Sen. Patty Murray

Maddy summaryThis bill increases excise taxes on multiple tobacco products to create tax parity, meaning previously lower-taxed products will now face rates similar to cigarettes. It doubles the tax on roll-your-own tobacco ($24.78 to $49.56 per pound), sets pipe tobacco at $49.56 (up from $2.83), and significantly raises smokeless tobacco rates (e.g., from $1.51 to $26.84 per unit). The bill also imposes a new tax on nicotine for vaping products ($100.66 per 1,810 milligrams) and adds an inflation adjustment mechanism for future tax rates. These changes directly affect manufacturers and importers of tobacco products and nicotine, altering their tax liabilities under the Internal Revenue Code.

Maddy summarySRES 355 is a Senate resolution recognizing that Native American communities on federal reservations, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian communities face critical barriers to clean drinking water, with nearly half lacking reliable access. It affirms the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to address this issue and directly urges the executive branch to take concrete action. The resolution calls for creating an interagency task force to expedite water infrastructure projects, provide technical assistance to tribes for accessing federal funding, and ensure infrastructure development is not delayed by unresolved water rights disputes. It emphasizes that existing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act requires better support to be effectively implemented, without tying progress to water rights settlements. This resolution expresses the Senate’s policy stance but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. colleges and universities participating in federal student aid programs to create clear anti-harassment policies covering harassment based on race, sex, disability, religion, and other protected characteristics. These policies must specifically prohibit harassment occurring online (via emails, social media, or institutional networks), on campus, in dorms, and during school-sponsored activities. It also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund campus prevention programs, counseling services, and training for students, faculty, and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. The law adds these requirements to existing federal protections under Title IX and the Civil Rights Act, without replacing them.

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 amends the tax code to exclude certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness assistance from taxable income. It specifically applies to veterinarians participating in programs under the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 or similar state programs designed to increase rural veterinary access. The key change clarifies that financial assistance provided through these targeted programs is not considered taxable income for participants. This directly benefits veterinarians in rural areas who use these loan repayment options to practice in underserved communities.

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 summaryS 2804, the Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act, prohibits the government from withholding Social Security, Railroad Retirement, and Black Lung benefits to pay off unrelated debts like federal student loans or tax obligations. It amends the Social Security Act and related laws to nullify provisions allowing such administrative offsets, restoring protections that previously existed before a 2020 change. The bill ensures Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance benefits receive identical protections to Social Security benefits. These changes apply to all offset collections occurring after the bill's enactment date.

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 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.