Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Secretary of State to create and execute a plan to end the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) across the Middle East. The legislation requires a detailed strategy that assesses current programs like education and healthcare, identifies new organizations to take over these services, and outlines how to fund and oversee the transition without interrupting aid. Once the plan is submitted to Congress, the State Department must begin implementing it within a year while coordinating with host countries and international partners. The bill emphasizes maintaining service continuity and ensuring that any successor groups meet strict standards for transparency and accountability.
Maddy summaryThis bill reformulates the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to improve how it reviews nuclear reactor safety and license applications. It limits the committee to a maximum of 15 members appointed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure diverse technical expertise, while also establishing specific rules for member terms and compensation. The legislation directs the committee to focus primarily on novel, safety-significant issues related to reactor design and requires the commission to request specific actions before the committee reviews license applications or submits reports. Additionally, the bill mandates that all committee reports be made part of the public record unless classified for security reasons, aiming to increase transparency and efficiency in the regulatory process.
Maddy summaryHR 3194, the LOCOMOTIVES Act, prevents states from setting their own emissions standards for locomotives used in interstate commerce. It amends the Clean Air Act to clarify that federal emissions rules exclusively apply to locomotives providing common carrier railroad transportation for hire (like commercial freight or passenger services across state lines), excluding these from state regulation. This directly affects railroads operating interstate services and state environmental agencies that previously could establish stricter local rules for such locomotives. The bill does not change the actual emissions requirements but shifts regulatory authority solely to the federal government for this specific category of locomotives.
Maddy summaryThe Jewish American Security Act aims to combat antisemitism by strengthening protections for Jewish students, securing Jewish communities, and increasing transparency regarding online hate speech. For educational institutions receiving federal funds, the bill mandates the creation of specific coordinators to handle discrimination complaints, requires annual training on handling antisemitism, and establishes a new federal clearinghouse to share best practices for campus safety. To support physical security, the legislation expands grant funding for nonprofit organizations and directs the Attorney General to provide resources for law enforcement agencies protecting houses of worship. Additionally, the act requires major online platforms with over 50 million monthly users to submit detailed reports to the Federal Trade Commission on how they detect, remove, and moderate antisemitic content.
Maddy summaryHR 4398, the Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act, requires Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians or nurse practitioners to certify the death of a veteran who dies of natural causes within 48 hours of learning of the death. This directly affects veterans' families, who previously faced delays of up to eight weeks in burial and access to survivor benefits due to slow death certifications. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on VA compliance with the 48-hour rule, including statistics on delays and their causes. The key change is establishing a strict timeline for death certification to prevent unnecessary delays in honoring veterans' final arrangements.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam, a music educator who founded the Melody Maids, an all-girls singing group that supported U.S. military morale during World War II and subsequent conflicts. The legislation directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medal's presentation on behalf of Congress, while the Secretary of the Treasury is tasked with striking the gold medal with appropriate designs. Following the ceremony, the original medal will be given to the Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas, for display and research, and the Secretary may also produce and sell duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.
Maddy summaryThe GRACE for Military Survivors Act extends the deadline for contributing military death benefits to Roth IRAs and Coverdell education savings accounts from one year to three years. This change directly benefits families of service members who receive these death benefits, giving them more time to save for retirement or education. The law applies to benefits received after the bill is enacted and includes a special rule allowing contributions made within a specific window for benefits received between 2001 and the enactment date. By amending the Internal Revenue Code, the bill ensures that eligible funds can be deposited into these tax-advantaged accounts without losing their value due to time limits.
Maddy summaryThe Premium Transparency Act requires health insurers and Medicare Advantage organizations to publicly disclose how they spend premium revenue, specifically detailing the percentages allocated to claims, overhead costs, and retained profits. Starting in 2027, these companies must publish this data in a consumer-friendly format on their websites for each plan they offer, allowing individuals to compare financial transparency across different coverage options. Additionally, the bill mandates that the government issue standardized guidance by 2028 to ensure key plan details, such as deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, and specific care costs, are presented in plain English. A further provision updates online plan comparisons to include this new financial data beginning in 2029, aiming to help consumers make more informed decisions about their health insurance.
Maddy summaryThe Prior Authorization Accountability Act requires health insurance plans and issuers to publicly report detailed data on their prior authorization processes starting in 2027. This includes submitting information on approval and denial rates, appeal outcomes, processing times, and the specific use of artificial intelligence or other automated technologies in making coverage decisions. The bill mandates that these reports be available on public websites for both individual and group coverage, allowing consumers to compare how different plans handle requests for medical services. Additionally, the legislation updates the Affordable Care Act to ensure that health plans sold through insurance exchanges display this new transparency data to help shoppers make informed choices.
