Maddy summaryThe Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025 establishes new rules for disciplining VA supervisors and management officials (excluding senior executives and political appointees) for poor performance or misconduct. It requires the VA Secretary to use specific, written criteria - like the offense's severity, the employee's role, and past record - when deciding on removal, demotion, or suspension, and mandates decisions within 15 business days. The bill creates an internal grievance process for affected employees and strengthens whistleblower protections by requiring Special Counsel approval before disciplining someone who disclosed wrongdoing. It also limits judicial review to cases of arbitrary or capricious decisions and explicitly prohibits courts from reducing penalties. The law applies to VA employees covered under the bill's definition, effective from the 2017 VA Accountability Act's enactment date.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 122) recognizes the contributions of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to communities across the United States. It formally acknowledges their service - over 200,000 volunteers annually at 40,000 locations - through educational support, disaster response, environmental protection, and community strengthening. The resolution, passed during AmeriCorps Week (March 9-15, 2025), encourages public appreciation and volunteerism but does not create new policies, funding, or legal obligations. It is a symbolic gesture of Senate recognition, not a legislative change.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires major websites and online services (excluding small businesses) to provide a simplified, accessible summary of their terms of service within 360 days. The summary must clearly explain what sensitive data they collect (e.g., health, location, financial info), user rights (like arbitration waivers), data breach history, and estimated reading time, and must be placed prominently on their sites. It also mandates a graphic diagram showing how user data is shared with third parties and an interactive format for full terms. Violations can be enforced by the FTC or state attorneys general acting on behalf of residents.
Maddy summaryThe Patients Before Middlemen Act (S 882) improves pharmacy access for Medicare beneficiaries by requiring prescription drug plans to allow any pharmacy meeting standard contract terms to join their networks. It establishes "essential retail pharmacies" in medically underserved areas or regions with limited pharmacy access (such as rural areas with no other pharmacies within 10 miles), and creates standards for reasonable and relevant contract terms between drug plans and pharmacies. The bill also increases transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, mandating detailed annual reports on drug costs, rebates, and pricing practices, with many provisions taking effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2028.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act of 2016 to clarify and expand coverage for Coast Guard veterans with combat-related injuries. It ensures veterans who received severance payments while the Coast Guard operated under the Department of Homeland Security (not the Navy) or the Department of Transportation are treated the same as those under the Defense Department for tax purposes. The bill updates which agency secretaries (Defense, Homeland Security, or Transportation) are responsible for identifying and refunding improperly withheld taxes. It requires these agencies to complete these actions within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects Coast Guard veterans with combat injuries who had tax issues due to the Coast Guard's changing departmental oversight.
Maddy summaryS 863, the Genomic Data Protection Act, gives consumers greater control over their genetic information collected by direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies (like 23andMe or AncestryDNA). It requires these companies to provide simple tools for consumers to access their genomic data, delete their accounts (including associated data), and request destruction of biological samples (such as saliva swabs). Companies must also clearly disclose how deidentified data may be used for research and notify consumers 30 days before a company acquisition, detailing how consumer rights will be honored under new ownership. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these requirements as unfair or deceptive practices under existing law, with companies required to fulfill deletion requests within 30 days. This bill directly affects consumers who use genetic testing services and the companies that collect their genomic data, excluding healthcare providers using genetic data for medical diagnosis.
Maddy summaryS 824, the NFIP Extension Act of 2025, extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) funding deadline from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2025, ensuring the program continues operating without interruption. It directly affects the NFIP’s operations, which provide flood insurance to homeowners, businesses, and communities in flood-prone areas. The bill amends two key sections of the 1968 law to update expiration dates and includes a retroactive provision ensuring the extension applies as if enacted on March 14, 2025, if passed later. This is a procedural extension with no new policy requirements or beneficiary changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the President to create a strategy to increase U.S. exports to Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean by 200% in real dollar value over 10 years, with input from Congress, federal agencies, and private sector groups. It establishes two special coordinators within the Commerce Department to oversee the strategy and coordinate with agencies like the Export-Import Bank and development agencies. The bill also mandates trade missions to these regions within one year and standardizes training for U.S. officials on export promotion tools to support the strategy.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education law to prohibit federally funded athletic programs from allowing individuals assigned male at birth to participate in sports designated for women or girls. It defines "sex" for this purpose as biological sex at birth, based on reproductive anatomy and genetics. The law directly affects schools, colleges, and sports organizations receiving federal funding. Violations would constitute a breach of Title IX, requiring programs to exclude individuals whose sex is male from women's or girls' athletic teams.
Maddy summaryThe Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to support local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. Eligible communities - including counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments - can use funds for de-escalation training, mental health and domestic violence response training, officer retention bonuses, graduate education stipends, and access to behavioral health services for officers. The program requires grantees to report on outcomes and publicly disclose bonus amounts, with strict audit requirements to prevent misuse of funds. It authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 to 2030 to advance these concrete safety and support initiatives.