Sen. Chuck Grassley

Maddy summarySRES 364 is a Senate resolution recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a policy established in 2005 and expanded in 2007. It acknowledges the RFS's role in supporting domestic renewable fuel production, strengthening energy security, aiding rural economies, and reducing transportation emissions through mandated renewable fuel targets. The resolution does not create new policy or funding but formally commends the RFS's achievements over two decades, including its contribution to U.S. economic output, job creation, and environmental performance.

Maddy summarySRES 340 designates July 30, 2025, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day" to honor individuals who report government waste, fraud, or misconduct. The resolution directs federal agencies to inform employees, contractors, and the public about their legal right to report wrongdoing and to recognize whistleblowers' contributions to saving taxpayer funds and upholding ethical standards. It commemorates the first U.S. whistleblower law passed on July 30, 1778, by the Continental Congress. This is a symbolic recognition measure with no new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires psychiatric hospitals to have their accreditation inspections documented using a standardized form (CMS-2567 or a future successor) starting two years after enactment. It mandates that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services publish key inspection findings on the Care Compare website two years after enactment, helping healthcare consumers compare facilities. The law includes privacy safeguards to prevent disclosure of patient or staff identities, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations. The bill directly affects psychiatric hospitals, accreditation bodies, and patients seeking care, by increasing transparency around facility inspections.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Program to include retired law enforcement officers who die or become permanently disabled due to targeted attacks related to their past service. It adds a new eligibility provision (Section 1201(p)) defining "retired law enforcement officer" and covering injuries from attacks specifically motivated by their former role. The law applies retroactively to pending claims and new filings after enactment, with exceptions for cases occurring before 2012. It directly affects retired officers whose service led to targeted violence, expanding their access to death and disability benefits under existing federal law.

Maddy summaryS 2591, the Ethanol for America Act of 2025, requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a 2021 proposed rule within 90 days of enactment. It mandates specific labeling for E15 fuel (15% ethanol blend) and sets new compatibility standards for underground storage tanks used by fuel retailers. The bill automatically deems existing tanks compliant with E15, specifies that tanks made after 2005 are compatible, and requires new tank components installed after the rule's effective date to work with fuels up to 100% ethanol. This directly affects fuel retailers and tank owners by removing documentation barriers for E15 use and setting future compatibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act (S 2540) extends federal funding for state and local programs that provide addiction treatment and recovery services to individuals involved in the justice system, such as those in courts or correctional facilities. It updates the authorization period from 2019-2023 to 2026-2030, ensuring continued support through 2030 without altering annual funding amounts. This reauthorization directly affects state and local agencies administering these grants, which help connect people with substance use disorders to treatment while navigating legal processes. The bill does not specify new funding levels but secures program continuity by extending the timeframe for grant distribution.

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens protections for FBI employees who report misconduct or wrongdoing. It prohibits the FBI from punishing staff for whistleblowing, testifying about violations, or cooperating with internal investigations, including during probationary periods. New FBI hires must receive written information about whistleblower rights within 180 days of appointment, and the Attorney General must ensure clear procedures for reporting retaliation. The bill also clarifies the appeals process for employees claiming retaliation, requiring decisions to follow specific legal standards. These changes directly affect all FBI employees who might report safety, security, or ethical concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new grant program to improve real-time tracking of opioid overdoses and reversal medication use. It authorizes grants for states, local governments, law enforcement coalitions, and tribes to develop mobile-friendly data tools that map locations of both fatal/nonfatal overdoses and where first responders administered reversal medication (like naloxone). The program requires these tools to work with existing systems, focus on high-overdose areas, and share data with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. It amends the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Grant Program to include this data collection component under Section 3021.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a national biochar research network with up to 20 research sites to study how biochar (a charcoal-like material made from organic waste) affects soil health, carbon sequestration, and farm productivity. It directly supports farmers, ranchers, foresters, and land managers by funding research on biochar applications across different soils, climates, and farming systems to improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gases, and boost profitability. The network will conduct experiments on biochar production methods, soil interactions, and full life-cycle impacts, generating practical data for real-world use. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2025-2030 to support this research, administered by USDA agencies in partnership with other federal departments.