Sen. Peter Welch

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges to notify students participating in state or federally funded work-study programs about their potential eligibility for SNAP (food stamp) benefits. Specifically, institutions must send electronic notifications detailing SNAP eligibility requirements, state-specific application contacts, and an official document confirming work-study status to overcome a common eligibility barrier. The notifications must be developed jointly by the Education and Agriculture Departments and tailored to each student’s state. This directly affects undergraduate and graduate students in work-study programs who may qualify for SNAP but face confusion about their eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution symbolically designates September 2023 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about voting rights history and current challenges. It recommends Congress pass specific voting rights legislation (like the Freedom to Vote Act and Democracy Restoration Act) and encourages public education on voting accessibility, registration, and historical voter suppression. The resolution has no binding effect on policy or funding - it serves as a symbolic recognition and call to action for voting rights advocacy.

Maddy summaryThe Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act establishes a national service program to create climate-related jobs and provide workforce development, with a focus on historically underserved communities including low-income communities, communities of color, and tribal communities. The program would recruit 50,000-400,000 participants annually by 2028 to work on climate resilience projects like energy-efficient building retrofits, wildfire prevention, and pollution remediation. Participants would receive a minimum $17/hour living allowance, health care, and $25,000 in educational benefits upon completion, with 50% of projects required to be located in under-resourced communities of need, including 10% in Indian country. The bill also includes provisions to ensure worker protections, including the right to organize and collective bargaining, and requires coordination with tribal nations to respect tribal sovereignty.

Maddy summaryThe Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act would expand protections for part-time and temporary workers by reducing the eligibility requirement for family and medical leave from 12 months to 90 days. It prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their work hours, requiring equal treatment in compensation, benefits, and scheduling for part-time and full-time workers. The bill also requires employers to offer preferred work schedules to existing part-time employees before hiring new workers or using temporary staffing services. Employers who violate these provisions could face civil penalties and be required to compensate affected workers. This legislation applies to most private sector employers as well as federal, state, and local government employees.

Maddy summaryThe Schedules That Work Act requires employers in retail, food service, hospitality, and cleaning industries to provide 14 days' advance notice of work schedules and pay predictability pay for last-minute changes. It gives eligible nonexempt workers the right to request schedule adjustments for family care, health needs, education, or second jobs, with employers required to grant these requests unless they have a bona fide business reason for denial. The law applies to covered employers with 15 or more workers and prohibits retaliation against employees who exercise these rights. The legislation aims to address widespread issues with unpredictable scheduling that disproportionately affect low-wage workers, particularly women and people of color, by providing greater schedule stability and control.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hire the maximum number of new air traffic controllers each year from 2024 through 2028, based on the training capacity of the FAA Academy. It directly affects the FAA, which must set annual hiring targets aligned with its ability to train new controllers. The law does not change existing hiring rules but mandates that the FAA utilize its full training capacity each year for new controller hires during this period. It excludes certain individuals specified under federal law, but the core provision focuses on maximizing new controller recruitment within available training resources.

Maddy summaryThe SACKLER Act (S 2831) prohibits bankruptcy courts from releasing or enjoining claims against non-debtors - such as states, municipalities, tribes, or the federal government - in bankruptcy cases, except for specific situations under existing law. It directly affects government entities seeking to hold non-bankrupt companies (like opioid manufacturers) liable for claims arising before bankruptcy proceedings began. The bill bans courts from releasing these claims during bankruptcy, though it allows a temporary 90-day stay to pause lawsuits against non-debtors while states decide whether to pursue them. This changes bankruptcy procedure by preventing debtors from using bankruptcy to shield non-debtor entities from liability claims.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would give Congress and states the authority to regulate campaign contributions and spending, including setting limits and prohibiting corporations from spending money to influence elections. It explicitly protects freedom of the press by stating the amendment cannot be used to abridge it. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures, it would establish a new constitutional standard for campaign finance regulation.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to expand eligibility for farmland enrollment. It adds a new provision (paragraph (8)) allowing land to qualify for CRP if it is subject to Tribal, State, or local environmental regulations requiring resource-conserving practices - **except** when such requirements come from court or government orders. The change directly affects farmers and landowners in areas with local environmental laws who may now enroll eligible land in the CRP. It modifies the existing CRP rules without altering payment rates or program administration.