Rep. Sean Casten

Maddy summaryThe Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act requires digital asset kiosk operators to register their locations with the Treasury Department and makes this information publicly available. To combat fraud and money laundering, the bill mandates strict identity verification, transaction limits of $2,000 per day for new customers, and the use of blockchain analytics to monitor suspicious activity. Operators must also provide clear, standardized disclosures about fees and risks, display scam warnings, offer live customer support, and issue detailed receipts to users. Additionally, the law sets federal transaction limits that supersede state restrictions while allowing states to issue compliance decals and maintain their own licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 5408, the Faster Labor Contracts Act, requires employers to begin negotiating a first contract with a newly certified union within 10 days of written request. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the parties must seek mediation, and if unresolved after 30 days of mediation, the dispute moves to binding arbitration by a three-member panel. The arbitration decision, based on factors like employer finances, industry standards, and cost of living, becomes binding for two years. This bill directly affects newly certified unions and their employers during initial contract negotiations, aiming to reduce delays that currently average 465 days.

Maddy summaryThe HEAR Act of 2026 makes it illegal for most people to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess firearm silencers and mufflers. The law allows exceptions for law enforcement officers, campus security personnel, nuclear facility employees, and licensed manufacturers conducting authorized testing. To help individuals comply with the new restrictions, the bill requires the Attorney General to create a nationwide buy-back program that pays people who surrender their silencers. These changes would take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve special education services for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafdisabled, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. It requires states to identify these students regardless of how they are currently classified, ensuring they receive specialized instruction in their primary language and access to qualified professionals. Key provisions mandate that state plans include specific strategies for language development, Braille instruction, and the use of assistive technologies, while also establishing a new national center to support research and training for educators of students with visual disabilities. Additionally, the legislation clarifies definitions for deafblindness and interveners, updates data reporting requirements to track these populations more accurately, and ensures early intervention services are delivered in natural environments to support language and communication milestones.

Maddy summaryThe Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to study and report on the environmental effects of artificial intelligence, including energy and water use, pollution, and electronic waste. This bill requires large data centers to annually submit detailed public reports on their resource consumption and environmental footprint, with penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, it establishes a stakeholder consortium to develop standardized methods for measuring these impacts and to identify ways to promote beneficial uses of AI while reducing negative effects. The legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding the growing environmental costs associated with AI infrastructure and operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act, restricts the construction of large triumphal arches in the Washington, D.C. area to preserve visual sightlines. It specifically bans the building of any such arches within Lady Bird Johnson Park and prohibits the use of federal funds for these structures there. Additionally, the law prevents the erection of triumphal arches taller than 50 feet on any land managed by the National Park Service unless Congress explicitly approves them. These measures aim to limit new monumental structures that could obstruct views of the Arlington National Cemetery from the capital region.

Maddy summaryThe American High-Speed Rail Act expands federal funding and streamlines regulations to support the development of high-speed and higher-speed rail projects across the United States. It authorizes billions of dollars in grants for corridor planning, technology improvements, and construction, while allowing the federal government to cover up to 100% of project costs under specific conditions. The bill also introduces new provisions to facilitate land acquisition, prioritize border projects, and extend labor protections to workers involved in federally funded rail infrastructure. Additionally, the legislation defines higher-speed rail as trains traveling between 110 and 186 miles per hour and includes tax incentives for rail carriers that sell or lease property to support these projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Ending Fossil Fuel Bailouts Act of 2026, modifies federal bankruptcy laws to specifically target oil, gas, and coal companies. It requires these companies to prioritize paying worker wages and environmental cleanup costs over other debts, including those owed to shareholders. The legislation also prevents fossil fuel firms from abandoning their assets during bankruptcy and extends the time period for investigating fraudulent financial transfers to ten years. Additionally, it prohibits the transfer of certain federal energy leases if the company holding them files for bankruptcy. These changes aim to ensure that environmental liabilities and employee compensation are addressed before other financial claims are settled.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new federal standards requiring oil and gas companies operating on the Outer Continental Shelf to be certified as "fit to operate" before they can obtain or maintain leases. To receive this certification, companies must demonstrate a clean safety and environmental record over the past decade, maintain an investment-grade credit rating, and prove they have sufficient funds to cover future decommissioning costs. The legislation also mandates that operators place a significant portion of estimated decommissioning costs into interest-bearing escrow accounts and limits the time a well can be temporarily abandoned to three years, with a possible one-time extension to five years. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of the Interior to conduct annual compliance checks and submit detailed reports to Congress regarding enforcement actions and escrow account balances.

Maddy summaryThe Elder Pride Act of 2026 creates a new grant program under the Older Americans Act to support rural outreach initiatives for older individuals, including those from LGBTQI communities and other protected groups. Authorized funding of $5 million per year for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 will be distributed to states, tribal organizations, and nonprofit agencies that submit applications demonstrating a plan to partner with local communities. Recipients must use these funds to provide sexual health services, reduce social isolation, improve cultural competency among service providers, and expand nondiscrimination policies in areas not designated as urbanized. The bill requires that any federal money received supplement, rather than replace, existing state or local funding for related services.