Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Maddy summaryThe Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026 officially designates the Great Lakes Commission as a formal Regional Great Lakes Partnership. This change recognizes the commission, which is made up of representatives from eight states, as a key entity for coordinating regional efforts. The bill achieves this by adding a specific provision to existing federal law that acknowledges the commission's role. No new funding or operational changes are introduced; the act serves primarily to clarify the commission's official status within the federal framework.

Maddy summaryThe BAD DEAL Act repeals Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which previously allowed the President to impose tariffs on foreign countries that engaged in unfair trade practices. This legislation directly affects importers and businesses by removing the legal authority for these specific duties and invalidating any presidential proclamations issued under that section. A key provision requires the government to refund all tariffs collected based on those repealed authorities, including amounts paid before the law is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends two existing public health programs focused on tick-borne diseases through 2030. It updates the funding timeline for national vector-borne disease centers and health department support from 2021-2025 to 2026-2030. The bill does not change program content or eligibility but ensures continued funding for efforts addressing tick-related illnesses. It directly affects public health agencies administering these programs, not specific individuals.

Maddy summaryThe Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act prohibits the President and federal officials from changing the official names of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. It specifically nullifies Executive Order 14422, which sought to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, and bars any similar future executive actions. The bill also forbids the use of federal funds to implement these renaming measures or any substantially similar directives.

Maddy summaryThe FABRIC Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit piece-rate pay for garment industry workers, requiring employers to pay at least the federal minimum hourly wage while still allowing incentive bonuses. It introduces joint and several liability for brand guarantors, making them financially responsible for labor law violations committed by their contractors or subcontractors, with an affirmative defense available if the brand can prove it had no knowledge of the violation. To enhance oversight, the bill mandates that garment manufacturers and contractors register annually with the Department of Labor, providing detailed information about ownership and employee history in exchange for a certificate that must be posted on-site. The legislation also establishes a new Undersecretary of the Garment Industry within the Department of Labor and authorizes $100 million in competitive grants to support domestic manufacturing, workforce development, and facility improvements.

Maddy summaryThe End Trump's Tariff Tax Act terminates specific import duties imposed under recent trade investigations and repeals two statutory authorities used to impose tariffs for forced labor violations, balance-of-payments issues, and foreign discrimination. The bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner to automatically refund all duties collected during specified periods in 2026, along with interest, without requiring importers to submit formal requests or documentation. Importers who paid these tariffs will receive their money back, with small businesses prioritized for payment where practicable.

Maddy summaryThe Don't STEAL Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to pay workers at least the higher amount specified in their employment contracts or by federal and state wage laws, ensuring that contractual agreements are not undercut by statutory minimums. This provision directly affects employees engaged in commerce who have signed contracts promising specific compensation rates. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for willful wage theft, allowing for fines and imprisonment of up to five years if the unpaid wages exceed $1,000, or one year if they do not. Additionally, it directs that any fines collected from these violations be used by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division to fund further enforcement efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse specific public employee retirement systems for costs associated with accidental disability retirements and deaths linked to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The reimbursement is strictly limited to systems that include members who participated in rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations at the World Trade Center site. To fund this initiative, the bill authorizes $5.9 billion in appropriations for fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Office of Management and Budget to add a new occupational code for "direct support professionals" within the federal Standard Occupational Classification system. It directly affects how the government tracks and analyzes data on this workforce, which supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in daily living, community inclusion, and independence. The key provision requires revising the classification system to recognize these workers as a distinct category - different from home health aides - addressing high turnover rates (39% nationally) that disrupt care. The bill does not create new programs or funding, solely aiming to improve data collection for workforce planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the funding authorization for the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act from 2026 to 2031, ensuring continued financial support for research into treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It requires the Food and Drug Administration to review clinical trial data more rigorously by assessing patient enrollment numbers and requesting interim results from drug manufacturers before renewing research grants. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that clinical trials in phase 3 include combined phase 2/3 studies and planned trials that have not yet started enrolling participants. The bill also mandates the FDA to publish a report within a year of enactment detailing its progress on rare neurodegenerative disease action plans and how it coordinates with broader disease communities. Finally, it adjusts the timeline for a Government Accountability Office report to cover a five-year period instead of four.