Sen. Mark R. Warner

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how federal workforce reductions (like large-scale layoffs) impact state and local government budgets. The study will examine effects on unemployment benefits, Medicaid, workforce training, housing assistance, tax revenues, and regional economic shifts, focusing on how different states and regions are affected. The GAO must complete this study within 18 months and submit a public report to Congress, including findings, recommendations for supporting displaced workers and affected governments, and potential policy options. The bill does not change current policies but mandates a comprehensive assessment of fiscal consequences.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3823 (FAIR Act), sets specific pay adjustments for federal employees in calendar year 2027. It mandates a 3.1% increase in base pay for employees covered by statutory pay systems (most federal workers) and prevailing rate employees (those paid based on local private-sector wages), and a 1% increase in locality pay adjustments. These changes directly affect all federal employees whose pay is determined under the specified systems outlined in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill is procedural, establishing concrete pay rate adjustments without altering broader employment policies.

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act This act permanently allows the Department of the Treasury to access certain death records maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help prevent and recover improper payments (e.g., payments to deceased individuals). The act also establishes evidentiary requirements the SSA must meet before identifying an individual as deceased. Current law requires the SSA to share its Death Master File with the Do Not Pay system maintained by Treasury for three years. The act makes this requirement permanent. Treasury must enter into an agreement with the SSA related to Treasury's share of the cost of state death data. The act also prohibits the SSA from recording a death in the master file unless the SSA has clear and convincing evidence that the individual should be presumed deceased. If an individual is incorrectly identified as deceased and provides the SSA with supporting documentation, the SSA may notify certain agencies that have access to the master file, including Treasury and federal or state agencies that provide or disburse federally funded benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the operating authority of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) from 2026 to 2036. It also updates the expiration dates for the bank's loan, guarantee, and insurance authority limits (from 2027 to 2037) and adjusts the timeline for its program focused on China and transformational exports to 2036. The bill directly affects U.S. exporters and financial institutions that rely on EXIM to provide financing for overseas sales of American goods. It makes no new policy changes but ensures the bank’s existing programs can continue operating under current parameters for an additional decade.

Maddy summarySRES 593 is a Senate resolution honoring the 67 victims of the January 29, 2025 mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River. It specifically recognizes the lives of all victims, including 11 U.S. figure skating athletes, their families, and 3 Army soldiers, as well as the 1,700+ first responders who assisted in the recovery efforts. The resolution offers condolences to affected families, acknowledges the bravery of emergency personnel, and commits the Senate to using safety lessons from the crash to prevent future incidents. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or provide direct benefits but serves to formally memorialize the tragedy and honor those impacted.

Maddy summaryThe PBM Reporting Transparency Act requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to produce two reports analyzing pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) agreements with Medicare prescription drug plans. The first report, due 2 years after data becomes available, must detail trends in PBM contracts, their impact on beneficiaries' out-of-pocket costs and pharmacy reimbursement rates, and include recommendations. A second report, due 2 years after the first, will track changes in this data over time and provide updated recommendations. This legislation directly affects Medicare drug plan participants by increasing transparency around PBM practices that influence prescription drug costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare's Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) by allowing virtual delivery of services starting in 2026. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries at risk for diabetes and healthcare providers offering virtual diabetes prevention programs. Key provisions remove state location restrictions for online services (so beneficiaries can receive care remotely from any state) and eliminate limits on how many times an individual can enroll in the program. The changes apply to MDPP services delivered via distance learning or online platforms, ensuring coverage for virtual participation regardless of beneficiary or provider location.

Maddy summarySRES 585 is a commemorative resolution honoring Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. Senator from Colorado and the first Native American to chair the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. It recognizes his military service, Olympic judo career, legislative work (including authoring the National Museum of the American Indian Act), and advocacy for tribal communities. The resolution has no policy impact - it formally expresses the Senate’s respect for his legacy, requests transmission to his family, and directs a moment of silence. It directly affects Campbell’s legacy and family, not any current policy or population. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a bill with legislative provisions.)

Maddy summaryThe Power for the People Act of 2026 requires data center owners and operators to pay for the grid upgrades they necessitate, rather than passing these costs to residential and business ratepayers. The bill establishes data center-specific load queues that prioritize facilities implementing low-carbon energy solutions, labor standards, and grid-friendly practices, while delaying or denying interconnection for those that don't meet these requirements. It also mandates that states create data center-specific rate classes to ensure these facilities pay for the full cost of grid upgrades, including transmission and distribution costs. The legislation includes provisions for transparency in forecasting data center energy demands and encourages the use of battery storage and renewable energy to reduce grid strain. The bill aims to protect grid reliability, ensure electricity affordability, and minimize environmental impacts of data center development.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax rules for bonds used to fund agricultural and manufacturing facilities. It expands what counts as a "manufacturing facility" to include production of intangible property (like software) and related on-site facilities, while raising the dollar limit for qualified small issue bonds from $10 million to $30 million (with annual inflation adjustments). It also increases the annual bond limit for first-time farmers from $450,000 to $1 million and changes how farmland size is measured for eligibility. The changes apply to bonds issued after the bill's enactment date for manufacturing and after December 31, 2025, for farm-related bonds. These adjustments primarily affect agricultural businesses and manufacturers seeking tax-exempt financing for facility projects.