Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Maddy summaryThe Drug Deal Disclosure Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publicly release specific records regarding agreements between the federal government and major drug manufacturers starting in 2025. This law mandates the disclosure of contracts that include provisions such as reduced drug prices based on international rates, direct-to-consumer sales discounts, duty exemptions, and special treatment for Medicare programs. While the bill allows for the redaction of confidential pricing details, it prohibits withholding information based on political sensitivity or reputational harm and requires a detailed justification for any redactions. Additionally, the act mandates reports to Congress and independent analysis from the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the economic and budgetary impacts of these agreements.

Maddy summaryThe Southeast New England Program Authorization Act of 2026 creates a new grant program within the Environmental Protection Agency to support water quality and ecosystem projects in the coastal watersheds of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. This initiative allows eligible recipients, including state and local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and universities, to receive funding for activities such as reducing pollution, restoring habitats, and improving stormwater management. The bill authorizes up to $30 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for these projects, with a maximum federal share of 75 percent and specific limits on funds used for technical assistance and administrative costs. Additionally, the act requires the EPA Administrator to coordinate federal agency efforts and provide necessary staff to implement the program effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens consumer protections and corporate accountability by tightening rules for Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, particularly those involving large corporate restructurings. It allows courts to dismiss bankruptcy filings more quickly if they are filed in bad faith or to gain a tactical advantage, while also limiting the automatic stay that usually pauses legal actions against non-debtor entities like parent companies or insurers. Specifically, the law removes the automatic stay for certain claims related to mass torts or environmental issues if the debtor underwent a major corporate restructuring in the four years before filing. These changes aim to prevent companies from using bankruptcy to shield themselves from liability to hundreds of individuals while still allowing legitimate reorganization efforts to proceed.

Maddy summaryThe Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2026 establishes a 20-year demonstration project to help blind individuals who receive Social Security disability benefits return to the workforce. Under this program, the usual rules that reduce or stop benefits when a recipient earns money are modified to allow them to keep working while still receiving financial support. Specifically, the bill removes the requirement that earnings must be low enough to qualify for disability benefits and limits how much a person's monthly payment decreases based on their income and work-related expenses. Additionally, the project prevents benefits from ending solely because of earnings and waives certain standard compliance rules to facilitate the trial. After the initial 120-month period, participants have the option to exit the demonstration project if they choose.

Maddy summaryThe Ending the Carried Interest Loophole Act changes how the IRS treats partnership interests given to employees for their work, specifically targeting financial managers and investment professionals. Under the new rules, these individuals must pay ordinary income tax on the value of their partnership shares at the time they receive them, rather than waiting until they sell the shares to pay lower capital gains taxes. The law also establishes a 10-year window during which any future profits earned from these shares are taxed as ordinary income instead of capital gains. Additionally, the bill repeals an existing tax provision that previously allowed certain carried interest payments to be classified as capital gains.

Maddy summaryThe Stop CHEATERS Act directs the Internal Revenue Service to increase its enforcement efforts against high-income individuals and large corporations while also expanding taxpayer support services. To achieve this, the bill appropriates billions of dollars over several years to fund IRS investigations, hire additional staff, purchase vehicles, and modernize outdated technology systems. Additionally, the legislation requires the IRS Commissioner to submit regular reports to Congress detailing plans to shift auditing resources toward wealthy taxpayers and analyzing collection gaps across different income levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act," repeals two sections of the Internal Revenue Code. It eliminates Section 25F, which provides a tax credit for contributions made to scholarship granting organizations. Additionally, the bill repeals Section 139K, which allows certain educational assistance to be excluded from an individual's gross income. These changes primarily affect taxpayers who currently claim these credits or exclusions, and organizations involved in scholarship grants or providing educational assistance. The amendments generally take effect for taxable years ending after December 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026 aims to improve food access for older adults, adults with disabilities, and kinship families by expanding and streamlining several federal nutrition programs. The bill extends SNAP certification periods, creates a standard medical expense deduction, and establishes simplified application processes for eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities. It also funds a new program to reimburse retail food stores for delivering groceries to these vulnerable populations and provides grants for outreach and application assistance. Additionally, the Act expands eligibility and increases funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, including grants for market modernization and infrastructure development to support local food access.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new annual wealth tax on individuals with net assets exceeding $50 million, effective in 2027, targeting ultra-wealthy taxpayers by taxing the total value of their taxable assets rather than income. The tax uses a tiered structure with a 0% bracket up to $50 million, a 2% rate between $50 million and $1 billion, and a 3% or 6% rate on assets above $1 billion, with the higher rate applying if a universal health insurance program is enacted. It includes special rules for married couples filing jointly, trusts, and non-resident aliens, while also adding stricter information reporting requirements and increased IRS funding for enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to give equal consideration to nonstructural flood risk management options, such as elevating buildings, floodproofing structures, or relocating them, alongside traditional infrastructure like levees and floodwalls. It requires the Corps to resume any paused flood risk studies that include these nonstructural options and mandates regular written updates to local communities about project progress and funding. The legislation also establishes a new working group to provide expert advice on nonstructural flood measures and creates a dedicated center of expertise within the Corps to improve technical capacity in this area. Additionally, the bill increases federal cost-sharing for nonstructural projects in economically disadvantaged communities and repetitive loss areas, allowing for up to 100 percent federal funding in severe cases. Finally, it expands the types of costs eligible for federal reimbursement when elevating structures, including utility upgrades, asbestos abatement, and temporary housing expenses for displaced residents.