Sen. Charles E. Schumer

Maddy summarySRES 370 is a procedural resolution that establishes the majority party's membership on two Senate committees for the 118th Congress. It specifically designates Senator Benjamin Cardin as Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations and Senator Jeanne Shaheen as Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, listing the full membership for each committee. The resolution sets these appointments to remain in effect until successors are chosen, following standard committee assignment practices at the start of a new Congress. This resolution does not create new policy but formalizes existing committee leadership and membership.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states to allow eligible voters to register or update their registration at polling places on election day for federal elections, starting with the November 2024 general election. It mandates that polling places provide the necessary forms for registration or changes, directly affecting voters and state election systems. States already without voter registration requirements for federal elections are exempt. The law includes a phased implementation for states needing time, requiring at least one compliant location per 15,000 voters in each jurisdiction before November 2026.

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 summarySRES 340 is a Senate resolution supporting the designation of September 13, 2023, as National Sepsis Day. It aims to raise public awareness about sepsis - a serious condition causing over 270,000 deaths annually in the U.S. - and encourage early detection through education for patients, healthcare providers, and government agencies. The resolution highlights sepsis as a preventable cause of death when identified promptly, aligning with international efforts to reduce fatalities. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but focuses on promoting awareness and best practices.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes federal funding for Long Island Sound restoration and stewardship programs through 2028, extending existing grant programs that support environmental cleanup and community projects in the Long Island Sound watershed. It updates two key provisions: extending the "Long Island Sound Grants" program (under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act) and the "Long Island Sound Stewardship Grants" program (under the 2006 Act) to cover 2024-2028 instead of 2019-2023. The bill does not create new programs or change eligibility but ensures continued funding for states and local organizations already participating in these initiatives. This is a procedural extension, not a policy change to the programs themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2757) freezes current payment rates for veterans' transportation services provided through "special modes" (like non-emergency medical transport) starting January 1, 2023, preventing the VA from lowering these rates without strict conditions. It directly affects veterans relying on these transportation services and the contractors providing them. The key provision allows rate increases but requires the VA to conduct a detailed economic impact review, consult with veterans' groups and industry experts, and ensure new rates cover actual costs before any decrease can occur. This aims to protect veterans' access to care by preventing rate cuts that could disrupt transportation services.

Maddy summarySRES 329 authorizes Senate gallery directors Michael J. Mastrian (Senate Radio and Television Gallery) and Jeffrey S. Kent (Press Photographers' Gallery) to provide testimony in the federal case *United States v. Horn* (Cr. No. 21-301). It also directs the Senate Legal Counsel to represent them regarding evidence production related to their official duties. This procedural resolution does not alter substantive law but addresses Senate privilege concerns in a pending court matter.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Supreme Court to establish a code of conduct for justices within 180 days of enactment, with public access to these rules on the Court's website. It sets minimum disclosure standards for gifts, income, and reimbursements received by justices and their law clerks, and strengthens recusal requirements when justices have financial ties to parties in cases. The bill creates procedures for filing complaints about justices' conduct and establishes a judicial investigation panel to review such complaints, while also requiring parties and amicus curiae to disclose gifts to justices and lobbying activities related to the nomination of justices. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in Supreme Court operations.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SRES 322), not a legislative bill. It honors the late singer Tony Bennett by designating August 3, 2023 (his birthday) as "Tony Bennett Day" across the United States. The resolution recognizes Bennett's 20 Grammy Awards, his civil rights activism (including marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), his philanthropy, and his connection to Astoria, Queens. It urges citizens, schools, and organizations to celebrate his musical legacy and contributions to the arts, but contains no binding policy changes or direct impacts on individuals or programs.