Sen. Richard J. Durbin

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Communications Act to give the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) direct authority to enforce unpaid forfeiture penalties for violations of telemarketing rules (Section 227), which restrict unwanted automated calls. If the Attorney General doesn't act within 120 days on a referred penalty, the FCC can sue to recover the amount itself. The law prioritizes enforcement for penalties exceeding $25 million, focusing on major violations of robocall restrictions. It directly affects businesses that violate telemarketing laws by requiring them to pay penalties the FCC can now pursue independently.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Major Richard Star Act (S 1032), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both their military retired pay and Veterans Affairs disability compensation simultaneously. It amends U.S. Code sections to remove the automatic reduction in retired pay that previously forced these veterans to choose between the two payments. The key change ensures veterans with combat-related disabilities qualify for full retired pay without offset against their VA disability benefits, effective for payments starting after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects veterans receiving military retired pay under Chapter 61 who also qualify for VA disability compensation for combat-related injuries.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1057) simplifies defense cooperation among Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. It allows these Baltic states to transfer U.S. defense articles or services to each other without needing separate U.S. government approval. A key provision establishes a shared ammunition system for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) training and operations across the three nations. The bill directly affects military coordination between Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia by enabling faster, more flexible defense equipment sharing.

Maddy summaryThe AMERICA Act imposes new rules on large digital advertising companies to prevent conflicts of interest and increase transparency. It prohibits entities with over $20 billion in annual digital ad revenue from owning multiple parts of the digital advertising ecosystem (e.g., a company cannot own both a digital ad exchange and a brokerage). Companies with over $5 billion in revenue must act in their customers' best interests, provide detailed transaction data upon request, and maintain separate business units to avoid conflicts. The law also requires digital ad exchanges to offer fair access to all buyers/sellers and mandates annual compliance certifications to the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2025 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and teachers, allowing them to purchase homes with no down payment. It defines "first responders" as full-time law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and K-12 teachers employed by government or accredited schools. The program requires applicants to be first-time homebuyers with 4 years of recent employment in their field, complete housing counseling, and intend to remain in their role for at least one year after closing. Mortgages under this program must be used for a primary residence, cover 100% of the home's appraised value, and exclude monthly insurance premiums.

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

Maddy summaryThe PROTECT Students Act of 2025 requires institutions of higher education to disclose debt-to-earnings rates and earnings premium data to help students evaluate program value. It strengthens borrower defense protections for students misled by institutions, prohibits institutions from limiting students' legal rights to pursue claims, and mandates that institutions spend at least 30% of tuition revenue on instruction. The bill also requires transparency about institutional finances, program outcomes, and third-party relationships to help students make informed decisions. These provisions directly affect students, higher education institutions, and third-party servicers. The act aims to improve accountability and transparency in higher education, particularly for for-profit institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill transitions Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from TSA-specific personnel systems to the standard federal system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, requiring completion by December 31, 2025. It prohibits changes to current TSA personnel policies during transition, ensures no reduction in pay or benefits for employees, and preserves collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The bill mandates annual reports on workforce satisfaction, retention rates, and actions to improve morale, as well as reports on recruitment, diversity, and workplace safety to Congress. It includes specific protections for Federal Air Marshals regarding mental health, suicide rates, and workplace conditions. The TSA must submit detailed implementation plans to Congress within 7 days of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Baltic Security Initiative Act (S 1009) establishes a new U.S. Department of Defense program to strengthen military cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the "Baltic countries"). It authorizes $350 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2028 to support specific security goals, including deterring Russian aggression, enhancing NATO's eastern flank defense, and improving joint capabilities like missile defense, cyber resilience, and ammunition stockpiling. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a strategy report within one year of enactment, detailing how the initiative will achieve these objectives through existing authorities. This program directly affects U.S. defense planning and security assistance for the Baltic nations, focusing on concrete military cooperation rather than new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryS 935 prohibits the U.S. President from selling or licensing the export of specific military equipment to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or its agencies. The bill blocks these defense exports under the Arms Export Control Act until the President certifies to Congress that the UAE is not providing military support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. Covered items include weapons and defense articles listed in specific categories of the U.S. Munitions List (e.g., Category I-VIII, XIV, XVI-XVIII). This directly affects U.S. defense contractors and the UAE government by halting certain arms sales until the certification condition is met. The law imposes a concrete restriction on defense exports based on a defined foreign policy condition.