Sen. David McCormick

Maddy summaryThe American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 streamlines the permitting process for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for federal and state agencies to complete their portions of the review. The bill also modifies water quality laws to reduce the number of required certifications for discharges into navigable waters, extends the validity of certain nationwide permits for dredged or fill material from five to ten years, and creates a new fund to address abandoned hardrock mines. Additionally, the legislation updates the National Environmental Policy Act to limit the scope of environmental reviews to effects directly caused by a project, impose specific timelines for agency decisions, and restrict the ability of courts to issue injunctions that would halt construction while legal challenges are pending.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Defense to conduct a comprehensive assessment of open-architecture command and control systems for unmanned aircraft, specifically analyzing frameworks used by Ukraine and Israel to improve interoperability and resilience. The evaluation will examine technical designs, cybersecurity measures against electronic warfare, and the ability of these systems to adapt quickly at the tactical level without requiring constant software updates. To guide this process, the Secretary of Defense must establish an independent advisory panel of experts to review findings and recommend a new, flexible system that avoids reliance on specific foreign vendors or prohibited foreign entities. The resulting report will outline a phased implementation plan and set strict cybersecurity standards, including regular penetration testing and a living process to update security rules as threats evolve. Additionally, the bill requires sharing relevant findings with the Federal Aviation Administration to support the integration of military and civil drone operations in shared airspace.

Maddy summaryThe Risk-based Oversight for Integrity Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study and potentially reform how it oversees the organic food industry. This study will examine whether inspections and regulations should be adjusted based on the risk that a farm or business might violate organic standards, considering factors like the size of the operation and its past compliance record. If the study finds it beneficial, the Act allows the Secretary to create new rules that could reduce inspection burdens for low-risk entities while focusing more resources on high-risk ones. Additionally, the legislation permits the use of virtual inspections for some domestic operations, provided that on-site checks still occur at least once every three years. The proposed changes aim to maintain strong organic integrity while improving efficiency within the national organic program.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts how nonmilitary foreign assistance funds can be used by prohibiting organizations from supporting abortion, gender ideology, or discriminatory equity ideology outside the United States. It requires recipients of these funds to agree not to provide or promote these specific activities, mandates that U.S. organizations keep their foreign aid programs physically and financially separate from such work, and allows the Secretary of State to require foreign governments to place funds in segregated accounts to prevent misuse. The legislation defines prohibited concepts narrowly, such as defining sex strictly by biological classification and limiting exceptions for abortion to cases where a woman's life is in immediate danger. While the rules apply to foreign and international organizations receiving U.S. aid, U.S.-based nonprofits are exempt from the ban on providing these services domestically but must still ensure their foreign-funded projects do not engage in them.

Maddy summaryThe Regional Export Promotion Act of 2026 directs the Export-Import Bank to partner with local governments and nonprofit organizations to help businesses in specific U.S. regions expand their exports. A key provision establishes a five-year pilot program that prioritizes working with entities serving small businesses, such as community banks, minority depository institutions, and chambers of commerce. Through this pilot, the Bank will offer specialized training, short-term insurance products, and simplified application processes to increase its reach in areas with high concentrations of small businesses. The Act also requires the Bank to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the program's progress, including the number of new partners and the volume of products used by small businesses.

Maddy summaryThe America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through 2033, increasing its annual funding from $1.9 billion to $2 billion. It requires that projects funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund must secure at least 15% of their costs from public donations, which will be solicited through public awareness campaigns, donation locations at recreation sites, and during the purchase of recreation passes. The bill also mandates new reporting requirements for deferred maintenance and disposal of assets no longer serving public interest, while ensuring donations are credited to the Fund and allocated to specific projects.

First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.

Maddy summaryThe Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act empowers federal agencies to temporarily pause, condition, or segment payments when there is a significant risk of fraud or financial loss to the government. This authority is triggered by specific fraud-risk indicators, notifications from state or local officials, or orders from the Treasury Department based on its Do Not Pay system. Agencies must notify payees within two days of a pause, outline the review process, and issue a final decision within 30 days, though they may allow routine portions of a payment to proceed while holding anomalous amounts. The bill also provides legal protections for government officials acting in good faith and requires the Treasury to submit annual reports on the number of paused payments and the savings generated.

North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the individuals and communities that provided financial and other support for the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, during World War II.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to correct burial markers for American-Jewish servicemembers who died in World War I or II and were mistakenly buried under Latin crosses (a Christian symbol) in overseas U.S. military cemeteries. The American Battle Monuments Commission will run this 10-year program, authorizing $500,000 annually to contract with qualified nonprofit organizations to identify affected veterans and contact their families. It directly affects Jewish veterans buried overseas with incorrect markers and their descendants, ensuring their religious heritage is properly recognized. The program requires nonprofits to verify burial records and facilitate marker corrections, with priority given to organizations experienced in Jewish military history.