Sen. Patty Murray

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits unfair price hikes on gasoline and petroleum products during declared emergencies. It makes it illegal for retailers or distributors to charge "unconscionably excessive" prices - such as prices grossly above pre-crisis averages or competitors’ rates - when the President declares a domestic or international oil market crisis affecting specific areas. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the law, prioritizing large companies with over $10 billion in annual sales, and can impose civil penalties up to $100 million per violation. States may also sue retailers for violations affecting residents, though the FTC must be notified first.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans with combat-related disabilities and less than 20 years of service to receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation simultaneously. Previously, such veterans had their retired pay reduced to avoid "concurrent receipt" of both benefits. The bill removes the 20-year service requirement for this group, applying specifically to those retired under Chapter 61 of Title 10 with a combat-related disability as defined in existing law. It does not change eligibility for veterans with non-combat disabilities or those with 20+ years of service.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Health Act of 2023 strengthens privacy protections for individuals' information related to pregnancy termination (including abortion) or pregnancy loss (such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy). It prohibits healthcare providers, clinics, and related entities from disclosing this sensitive health information in any legal, administrative, or government proceeding without the individual’s explicit consent, except in two limited cases: for professional liability defense or when investigating physical harm to the individual who cannot consent. The bill also requires health IT systems to segregate this data and updates federal regulations to prevent "information blocking" when complying with these privacy rules. This law preempts conflicting state laws but allows states to adopt stronger privacy protections for this information.

Maddy summaryThe Keep Americans Safe Act bans the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of large capacity ammunition magazines (defined as holding more than 10 rounds) for most civilians, while exempting law enforcement officers, retired officers, and certain security personnel. It requires new magazines to have serial numbers and manufacturing dates, and allows federal funding for buy-back programs to remove these magazines from circulation. The law grandfathered existing magazines owned before enactment and excludes specific uses like campus law enforcement or nuclear facility security. This directly affects civilians owning high-capacity magazines but not police, military, or authorized security personnel.

Maddy summaryS 282, the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2023, designates approximately 1,559,538 acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as wilderness under federal law. This provision directly affects the Coastal Plain area of the refuge by restricting activities like oil drilling, mining, and development, as wilderness designation prohibits such uses. The bill amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act to formally add this specific area to the National Wilderness Preservation System, using a map dated October 20, 2015, for precise boundaries. The change would protect the land from most human alteration while maintaining its ecological integrity.

Maddy summarySRES 28 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003. It honors the seven astronauts who died - Colonel Rick Husband, Commander Willie McCool, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, Captain David Brown, Captain Laurel Clark, Dr. Kalpana Chawla, and Colonel Ilan Ramon - and expresses condolences to their families. The resolution also recognizes recovery personnel who lost their lives during debris searches and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to safety in space exploration, including future Artemis missions. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal tribute to the crew's sacrifice.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week beginning February 5, 2023, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week" to symbolically recognize these institutions. It directly honors the 35 accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities operating across 15 states, which serve over 230 federally recognized tribes and provide higher education access to American Indian, Alaska Native, and other students in underserved communities. The resolution calls for national recognition through appropriate activities but does not create new laws, funding, or policy changes. It is a ceremonial measure without binding legal effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help states and tribes implement Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others. To qualify for funding, states must have laws including due process protections like hearings before orders are issued. The bill also amends federal law to include ERPOs in background checks and requires states to notify federal databases about these orders. It ensures ERPOs issued in one state will be recognized by courts in other states. This would directly affect individuals subject to ERPOs, law enforcement officers, and courts that implement these orders.

Maddy summaryThe Caring for All Families Act expands family medical leave protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include more relatives and domestic partners. It adds new provisions allowing employees to take leave for school activities related to their children or grandchildren, routine medical appointments for family members (including domestic partners and elderly individuals with family-like relationships), and care for elderly individuals who are not biologically related but have a close family-like bond. Employees may take up to 4 hours per 30 days or 24 hours per year for these purposes, in addition to existing leave entitlements. This bill applies to both private sector employees covered by the FMLA and federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The changes clarify that "family" includes domestic partners, extended family members like grandparents and siblings, and individuals with a significant personal bond that functions like a family relationship.

Maddy summarySRES 24 is a symbolic Senate resolution supporting the annual observance of "National Girls & Women in Sports Day" on February 1, 2023. It aims to raise public awareness and celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports, referencing ongoing efforts to address gender disparities in athletic participation and coaching. The resolution highlights statistics showing persistent inequities, such as female athletes comprising only 44% of college athletes and BIPOC women representing just 7% of head coaches. It specifically calls for continued support of Title IX and the Equal Pay for Team USA Act to advance gender equity in sports. As a resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the importance of this observance.