Maddy summaryThe FUTURES Act (S 3855) establishes a formal U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to accelerate joint development and integration of defense technologies. It directs the U.S. Secretary of Defense to identify Israeli-origin technologies for rapid adoption into American military systems, focusing on areas like counter-drone systems, missile defense, AI, cyber security, and directed energy. The bill authorizes $150 million annually (2027-2029) for this initiative, requiring regular reports to Congress on progress, technology transitions, and industry partnerships. This policy directly affects U.S. defense contractors, Israeli defense firms, and military acquisition programs by creating new pathways to incorporate Israeli innovations into U.S. systems.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Santini-Burton Act to improve land management in the Lake Tahoe Basin by specifically supporting the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. It authorizes the federal government to transfer funds to the Tribe for acquiring and managing culturally significant land, and requires collaboration with the Tribe, states, local governments, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for activities like forest health, water quality, and preserving cultural sites. The bill mandates annual spending plans developed with Tribe consultation, prioritizing projects that meet environmental thresholds and leverage community support. These changes directly address the Tribe’s limited land ownership (under 0.5% of the Basin) and aim to enhance shared stewardship of the region.
Maddy summaryThe Ruby Mountains Protection Act (S 1349) withdraws approximately 309,272 acres of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest land and 39,926 acres of Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge from mineral leasing and development. This protects these specific areas from future mining or mineral extraction activities, directly affecting potential developers and federal land management decisions. The bill allows noncommercial wildlife management activities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service but prohibits all mineral leasing under federal law. Maps defining the exact boundaries are available for public inspection at relevant federal offices.
Maddy summaryThe Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act transfers approximately 5,000 acres of federal land in Nevada to local entities including the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, and the Washoe County School District for specific public purposes such as parks, schools, flood management, and recreational facilities. It also transfers land to be held in trust for Native American tribes including the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and Washoe Tribe, expanding their reservations. The bill designates several wilderness areas and conservation areas while requiring recipients to maintain the specified public uses of the land or risk reversion to federal ownership, with recipients covering all conveyance costs despite the land being transferred for no consideration. The bill includes detailed maps and legal descriptions for all land transfers and designations, with specific provisions for affordable housing development on designated parcels.
Maddy summarySRES 606 is a U.S. Senate resolution condemning the Iranian government for violently suppressing peaceful protests and the right to assemble, which has resulted in at least 6,126 reported deaths and 41,800 arrests since December 2025. It highlights Iran's use of internet blackouts, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and censorship to crush nationwide demonstrations sparked by economic hardship. The resolution calls on Iran to hold free elections, allow citizens to determine their future, and hold human rights violators accountable, while commending protesters' courage. As a symbolic resolution (not a law), it expresses the Senate's stance without imposing new legal requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Small Business Act to require Small Business Development Centers to provide direct assistance to small businesses on workforce programs. It specifically mandates that these centers disseminate information from the Department of Labor and other federal agencies about establishing and improving four key programs: work-based learning, federally registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship programs, and job training programs. The bill directly affects small business concerns by connecting them to federal resources for workforce development. The key mechanism is adding a new provision (subparagraph W) that requires centers to actively share this information, making it easier for small businesses to access these training opportunities.
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act This bill allows mining operators to use federal lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of whether those lands contain mineral deposits valuable enough to be mined (mineral validity). It also establishes the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The bill addresses a 2022 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona (commonly known as the Rosemont decision , described further in CRS Report R48166 ). The court held that mining claims are only allowed where mineral validity has been established and that mill site claims are more appropriate means for establishing a mining waste disposal site under the Mining Act. The bill allows a mining operator to (1) locate and include within its plan of operations as many mill site claims (e.g., areas for waste rock disposal) as are reasonably necessary for its operations, and (2) use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations. Additionally, the bill requires any revenue generated from fees for such mill site claims to be deposited into the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. The Department of the Interior must use the fund for certain abandoned hardrock mine reclamation activities.
Maddy summaryThe United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act establishes a comprehensive strategy to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, particularly focusing on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations in countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The strategy requires the Secretary of State to coordinate with federal agencies and international partners to disrupt linkages between gold mining and criminal organizations, promote responsible sourcing practices, and support miners in transitioning to formal, environmentally sustainable operations. Key provisions include developing public-private partnerships to build traceable gold supply chains, requiring classified briefings on Venezuela's illicit gold trade with foreign governments, and amending financial regulations to better identify money laundering related to gold transactions. The bill aims to address environmental damage from mercury use, human rights abuses, and the financing of criminal organizations through illicit gold mining activities.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. State Department, working with the FCC and Treasury, to submit a report to Congress within 120 days of enactment. The report must update previous assessments and specifically analyze: (1) using direct-to-cell wireless technology to expand internet access in Iran, (2) how drone-based systems and signal jamming might affect that technology, and (3) the ownership and foreign involvement of telecom providers operating in Iran. The report will assess the feasibility, security, and implications for communications freedom. It does not change U.S. law or policy but mandates a detailed study on internet access opportunities in Iran.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative to protect undersea communication cables critical to Taiwan's security and economy. It directs the State Department to coordinate with defense and maritime agencies to create real-time monitoring systems, rapid repair protocols, enhanced surveillance of suspicious vessels near Taiwan, and international partnerships for cable protection. The bill also authorizes U.S. sanctions - including property blocking and visa bans - against individuals or entities from China found responsible for sabotaging cables near Taiwan. It requires semiannual reports to Congress detailing cable incidents and U.S. responses.