Maddy summaryThe Risk-based Oversight for Integrity Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study and potentially reform how it oversees the organic food industry. This study will examine whether inspections and regulations should be adjusted based on the risk that a farm or business might violate organic standards, considering factors like the size of the operation and its past compliance record. If the study finds it beneficial, the Act allows the Secretary to create new rules that could reduce inspection burdens for low-risk entities while focusing more resources on high-risk ones. Additionally, the legislation permits the use of virtual inspections for some domestic operations, provided that on-site checks still occur at least once every three years. The proposed changes aim to maintain strong organic integrity while improving efficiency within the national organic program.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act of 2026 creates a competitive grant program to help organizations transport materials removed during wildfire risk reduction projects on National Forest System lands. Eligible recipients include for-profit companies, nonprofits, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and universities, with funding available from fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Grants can cover costs for transporting wood and biomass, maintaining transport equipment, and workforce training, but cannot be used for construction or buying timber. The program prioritizes projects in high-risk wildfire areas and offers higher funding percentages to Indian Tribes compared to other applicants.
Maddy summaryThe Medicare Cost Cap Act of 2026 establishes a $5,000 annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries starting in 2028, after which Medicare will cover 100% of additional covered expenses. This protection applies to all individuals enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B and includes tracking mechanisms to notify patients and providers once the cap is reached. The bill also modifies eligibility rules for low-income assistance programs, aligning income thresholds between Medicare Savings Programs and Medicaid and expanding data sharing to streamline enrollment for qualifying beneficiaries.
Maddy summaryThe Right to Vote Act establishes federal protections ensuring that citizens can vote in elections for federal office without undue burdens or substantial impairments. It prohibits governments from making voting more difficult unless they can prove that such restrictions are the least restrictive way to achieve an important government interest. The bill creates a specific legal pathway for voters to challenge voting rules in court, requiring officials to provide strong evidence justifying any limitations on the voting process. Additionally, it mandates that courts handle these cases quickly and allows for the recovery of attorney fees for successful plaintiffs. These measures apply to all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia for elections occurring on or after September 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryThe Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act prohibits states and their officials from restricting or penalizing health care providers who offer reproductive health services that are legal in the state where they are performed. This includes banning laws that stop doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or their staff from providing abortion, contraception, or other reproductive care, as well as preventing the denial of professional liability insurance based on these services. The bill establishes a private right of action allowing providers to sue in federal court to challenge such restrictions and mandates that the federal government cannot use funds to support legal cases against providers acting within state law. Additionally, the legislation appropriates $80 million in grants to support legal defense funds for providers facing lawsuits and to improve physical and cybersecurity measures at health care facilities.
Maddy summaryThe NO FAKES Act of 2026 establishes a new property right for individuals to control the creation and use of their digital voice and visual likeness replicas, extending protection to both living people and their heirs for up to 70 years after death. The bill requires companies and platforms that distribute these digital replicas or sell tools to create them to obtain explicit authorization from the right holder, while also setting up a notification system for online services to remove unauthorized content. Additionally, the law preempts existing state laws regarding digital likeness rights and includes specific penalties and safe harbor protections for platforms that comply with the new requirements.
This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor American citizens and organizations that rescued Jews and other refugees during the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945. The legislation directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to arrange for the presentation of a single gold medal, which will subsequently be given to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for display and research. Additionally, the bill permits the minting of duplicate bronze medals for sale to cover production costs, with the proceeds deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Maddy summaryThe CHILE Act of 2026 creates a new federal program to provide emergency financial assistance to producers of specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, when they face adverse events like economic crises or market disruptions. Under this framework, the Secretary of Agriculture would calculate payments based on the producer's recent sales history and a specific payment factor designed to cover losses, while also accounting for the higher input costs and diverse business structures common in this sector. The legislation sets a total funding limit of $5 billion for fiscal year 2027, with higher payment caps for large-scale farming operations that derive at least 75 percent of their income from agriculture.
Maddy summaryThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by doubling the maximum Federal Pell Grant award to $10,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, with amounts rising annually to reach $15,000 by 2031-2032. The bill also changes the funding structure so that Pell Grants become a mandatory program that automatically adjusts for inflation rather than relying on annual congressional appropriations. Additional provisions expand eligibility to include students with negative financial aid indexes, provide special rules for recipients of means-tested benefits, and allow Dreamer students who become citizens or permanent residents to qualify for aid. The legislation further restores the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and modifies how institutions determine satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students struggling with course requirements.