Sen. Gary C. Peters

Maddy summaryThe RISEE Act of 2023 establishes a National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund to support coastal conservation, infrastructure, and research through grants to states, tribes, and organizations. It creates a new revenue-sharing system for offshore wind projects, directing 37.5% of operating fees to eligible coastal states based on proximity to project sites. States receiving these funds must use them for coastal protection, habitat restoration, or related projects and submit annual reports detailing fund usage to the Department of Interior. The bill also updates reporting requirements for Gulf of Mexico energy revenue funds to ensure transparency about how states use these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $810 million in supplemental funding for the Small Business Administration's Disaster Loans Program (under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act) to assist small businesses recovering from disasters. It directly affects small businesses seeking low-interest disaster loans by increasing available funds for direct loans, with $10 million allocated for audits and $250 million for administrative costs (excluding indirect expenses). Key provisions require the SBA Inspector General to review past funding shortfalls and report findings within 181 days, and mandate the SBA Administrator to submit reports detailing improvements to forecasting and budgeting within 30 days and every 90 days until corrections are implemented. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement under federal budget law and remain available until expended.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides payments to counties and states with federal land, through 2026. It also adjusts related deadlines for special projects on federal land and county fund expenditures, pushing them to 2028 and 2029 respectively. Additionally, the bill adds a pilot program allowing regional foresters to appoint resource advisory committee members, set to end on October 1, 2028. These changes maintain funding stability and administrative flexibility for rural communities dependent on federal land management.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3626) updates federal procurement rules to extend streamlined contracting procedures currently used by Defense agencies to all federal agencies. It removes outdated references to "hourly rates" in task and delivery order contracts and clarifies that all agencies can use simplified processes for acquiring similar services or construction. The key change allows single-source contracts exceeding $100 million without competitive bidding if an agency documents that competition isn't feasible under existing rules. This directly affects federal agencies and their contractors by standardizing procurement practices across the government. The bill aims to make contracting more consistent and efficient without altering core competition requirements for most contracts.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Cyber Workforce Training Act of 2024 establishes a Federal Institute to provide standardized training for federal employees in cybersecurity roles and human resources staff managing cybersecurity personnel. The Institute will develop modular, hands-on training based on the NIST Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (NICE), focusing on new hires, mid-career transitions, and HR functions, with a badging system to verify skills. Within 180 days of enactment, the National Cyber Director must submit a plan to Congress detailing the Institute's structure, curriculum, and how it will leverage existing resources without requiring new funding. This bill directly affects federal agencies by mandating a coordinated training program for their cybersecurity workforce.

Maddy summaryThe Strengthening Oversight of Federal Records Act of 2024 requires federal agencies to properly preserve electronic records, particularly those created by senior officials. It prohibits using personal email accounts for official business without specific controls, mandates that electronic messages from certain high-level officials (including agency heads and top advisors) be preserved as permanent records, and requires agencies to publicly disclose their records retention schedules. The bill also establishes new reporting requirements for agencies, creates an advisory committee on records automation, and requires employees to certify they've preserved records before leaving government service. These provisions aim to improve transparency and accountability in how federal agencies manage and preserve official records.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an existing cybersecurity competition program under the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. It requires that every other competition must include categories focused specifically on industrial control systems (ICS) cybersecurity, such as protecting critical infrastructure systems like power grids and water facilities. The bill mandates that these categories cover both defensive measures (detecting and recovering from attacks) and offensive operations (like analyzing system vulnerabilities). It directly affects the structure of these competitions and the participants competing in ICS-focused categories. The change is procedural, updating competition requirements without creating new government programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThe Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act (S. 1549) amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to allow the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to more quickly obtain data from federal agencies for its budget analysis work. It adds a new exception permitting agencies to share data directly with the CBO or its authorized representatives without typical privacy restrictions. This change streamlines the CBO’s access to executive branch information, enabling faster production of budget and cost estimates for Congress. The bill directly affects the CBO’s operational efficiency and federal agencies’ data-sharing protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Joint Task Forces (JTFs), which coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement on border security and counterterrorism. It requires DHS to submit annual reports to Congress detailing each JTF’s staffing plan, progress on performance metrics, and any changes to mission goals. The bill also mandates annual briefings to specific congressional committees assessing staffing adequacy and resource allocation for JTF-East, including cost and timeline plans if gaps are identified. These provisions aim to enhance oversight of JTF operations without altering their core missions. The law applies directly to DHS operations and congressional committees overseeing homeland security.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S. 3851) renames a specific U.S. Postal Service facility at 90 McCamly Street South in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the "Sojourner Truth Post Office." It directly affects the postal facility by changing its official name for all government records, maps, and documents. The bill requires that any future references to the location use the new name "Sojourner Truth Post Office" instead of the previous designation. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no policy changes or financial impact beyond administrative record updates.