Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to clearly inform veterans about their rights regarding healthcare, benefits, and services. It directly affects veterans using VA services and VA employees, mandating that the VA integrate 10 specific rights into all policies, training, and communications. Key provisions include ensuring veterans receive respectful treatment, transparent claim updates, access to community care, protection from retaliation for seeking care, and clear grievance processes. The VA must display these rights prominently at facilities, in its mobile app, and during military transition programs, with annual staff training and facility audits. The bill does not create new legal rights but codifies existing expectations for VA accountability and veteran communication.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing U.S. laws to require only foreign-owned companies registered in the United States to report beneficial ownership information, while exempting domestic U.S. entities from these filing requirements. Under the new rules, foreign corporations must disclose details about their owners, but any beneficial owners who are U.S. persons will not be required to provide this data. Additionally, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is directed to delete all previously collected ownership information related to U.S. persons while retaining records for non-U.S. individuals. The legislation effectively narrows the scope of the current reporting system to focus exclusively on foreign entities operating within the United States.

Maddy summaryThe Supporting Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Act extends tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel through 2029 to encourage the production and use of these fuels. It prevents companies from claiming both income and excise tax credits for the same fuel by eliminating the double benefit for clean fuel production credits. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules for excise tax incentives, ensuring they apply to fuel used for taxable purposes after December 31, 2024, and before the law's enactment. These changes directly affect fuel producers, distributors, and businesses that utilize biodiesel or renewable diesel in their operations.

Maddy summaryThe 287(g) Expansion Act allows states and local law enforcement agencies that have partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to receive additional federal funding. Specifically, eligible jurisdictions can apply for up to a 10 percent increase in their annual Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant if they maintain an active 287(g) agreement. The legislation authorizes $20 million per year from 2027 to 2033 to support these increased allocations, which are intended to enhance immigration enforcement efforts within participating communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Russia's War on Faith Act, mandates that the U.S. government create a detailed annual report documenting religious persecution in Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces. The required reports must list specific actions taken against various religious groups, such as the destruction of worship sites, the detention of clergy, and efforts to force communities to align with the Russian Orthodox Church. Following each report, the President must certify whether individuals or entities listed for these abuses should face financial sanctions under existing U.S. laws. If the President agrees that sanctions are warranted, the bill authorizes the blocking of property and other penalties against those responsible for the documented violations.

Maddy summaryThe Faster Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 2026 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to use commercial building codes alongside or instead of federal codes when constructing or altering facilities, provided there are no legal conflicts. To test this approach, the bill mandates that the Department run at least three pilot projects each year from 2027 through 2031 using these commercial standards for various construction and leasing initiatives. Additionally, the Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress detailing how these codes were applied and the results of the pilot projects. This legislation aims to streamline the building process for VA facilities by adopting widely accepted industry standards such as those from the National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Title X family planning program to prohibit the use of federal funds for entities that perform or financially support abortions. It allows exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, or life-threatening medical conditions, while also permitting hospitals to receive funding as long as they do not give those funds to non-hospital abortion providers. To enforce these rules, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports detailing which organizations receive grants and the specific number of abortions performed under the medical and criminal exceptions.

Maddy summaryThe Safer Prisons Act of 2026 increases the maximum prison sentence and fine for individuals convicted of assaulting correctional officers at the Bureau of Prisons. This change specifically targets attacks on federal prison staff by doubling the potential punishment compared to similar assaults on other law enforcement officers. The bill amends existing federal law to ensure that violence against these specific officers carries a heavier penalty.

Maddy summarySRES 627 is a Senate resolution designating March 5, 2026, as "National Slam the Scam Day" to raise public awareness about government imposter scams. It specifically targets scams where fraudsters impersonate agencies like the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare to steal money or personal information, disproportionately affecting older adults. The resolution encourages education through community groups, law enforcement, and financial institutions to help people recognize and report these scams, without creating new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThe Combating Illicit Xylazine Act places xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, subjecting it to federal regulation as a controlled substance. It specifically allows veterinary use without requiring registration of the ultimate user (e.g., pet owners or veterinarians) if xylazine is dispensed by a registered veterinarian or pharmacy with a vet prescription and used for animals owned by the user, under their care, or in authorized animal programs. The bill provides a one-year delay for labeling and packaging requirements and a 60-day delay for registration and recordkeeping for veterinary use to ease implementation. Additionally, it adds xylazine to the Arcos tracking system for controlled substances and mandates two congressional reports on illicit use prevalence within 18 months and 4 years of enactment.