Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act, modifies federal energy laws to ensure that large industrial customers pay for the specific infrastructure upgrades needed to serve their high electricity demands. It directly affects non-residential facilities with a peak power usage of 100 megawatts or more, requiring utilities to charge these customers the full incremental cost of any necessary generation, transmission, or distribution improvements. Under the new rules, large customers must also provide financial guarantees or contributions before such upgrades are made, ensuring utilities can recover costs even if the customer leaves the contract early. State regulators have two years to implement these standards, though the bill exempts utilities in states that have already enacted similar measures or are actively considering them.

Maddy summaryThe Public Service Loan Forgiveness Inclusion Act of 2026 modifies federal student loan rules to make it easier for borrowers in public service jobs to qualify for debt cancellation. The bill changes how qualifying monthly payments are counted by allowing the first 60 payments to count regardless of their amount, while requiring subsequent payments to meet a specific minimum threshold based on a standard 10-year repayment schedule. It also expands eligibility to include payments made under the standard repayment plan and counts months where repayment was suspended due to administrative forbearance as qualifying payments if the borrower remained employed in public service. The Department of Education is required to notify affected borrowers about these changes within 180 days of enactment, with the new payment counting rules applying to those who have not yet made 120 monthly payments.

Maddy summaryThe HEIRS Act of 2025 establishes two grant programs to help homeowners with "heirs' property" - residential land held by multiple heirs without clear title due to intestacy. It provides $30 million annually (2026-2036) to states/local governments that adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, funding title documentation, legal fees, and estate planning. An additional $10 million annually (2026-2030) supports HUD-approved housing counselors and legal services to assist low- and moderate-income minority homeowners in clearing title and retaining homes. The bill requires grantees to prioritize neighborhoods with high concentrations of affected residents and includes mandatory education about heirs' property risks and solutions.

Maddy summaryHR 1869 creates a new DOJ task force within the Criminal Division to investigate and prosecute international trade crimes, such as customs evasion, smuggling, and trade-based money laundering. It requires the DOJ to hire specialized prosecutors, coordinate with agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and focus on specific violations covered under statutes like 18 U.S.C. §§ 541-546 and 21 U.S.C. § 331. The bill authorizes $20 million in funding for fiscal year 2026 (with 80% dedicated to criminal prosecutions), mandates annual reports to Congress on enforcement activities, and requires the DOJ to develop multi-agency partnerships to address these crimes. This directly affects federal prosecutors, border enforcement agencies, and industries impacted by trade violations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of August 2 through August 8, 2026, as "National Farmers Market Week" to recognize the importance of local food markets. It highlights how these markets support farmers' incomes, connect urban and rural communities, and promote sustainable farming practices. The measure serves as a symbolic gesture to celebrate the role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and improving public access to fresh food.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and expands the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act through 2031, extending funding for research into treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It requires drug manufacturers to share interim clinical trial data with the FDA to better assess the progress of investigational drugs and clarifies that phase 3 clinical trial definitions include combined phase 2/3 trials and planned trials not yet enrolling participants. The legislation also mandates the FDA to publish an updated five-year action plan for ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases, including resource needs and coordination strategies with broader disease communities. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report on the program's implementation four years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Act of 2026 authorizes the organization Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. to build a commemorative monument on federal land in Washington, D.C., honoring the original Tuskegee Airmen who served in World War II. This legislation allows the group to accept private donations and cover all costs for the project without using federal funds, while requiring any leftover money to be deposited into specific government accounts. The bill also mandates that the memorial be constructed in compliance with existing federal standards for commemorative works.

Maddy summaryThe Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026 updates the Clean Air Act to broaden the definition of renewable biomass eligible for carbon credits. It specifically allows materials from forest management, such as slash, storm debris, and wood residuals, to be counted as renewable fuel if they come from sustainably managed lands or public forests designated for fuel reduction. The bill also includes vegetation cleared from defensible space around buildings and from wildfire risk reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface. By clarifying these categories and establishing certification requirements, the legislation aims to increase the supply of biomass available for generating renewable energy credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employee health plans to reimburse pharmacies at specific rates, including the national average drug cost plus a small percentage or $50, whichever is lower. It prohibits PBMs from favoring their own pharmacies, restricting patient choice, or reducing pharmacy payments after claims are processed. The bill establishes $10,000 civil penalties for violations, with debarment from federal health plans after 10 penalties in 10 years. This directly affects PBMs, in-network pharmacies, and federal health benefit plans covering millions of federal employees and their families. The law aims to ensure fair reimbursement practices and maintain pharmacy choice under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 North Elm Street in Tuskegee, Alabama, as the "Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office".