Sen. Tim Kaine

Maddy summaryThe Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act expands federal firearm restrictions to include individuals subject to any domestic violence restraining order, including temporary or emergency orders issued without the abuser's presence. It broadens the legal definition of an "intimate partner" to cover dating partners and other relationships protected by state laws, closing previous loopholes that allowed some abusers to keep guns. The bill also creates a federal grant program for states and tribes to fund the removal, storage, and return of firearms from individuals subject to these orders, requiring them to partner with local domestic violence service providers to ensure victim safety.

Maddy summaryThe ASSET Act prohibits states from using asset limits to determine eligibility for several federally funded assistance programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, SNAP, LIHEAP, and Supplemental Security Income. By removing these financial thresholds, the bill aims to allow low-income families to save money and build financial stability without risking their benefits. Additionally, the legislation updates the resource limit for SSI recipients to $20,000 for individuals and $10,000 for couples in 2026, with future increases tied to inflation. While the bill generally eliminates these limits, it includes a grace period for states that must pass their own laws to comply with the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a streamlined process for transferring specific U.S. military supplies, such as artillery shells and rocket munitions, to Ukraine without requiring the usual case-by-case approval from Congress. It allows these items to be sold to designated allied nations like NATO members, Australia, Japan, and others, who can then transfer them directly to the Ukrainian government. To ensure control, the law requires Ukraine to promise in writing that it will not send these weapons to other countries without U.S. permission and must take physical possession of the items by December 31, 2030, a deadline that can be extended annually as long as Russia continues its invasion.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. military forces from ongoing hostilities against Iran that were not authorized by Congress. The bill is based on the constitutional principle that Congress holds the sole power to declare war and notes that no formal declaration or specific authorization for force against Iran has been enacted. While the resolution mandates withdrawal from active combat operations, it allows the U.S. to continue defensive actions, intelligence gathering, and limited support for allies facing Iranian attacks. The measure is intended to enforce congressional oversight of military engagements and restore constitutional war powers to the legislative branch.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District to include additional counties in both Virginia and West Virginia, allowing the area to be managed as a partnership between federal and state entities. It establishes a specific funding stream of $1.25 million annually for management and park maintenance, while also authorizing $2.5 million per year from 2027 to 2033 for acquiring new land and providing technical assistance to partners. The legislation ensures that the district remains eligible for National Heritage Area grants and exempts it from certain funding formulas used for other national heritage sites. Finally, it requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a report to Congress within two years suggesting how this partnership model could be applied to other locations in the National Park System.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study for establishing Washington's Trail - 1753 as a National Historic Trail. The proposed trail would follow the historic route taken by George Washington in 1753, stretching approximately 500 miles from Williamsburg, Virginia, to Fort LeBoeuf in Pennsylvania. By amending the National Trails System Act, the legislation authorizes an official evaluation to determine if the trail meets the criteria for designation. This process involves assessing the trail's historical significance and potential for public access without yet committing to its final creation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue a specific right-of-way for an emergency exit route near Milepost 9.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, directly affecting emergency access for the Wintergreen area. It mandates the Secretary certify three conditions before granting the right-of-way: evaluating non-federal land alternatives, analyzing fire behavior risks, and completing required environmental reviews under federal law. The bill amends a 1936 law governing the Blue Ridge Parkway to implement this specific emergency egress route, identified on a map dated September 2024. It focuses on procedural requirements for the federal land crossing, not on the outcome of the emergency access itself.

Maddy summaryThe Making America's Food Safer Act expands the FDA's existing third-party certification program to allow more entities in the food supply chain to use independent audits for importing food into the United States. It also updates how the FDA uses these certifications to assess food safety and prioritize inspections, while establishing a formal system to recognize the organizations that accredit these auditors. Additionally, the bill permits the FDA to share unredacted food safety data, such as illness surveillance and inspection results, with state, local, and tribal health authorities to help them protect public health. Finally, it gives the FDA the authority to order the immediate destruction of imported food that poses a significant public health risk, provided the owner receives notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision.

Maddy summaryThe UNLOCK AUKUS Act amends federal export control laws to allow the transfer of specific defense articles and services to partners under the AUKUS security pact. By modifying the Arms Export Control Act, the bill removes certain restrictions that previously limited what technology and equipment could be shared with these allied nations. This change directly impacts the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense, enabling them to facilitate the collaboration required for next-generation nuclear-powered submarine programs. The legislation does not alter the core requirements for these transfers but adjusts the regulatory framework to support the partnership's goals.

Maddy summaryThe Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 aims to support Iranian citizens' access to information and human rights by expanding U.S. government efforts to promote internet freedom in Iran. The bill requires the State Department to coordinate internet freedom initiatives, develop technologies to circumvent internet blackouts (including satellite internet and mesh networks), and increase funding for programs that provide Iranians with tools to access open internet services. It also establishes procedures for identifying and sanctioning individuals who support the Iranian regime's human rights abuses. The legislation directly affects U.S. government agencies, Iranian citizens seeking to access information, and organizations working to support internet freedom in Iran.