Maddy summaryThe NURSE Act (S 3953) creates a federal grant program to help public schools hire more school nurses, specifically targeting schools serving high-need communities. It prioritizes schools where at least 20% of students qualify for free school lunches (indicating higher poverty levels) and gives priority to districts with no nurses or the greatest student health needs. The program covers up to 75% of hiring costs for the first year, with the federal share gradually decreasing over time to encourage long-term local funding. This aims to address the current shortage - where nearly two-thirds of schools lack full-time nurses - by supporting student health services, chronic disease management, and mental health support directly in schools.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to improve mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth (including nonbinary, intersex, and Two Spirit youth). It funds eligible organizations to provide trauma-informed care, cultural competency training for caregivers, school bullying prevention guidelines, and family support resources. The bill explicitly bans the use of grant funds for conversion therapy and requires the development of a federal survey measuring mental health outcomes among these youth. It also mandates reports on mental health care in foster care and social services programs within two years.
Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act (S 3961) reforms surveillance practices under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to better protect U.S. persons from warrantless surveillance. It requires the FBI to implement new training, approvals, and written justifications for queries of U.S. person data, prohibits warrantless access to communications of U.S. persons except in specific circumstances, and mandates enhanced reporting to Congress. The bill establishes accountability procedures for FBI employees who violate query protocols, reforms FISA Court procedures to include amicus curiae with privacy expertise, and limits how intelligence agencies can acquire and use personal data. These provisions directly affect the FBI, other intelligence agencies, and U.S. persons whose communications may be collected under FISA authorities.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a shared savings incentive for developers who install grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) on electric transmission systems. It requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to set rules returning 10-25% of verified savings (at least 4x the investment cost) to developers over 3 years for new GET installations. The bill also mandates annual congestion cost reporting by grid operators and creates a public map of these costs, while directing the Energy Secretary to develop an annual application guide with technical assistance for utilities implementing GETs. These provisions directly affect grid operators, utilities, and developers investing in GETs to improve grid efficiency, reliability, and capacity.
Maddy summaryS.1267, the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2023, expands federal housing anti-discrimination protections under the Fair Housing Act. It adds "source of income" (including housing vouchers, Social Security benefits, child support, and other lawful income), "veteran status," and "military status" as protected categories in housing. This directly affects renters and homebuyers using these income sources or who are veterans/military members, prohibiting landlords and housing providers from discriminating against them. The bill amends key sections of the Fair Housing Act to include these new categories and provides a 40-month transition period for agencies to adjust certifications.
Maddy summaryS 3901, the Time Off to Vote Act, requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide up to 2 hours of paid leave during open polls for federal elections, allowing workers to vote or return mail-in ballots. It directly affects employees at qualifying businesses, ensuring they can vote without losing pay or benefits. Key provisions include employers designating the leave timing (excluding lunch breaks), prohibiting retaliation for using the leave, and imposing civil penalties up to $10,000 for violations. The law takes effect for the first federal election after enactment and does not override stricter state voting leave laws.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 30) expresses Congress's support for designating March 10, 2024, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day." It acknowledges the critical role of abortion providers and staff in delivering essential reproductive health care, particularly amid increased restrictions following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The resolution condemns the impact of abortion bans on providers and patients while affirming Congress's commitment to protecting access to abortion care and provider safety. As a symbolic gesture with no legal effect, it does not change policy or directly affect any individuals or entities.
Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate resolution (SRES 581) affirms U.S. support for North Macedonia's accession to the European Union. It recognizes North Macedonia's democratic progress, NATO membership (joined 2020), and contributions to regional stability, including support for Ukraine. The resolution urges the U.S. government to advocate for opening EU accession negotiations without additional bilateral conditions and encourages North Macedonia to complete required reforms. As a symbolic measure, it does not alter U.S. policy but reinforces diplomatic backing for North Macedonia's EU path.
Maddy summaryThe TAME Extreme Weather Act requires Federal agencies, including NOAA, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy, to use artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasting, enhance grid resilience, and monitor environmental impacts. Key provisions mandate agencies to create public Earth system reanalysis datasets for AI training, develop AI models for wildfire detection and emissions monitoring, and optimize energy grids using AI. Agencies must make AI models, training datasets, and code publicly available under open licenses while continuing traditional weather observation and research. The bill also requires best practices to minimize environmental impacts of AI use and includes national security reviews for sensitive data. This legislation aims to modernize weather forecasting and climate adaptation through AI while ensuring public access to government-developed tools.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program to address social determinants of health - such as housing instability, food insecurity, and transportation access - by funding community-based initiatives. It authorizes $100 million annually (2025-2029) to award grants to state/local health agencies, tribes, and community organizations for evidence-based, cross-sector strategies targeting specific communities with significant health inequities. Grantees must collaborate with health systems, payors, and local groups to collect data, design interventions, and evaluate outcomes, while requiring annual reporting to the CDC. An independent national evaluation will be conducted after five years, with results reported to Congress.