Maddy summaryThis joint resolution requests the Secretary of the Interior to authorize special, one-time public displays on the National Mall and Washington Monument from December 31, 2025, through January 5, 2026. The displays would include five nights of projected content (such as historical footage and commemorative materials) on the Washington Monument, alongside other artifacts and digital exhibits, to mark the start of the 250th anniversary celebrations of U.S. founding. The resolution cites past events like the 1976 bicentennial and 2019 Apollo 50th anniversary commemorations as precedents for similar public displays. As a non-binding request, it does not create new law but asks the agency to permit these specific arrangements as part of the Semiquincentennial Commission's planned events.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal funding for fishing industry safety programs from $3 million to $6 million annually (2025-2029) and requires new training focused on behavioral and physical health risks - including substance use disorder and worker fatigue - for commercial fishing vessel operators and crewmembers. It mandates that safety training programs address these specific health risks and expands research grants to include wellness initiatives. Grants will be awarded competitively with criteria developed in consultation with the Coast Guard. The law directly affects commercial fishing crews and operators by requiring health-risk training and increasing funding for wellness-focused safety programs.
Maddy summarySRES 501 is a ceremonial Senate resolution recognizing November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month. It encourages the American public to observe the month through programs and activities that celebrate Native American cultural contributions, heritage, and history. The resolution does not create new legal obligations or funding, serving solely as a symbolic acknowledgment of Native American communities' enduring impact on U.S. society.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires every Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center to provide dedicated lactation spaces for women veterans and the public. It mandates these spaces be private, accessible (including for wheelchair users), equipped with seating and a surface, clearly marked, and free from bathroom use. The law directly affects women veterans and other users who need to express breast milk at VA facilities. The VA must implement these changes within two years of the bill's enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3174 (VA CBA Act of 2025), preserves existing labor agreements between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and employee unions. It ensures all collective bargaining agreements in effect on March 26, 2025, remain fully enforceable through their original terms. The bill also cancels two executive orders (14251 and 14343) that had excluded VA employees from federal labor-management programs, and prohibits using federal funds to implement those orders for VA. This directly affects VA employees and their unions by maintaining their current bargaining rights and removing prior restrictions on labor relations.
Maddy summaryThis bill ensures uninterrupted funding for Head Start programs in fiscal year 2026 by appropriating necessary funds from the Treasury if regular or continuing appropriations for that year are not enacted by September 30, 2026. It directly affects Head Start programs and the children and families they serve by preventing service disruptions during funding gaps. The key mechanism requires funding to continue under the same conditions as fiscal year 2025 (as established by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025) until either regular appropriations are passed, a specific appropriations resolution is enacted, or September 30, 2026. The bill does not create new funding but maintains current levels to avoid program interruptions.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution terminates a national emergency declared by the President on February 1, 2025, which authorized the imposition of import duties on goods from Canada. It directly affects Canadian importers and businesses exporting goods to the U.S. that were subject to these duties under the emergency authority. The bill formally ends the emergency declaration under the National Emergencies Act, removing the legal basis for the duties but not automatically eliminating the duties themselves. This is a procedural action to revoke the emergency status, not a change to trade policy.
Maddy summaryThis bill ensures military personnel and their support staff continue receiving pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It authorizes funds from the Treasury to cover pay and allowances for active-duty service members, reserves, military support civilians (including Coast Guard staff), and qualifying contractors if regular budget appropriations aren't approved. The funding remains available until the earliest of: a new budget passing, a continuing resolution without this funding, or January 1, 2027. It directly affects all active-duty military, reserve components, and civilian/contractor support staff within the Department of Defense and Coast Guard.
Maddy summaryS 1000 creates a new position for a U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs within the State Department. This official, appointed by the President with Senate approval, will coordinate U.S. foreign policy across Arctic-related issues including national security, environmental protection, indigenous engagement, resource management, and scientific research. The role will oversee efforts involving multiple federal agencies and work with Arctic Council nations (U.S., Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia). The bill defines the "Arctic region" to include northern U.S. territories, Arctic waters, and the Aleutian Chain, establishing this position to centralize U.S. policy coordination in the region.
Maddy summaryThis bill ensures the U.S. Capitol Police continue receiving pay during fiscal year 2026 funding gaps by authorizing temporary funds for salaries, benefits (including hazard pay and retirement), and contractor support. It directly affects Capitol Police officers (classified as "excepted employees" during emergencies), their civilian support staff, and contractors providing essential services. The funding mechanism provides immediate payments for the period starting October 1, 2025, and lasts until Congress passes regular appropriations for the Capitol Police or September 30, 2026, whichever comes first.