Sen. Edward J. Markey

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Equal Tax Act, proposes changes to how the U.S. tax system treats capital gains and earned income. It would limit preferential tax rates for capital gains to individuals with taxable incomes of $1,000,000 or less, while maintaining lower rates for qualifying family farms and businesses. Additionally, the bill would require taxpayers to recognize capital gains when property is transferred through gifts or inheritance, except for transfers between spouses and certain charitable contributions. The legislation also includes provisions for reporting certain gifts and bequests, allows for extended payment terms for taxes owed on gains realized due to death, and places limits on using like-kind exchanges to defer taxes on real estate gains.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new windfall profits tax on crude oil producers and importers, targeting companies that extract or import more than 300,000 barrels of oil per day. The tax rate would be 50% of the amount by which current crude oil prices exceed a baseline set at the 2025 average, with adjustments for inflation in subsequent years. Revenue collected from this tax would be placed in a dedicated fund and then rebated directly to individual taxpayers as a credit against their income taxes. The rebate amount would be calculated quarterly based on the total tax revenue collected and distributed to eligible individuals, with higher amounts for joint filers and income-based phase-outs. The bill applies to oil extracted or imported after December 31, 2025, and includes provisions for territories with mirror tax systems to receive equivalent benefits.

Maddy summaryThe Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (S 836) extends COPPA protections to teens aged 13-17 by requiring websites, apps, and online services to obtain verifiable consent from parents for children or from teens themselves before collecting or using their personal information for purposes beyond the service. It defines "personal information" broadly to include biometric data, voice recordings, persistent identifiers, and geolocation information, and prohibits using such information for individual-specific advertising without consent. The bill mandates clear notice about data practices and gives children and teens rights to access, correct, and delete their personal information. Additionally, it requires the FTC to conduct studies on mobile app oversight and the GAO to study teen privacy in financial technology products.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, would change federal labor rules to require overtime pay and minimum wage protections for certain babysitters who currently do not receive these benefits. It specifically targets casual babysitting jobs that are irregular or intermittent and not performed by individuals whose primary occupation is babysitting. The law would also clarify that trained medical professionals like nurses and home health aides remain exempt from these new requirements, ensuring the changes apply only to casual domestic caregivers. By amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the bill aims to extend wage protections to a specific group of home care workers while maintaining existing exemptions for professional medical staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Working Americans' Tax Cut Act, proposes two main tax changes: it creates an alternative maximum tax rate of 25.5% for low- and middle-income individuals earning less than 175% of a cost-of-living exemption, and it imposes a progressive surcharge on high-income individuals earning over $1 million. The low-income provision calculates taxes based on income above a living expense threshold that adjusts annually with inflation, while the high-income surcharge applies rates of 5%, 10%, and 12% to income brackets above $1 million, $2 million, and $5 million respectively. Both provisions use modified adjusted gross income as the base for calculations and apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill would directly affect individual taxpayers by altering how their income is taxed under the Internal Revenue Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the authorization period for the Young Fishermen's Development Program from 2026 to 2031 by amending Section 5(a) of the existing law. It directly affects young commercial fishermen who rely on the program for training, financial assistance, and support to enter or expand their fishing businesses. The key mechanism is a simple date change in the law’s expiration timeline, ensuring current program funding and operations continue without altering existing eligibility or benefits. The bill does not introduce new requirements or funding streams - it only prolongs the existing program’s validity. This is a procedural extension, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally recognizes March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day" to honor abortion providers and staff for their work in delivering essential reproductive care. It highlights their courage amid challenges including clinic closures, safety threats, and increased harassment following the Dobbs decision. The resolution symbolically affirms Congress's support for providers' safety and patients' access to abortion care, without creating new legal requirements or affecting any individuals directly. (1 sentence; procedural resolution)

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act, exempts small businesses from import duties imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and requires refunds of any such duties already paid by small businesses. It also prohibits companies from raising prices on affected goods by more than the cost of the duties themselves during a five-year period following duty implementation. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules, with state attorneys general allowed to bring civil actions against violators, while small businesses remain exempt from the price gouging restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administrator to officially designate national high-energy astrophysics hubs. These hubs would be research facilities, universities, government entities, or non-governmental organizations that operate missions supporting U.S. leadership in high-energy astrophysics and related scientific fields. The designated hubs must provide training, workforce development, technology transfer, and collaborative resources for academic, governmental, and commercial partners. The legislation aims to maintain U.S. global leadership in this scientific area by ensuring current facilities continue serving scientific, educational, and commercial interests beyond the duration of current flagship missions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act, aims to restore federal student loan limits that were previously reduced for graduate and professional students. It directly affects students pursuing advanced degrees such as law, medicine, and education by increasing the amount of federal loans they can access. The legislation reverses specific loan cap reductions established by Public Law 119-21, allowing students to borrow more money during their period of instruction. By amending the Higher Education Act of 1965, the bill removes certain restrictions on annual and aggregate loan amounts for these student categories.