health care access. It specifically prevents religious freedom claims from blocking enforcement of these existing laws. The bill directly affects individuals or entities attempting to use RFRA to challenge such federal protections in court. This amendment ensures that religious freedom arguments cannot override established civil rights, workplace, child safety, or health care regulations.
Maddy summaryS 1208, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2023, establishes minimum standards for Department of Homeland Security detention facilities based on American Bar Association guidelines to protect detainees' health and safety. The bill requires annual unannounced inspections by the Inspector General, with public reporting of findings, and imposes fines on private facilities that fail to meet standards. It phases out private detention facilities over three years, requiring all facilities to be owned and operated by the Department, and prohibits solitary confinement for all detainees. The bill also creates new procedures to ensure detainees have access to legal counsel and makes custody determinations more transparent and individualized.
Maddy summaryThe Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act (S.1204) creates a federal "safe harbor" protecting veterans who use medical marijuana in states where it is legal, and allows VA physicians to discuss or recommend it under state law. It directly affects veterans in states with legal medical marijuana programs and their VA healthcare providers. Key provisions include prohibiting federal penalties for compliant veterans and requiring the VA to conduct research on medical marijuana's effects for pain management and PTSD treatment, with reports to Congress within two years. The bill sunsetted after five years but established a framework for evidence-based policy on veteran care.
Maddy summarySRES 159 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating April 11-17, 2023, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to highlight the maternal health crisis affecting Black women and birthing persons in the U.S. It references data showing Black women are 2.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women, with higher rates of complications and disparities across income and education levels. The resolution calls for national attention to address systemic racism and inequities in maternal care but does not create new laws, funding, or mandates. It serves solely as a recognition effort to amplify community-led solutions and policy discussions around racial disparities in maternal health.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in healthcare and social service sectors to develop and implement workplace violence prevention plans for their workers. It applies to a wide range of facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, mental health clinics, and community care settings, affecting healthcare and social service workers who provide care in these environments. The plans must include risk assessments, hazard prevention measures, incident reporting procedures, and annual training for employees. Employers must maintain records of violent incidents, conduct annual evaluations of their prevention plans, and submit annual summaries of workplace violence data to the Secretary of Labor. The bill also prohibits retaliation against workers who report violence or safety concerns and ensures compliance with existing safety standards.
Paying a Fair Share Act of 2023 This bill requires an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million (high-income taxpayer) to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax). The amount of the tax is the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of (1) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year; over (2) certain tax credits. The bill provides for a phase-in of such tax and requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2023. The bill also expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.
Maddy summaryThe Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023 guarantees the right to government-funded legal counsel for immigrants in removal, deportation, and related proceedings who cannot afford representation. It requires the government to appoint counsel at the earliest possible stage (within 24 hours for detained individuals), provide access to all relevant government documents, and ensure continuous representation through all stages of immigration proceedings. The bill establishes an Office of Immigration Representation with a Board of Directors and local representation boards to oversee implementation, set standards for counsel quality, and ensure adequate funding based on a specified prosecution-defense ratio. This legislation directly affects all immigrants facing immigration proceedings who are financially unable to afford representation, guaranteeing them legal assistance that was previously unavailable in many cases.