Sen. Jeff Merkley

Maddy summaryThe Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2025 establishes specific minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for different hospital units, such as 1:1 in trauma emergency units and 2:1 in critical care units. Hospitals must develop and annually update staffing plans with nurse input, document actual staffing levels for each shift, and prohibit practices like averaging ratios or mandating overtime. The bill provides protections for nurses who refuse unsafe assignments and prohibits retaliation for reporting staffing violations, with enforcement through Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health programs. This applies to all hospitals, including those operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and Indian Health Service.

Due Process Continuity of Care Act This bill allows an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending disposition of charges (i.e., pretrial detainees) to receive Medicaid benefits at the option of the state. The bill also provides for state planning grants to support the provision of such benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides federal loans and loan guarantees to help build, renovate, or upgrade mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities for both children and adults. It prioritizes projects in underserved rural areas, communities with insufficient treatment beds, and facilities serving pediatric patients (with at least 25% of funds reserved for pediatric facilities). Borrowers must cover 25% of project costs, and loans have terms up to 20 years, with strict limits on government guarantee coverage (max 80%). The program allocates up to $200 million annually from 2026 to 2030, with excess loan revenue funding community mental health services via a new trust fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at international financial institutions (like the World Bank) to oppose loans for projects that risk using forced labor or involve state entities in Xinjiang. It requires these institutions to explain how they vet projects for forced labor risks and outline mitigation steps. The Treasury must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing any projects with potential forced labor risks and U.S. efforts to block such funding. The bill applies specifically to projects where forced labor is a significant risk or linked to Xinjiang's state entities, using definitions from existing U.S. law.

Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 This bill limits the use of facial recognition or matching technology (e.g., matching and identification software) in airports for passenger screening. In general, the bill restricts the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) use of the technology to performing passenger identity verification at airport screening locations. The TSA must notify passengers prior to each use of the technology and receive affirmative express consent. If a passenger opts out of the use of the technology, then the TSA must perform identity verification using an approved identification document (e.g., a state driver's license) without collecting biometric information (e.g., fingerprints). For a passenger using a trusted traveler program (e.g., Global Entry), the TSA must provide notice on the use of the technology at the time of program enrollment and renewal and as the passenger approaches the point of identity verification. The passenger must have the option to opt out. The bill prohibits the TSA from (1) subjecting a passenger who opts out of the screening to discriminatory treatment or less favorable screening conditions; (2) using the technology to track or identify passengers outside of the screening location or to enable systemic, indiscriminate, or wide-scale monitoring, surveillance, or tracking; and (3) sharing biometric information collected through the use of the technology. The bill also limits the amount of time that the TSA may store the information collected. Further, these restrictions and requirements apply to the TSA's use of the technology in other specified circumstances (e.g., employee screenings).

Maddy summaryS 1668 prohibits senior U.S. government officials - including the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and Senate-confirmed appointees - from issuing, sponsoring, or endorsing cryptocurrencies, tokens, or stablecoins for profit. It also bans acquiring similar financial interests through derivatives or investment funds, while allowing normal public market trading. Violations face civil penalties of up to 10% of the financial interest's value or profits gained, and criminal charges if losses exceed $1 million or personal financial gain occurs. The law applies during official service and for one year after leaving office.

Maddy summaryThis bill delays Medicare payment changes for ground ambulance services until 2028 and adds temporary rate increases during a transition period. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries using ambulance services and ambulance providers who bill Medicare, particularly in rural areas. Key provisions extend the effective date for payment adjustments from October 2025 to January 2028 and establish temporary payment rates: 26.7% for super-rural ambulance services and 4.3% or 3.4% for regular ground ambulance services during the transition period (October 2025-January 2028). These changes aim to prevent sudden payment cuts that could disrupt access to ambulance care.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and updates the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program through 2034, extending its current authorization period. It increases the annual funding cap for proposals from $4 million to $8 million and adds new requirements for projects addressing wildfire risk, watershed health, and ecological restoration across public, tribal, state, and private lands. The bill also expands the program's focus to include monitoring for species or pathogens and requires federal staffing plans for collaborative groups. It directly affects federal agencies like the Forest Service and collaborative groups managing forest restoration projects nationwide. The changes aim to strengthen existing partnerships and address evolving forest management challenges.

Maddy summaryS 1650, the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2025, modifies collective bargaining rules for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees. It removes existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from Section 7422 of Title 38 and redesignates the current subsection (e) as (b). This change directly affects VHA health care workers who negotiate with management over wages, hours, and working conditions. The bill clarifies that these modifications do not impact the Secretary's existing authority over incentive pay and expedited hiring under Section 706 of Title 38.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the commercial provision of conversion therapy - defined as paid attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - as it is deemed ineffective and harmful. It directly affects therapists, clinics, and any commercial entity offering such services, while exempting gender transition support and non-discriminatory counseling. Key mechanisms include prohibiting paid conversion therapy, banning deceptive advertising (e.g., claiming it’s harmless), and empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce penalties. The law focuses on preventing fraud by stopping profit-driven practices with no scientific basis, aligning with professional consensus on the risks.