Maddy summaryThe Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act creates a five-year pilot program to award up to five grants for developing specialized foster care programs focused on keeping siblings together. These grants are available to state agencies, tribal or local organizations, and community nonprofits that have proven expertise in managing foster care placements. Recipients must use the funds to create evidence-based programs specifically designed for groups of three or more siblings, including those with wide age gaps or complex needs like trauma or disabilities. To qualify, applicants must submit detailed plans describing how they will place siblings jointly and provide data on current placement challenges. The program is authorized a maximum of $10 million, and grantees are required to report on the number of children served, group sizes, placement methods, and outcomes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Local Law Enforcement Support Act of 2026 expands funding opportunities for local police departments through the Byrne JAG and COPS programs. These funds can be used to recruit and train officers, purchase protective gear, and acquire specific tools like digital forensics equipment, drone technology, and ballistics analysis systems. The bill also allows for investments in software for cyber investigations and victim services. By adding these categories to the list of eligible expenses, the legislation provides law enforcement agencies with more options for addressing modern crime challenges.
Maddy summaryThe Rural Health Resilience Act of 2026 creates a new program to provide loans and loan guarantees to struggling health facilities in rural areas to prevent them from closing or cutting essential services. This assistance is available to various types of rural hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health centers that demonstrate financial distress through metrics like low operating margins or insufficient cash reserves. The funds can be used for facility repairs, covering operational costs such as payroll and supplies, paying down debt, or bridging gaps in insurance reimbursements. Additionally, the program prioritizes support for sole community providers and areas with high poverty rates, and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to report on the program's outcomes to Congress within 18 months.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April as "Community College Month" to recognize the significance of community colleges across the United States. It celebrates over 1,000 institutions for their role in providing accessible higher education and workforce training, and for contributing to the nation's economic prosperity.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to speed up the approval process for farm ownership loans, directly affecting farmers and borrowers seeking financing through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a faster qualification and approval system for direct and guaranteed farm ownership loans, while still maintaining most existing requirements except for application timing. The Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress on the pilot's progress and results, and the program would end on September 30, 2031.
Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes housing assistance programs for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians by streamlining environmental reviews, extending funding authorization through 2032, and expanding loan guarantee options. Key provisions include consolidating environmental review requirements to reduce paperwork for tribes, allowing 99-year leasehold interests on trust lands for housing, and creating new rental assistance specifically for homeless or at-risk Native American veterans. The legislation also clarifies rent rules, waives certain housing counseling certifications for tribal entities, exempts tribal housing projects from some federal civil rights and Buy America requirements, and establishes a direct loan guarantee process for tribal housing projects.
Maddy summaryThe Countering Russia's War on Faith Act requires the U.S. government to produce annual reports detailing how Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories are persecuting religious groups such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims. These reports must document specific actions like the destruction of religious sites, the detention of clergy, and efforts to force local faith communities to align with the Russian Orthodox Church. If the President certifies that specific individuals or entities are responsible for these violations, the law mandates imposing sanctions on them under existing U.S. regulations. The bill focuses on gathering factual information and enforcing penalties against those directly involved in religious persecution, without speculating on the broader geopolitical outcomes of these actions.
Maddy summaryHR 5543, the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025, requires the U.S. State and Defense Departments to submit a report within 180 days of enactment. The report will assess emerging military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, including the roles of Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and other actors. It will also evaluate U.S. and NATO military presence in the region, opportunities for defense cooperation, and recommendations to strengthen deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic countries. This bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy and defense planning regarding the Baltics, but does not create new programs or funding.
Maddy summaryThe ACCURATE Act establishes a new Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools to improve the quality and consistency of natural hazard risk models used by federal agencies. This commission will include representatives from government agencies, state and local emergency organizations, insurance and banking industries, and various professional sectors to develop standards for hazard maps, flood assessments, and risk scores. The bill requires federal departments to adopt these new standards when purchasing hazard assessment tools from private companies, with specific documentation requirements to ensure the tools meet established quality criteria. The commission will submit regular reports to Congress on its findings and recommendations, and the entire commission will dissolve five years after the law takes effect.
Maddy summaryThis bill targets Hungarian officials who continue to facilitate Russian oil and gas imports or block financial aid to Ukraine, imposing sanctions on those individuals. The key mechanism requires the President to ban property transactions and revoke U.S. visas for Hungarian government officials who obstruct Ukraine assistance or approve Russian energy imports after the law is enacted. Sanctions can be waived if Hungary adopts a public plan to end Russian energy dependence by 2028 and stops blocking Ukraine aid for at least 180 days. Additionally, the bill mandates a report from Treasury and State officials detailing any U.S. licenses or approvals that enabled Hungary to purchase Russian oil and gas.