Maddy summaryThe EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act (S 3390) requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to change how it purchases food, directing it to prioritize foods from specific groups and categories. It mandates USDA to increase purchases from beginning/veteran/socially disadvantaged farmers, foods supporting worker rights (like unionized vendors), climate-friendly options (with deforestation policies), and diversified supply chains (like local food hubs). The bill also requires annual public reports tracking spending across these categories and greenhouse gas emissions from USDA food procurement. This directly affects USDA’s $10+ billion annual food procurement programs, impacting small farms, food banks, school meal programs, and food suppliers nationwide.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Rural Energy Equity Act of 2023 amends the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to expand support for agricultural producers and rural small businesses. It increases grant coverage to 50% (75% for underserved farmers, veterans, and beginning farmers) and adjusts loan guarantee rates, while adding new annual funding levels from $50 million to $300 million. The bill requires regional demonstration projects focused on reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency and renewable systems, with results publicly shared. It also mandates that 5% of funds support project development and reserves up to 15% for underutilized commercial technologies. This directly affects rural energy users by making clean energy adoption more affordable and prioritizing carbon reduction.
Maddy summaryThe Billionaires Income Tax Act requires individuals with annual income over $100 million or assets over $1 billion to pay taxes annually on their wealth gains, rather than deferring taxes through strategies like "buy, borrow, die." It eliminates tax deferral by implementing mark-to-market taxation, requiring billionaires to pay tax on asset appreciation each year as if they had sold the assets. The bill closes loopholes that allow the ultra-wealthy to transfer assets tax-free to heirs, requiring heirs to pay tax on gains when they sell assets. This means billionaires would pay taxes on their income as it's earned, just like working people pay taxes on wages.
Maddy summaryThe Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2023 directs the U.S. Department of Education to provide guidance to colleges and universities on removing criminal and juvenile justice history questions from admissions applications. It recommends institutions evaluate whether such questions are necessary, and if kept, requires specific safeguards like delaying inquiries until after admission decisions and training staff on handling this information fairly. The bill also mandates training for admissions, financial aid, and campus employment staff on supporting students with justice system involvement, and establishes a resource center for best practices. This policy directly affects higher education institutions and applicants with criminal or juvenile records, aiming to reduce barriers to college access. The guidance focuses on concrete changes to application processes, not on altering enrollment outcomes or funding.
Maddy summaryThe PREP Act creates a dedicated Office of Prison Education within the Bureau of Prisons to improve educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals in Federal correctional facilities. The office will coordinate quality programs including adult literacy, high school equivalency, postsecondary education, and workforce development, while collecting data on outcomes like recidivism and employment. The bill authorizes $170 million annually (2024-2030) for these programs and establishes a repository of research and best practices for State and local correctional systems. This legislation directly affects Federal prison inmates by expanding educational opportunities designed to improve post-release outcomes and reduce recidivism.
Maddy summaryS 820, the Protecting Consumers from PFAS Act, adds the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to the federal interagency working group that coordinates efforts on PFAS chemicals. PFAS are chemicals commonly found in consumer products like non-stick cookware and water-resistant clothing, with health concerns linked to long-term exposure. The bill formally includes the CPSC - responsible for regulating product safety - into this working group to enhance federal coordination on PFAS. It does not change product regulations but updates agency roles in federal PFAS oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new immigration category for "climate-displaced persons" who are forced to leave their homes due to climate-related disasters, such as flooding, drought, or extreme weather events. It sets an annual admission goal of at least 100,000 climate-displaced persons to the United States starting in fiscal year 2024, with the ability to increase this number in response to major climate disasters. The bill also requires the U.S. government to collect data on climate displacement, develop a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, and provide training for diplomats and immigration officers on climate displacement issues. This legislation directly affects individuals displaced by climate events, as well as U.S. immigration and foreign assistance agencies responsible for implementing the new program.
Maddy summaryThe PROKID Act establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsperson within the Department of Health and Human Services to monitor and advocate for immigrant children in government custody. The Ombudsperson will conduct regular facility visits (at least monthly for influx/unlicensed facilities), investigate complaints of abuse or mistreatment, and review data on children's custody conditions. The bill requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement to collect and publicly share detailed data about immigrant children in custody, including length of stay, facility conditions, and demographic information. It also mandates a coordination agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure unobstructed access for oversight activities and compliance with standards like the Flores settlement agreement.
Maddy summaryThis bill limits the number of local pay zones (called "local wage areas") that can be defined within a single federal pay locality to just one, with an exception for the "Rest of United States" area. It directly affects federal employees covered under the General Schedule pay system, particularly those working in locations that previously had multiple pay zones. The key mechanism requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to consolidate these zones, ensuring only one pay rate applies per geographic area, while preventing any reduction in current employees' basic pay. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, applying to all relevant federal pay periods.
Maddy summaryThe Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2023 increases federal reimbursements for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It adds a fixed 10-cent payment per meal or snack served, adjusted annually, to existing reimbursement rates for all CACFP providers, including child care centers and family day care homes. This change applies to all meals and supplements served under the program and takes effect in the first month after the bill is enacted. The amendment modifies multiple sections of the National School Lunch Act to incorporate this additional reimbursement into payment calculations.