Sen. Maria Cantwell

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Trade Representative to annually report to Congress on foreign trade barriers affecting U.S. specialty crop exports (like fruits, vegetables, and nuts). The report must identify specific foreign tariffs, quotas, or non-tariff barriers (such as sanitary rules), estimate their economic impact, and detail U.S. actions taken to address them (e.g., WTO disputes or negotiations). It also mandates public comment before drafting the report and requires the unclassified version to be publicly available in machine-readable format. The bill directly affects specialty crop producers and exporters by providing transparency on trade obstacles.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Railway Safety Act of 2026, establishes new safety requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials and strengthens emergency response capabilities. It directly affects Class I railroads, emergency response agencies, and communities near rail lines by mandating stricter tank car standards, limiting train speeds in urban areas, and requiring railroads to provide real-time information about hazardous materials shipments to first responders. Key provisions include phasing out older tank cars for flammable liquids by 2027, requiring two-person crews on freight trains, increasing penalties for safety violations, and creating a new emergency response assistance fund to help communities respond to hazardous materials incidents.

Maddy summaryS 3905, the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refund all duties unlawfully collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to importers within 180 days of the bill's enactment, including interest. It mandates CBP to reliquidate previously processed imports to calculate refunds and prioritizes small businesses for faster processing, with coordinated outreach to them via the Small Business Administration. The bill also requires CBP to submit regular reports to Congress detailing refund progress and timelines. This directly affects importers who paid IEEPA duties, with specific provisions to streamline refunds for small business importers.

Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act or the ROTOR Act This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight. As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control. Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In equipment to provide the aircraft with location information of other aircraft and traffic advisories. Current law does not require this equipment. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights) and requires additional reporting and notifications for the exception. The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception. Further, the bill repeals a 2025 law that exempts certain military helicopters from the ADS-B Out requirements for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The bill also requires the OIG of the Army to audit the Army’s coordination with the FAA, the FAA to establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and review the safety of flight operations and routes around airports, and the FAA to enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.

Maddy summaryThe SAVES Act of 2025 establishes a five-year pilot program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans with specific disabilities, such as blindness, mobility issues, PTSD, or traumatic brain injury. Nonprofits must apply competitively, meet training and animal welfare standards (including ADA compliance), and provide service dogs at no cost to veterans, with the VA covering all program expenses. The VA will also provide ongoing veterinary insurance for the dogs, which continues even after the pilot ends. This program is funded with $10 million annually for five years, targeting veterans as defined by VA medical criteria.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCONRES 25) commemorates the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured 13, including former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. It honors the victims (such as Judge John Roll, Gabriel Zimmerman, and 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green), survivors like Giffords and Ron Barber (who later became a U.S. Representative), and the community's response. The resolution expresses support for survivors, recognizes Giffords’ advocacy against gun violence, and reaffirms commitment to respectful dialogue and opposing political violence. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or policy changes.

Maddy summarySRES 610 is a Senate resolution formally congratulating the Seattle Seahawks football team, their staff, and fans (known as the "12s") for winning Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026. The resolution specifically recognizes the team's victory over the New England Patriots (29-13), their playoff performance, and individual achievements like Kenneth Walker III being named Super Bowl MVP. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to deliver a copy of the resolution to Seahawks leadership, including chair Jody Allen, president Chuck Arnold, general manager John Schneider, and head coach Mike Macdonald. As a symbolic gesture with no policy impact, this resolution does not create new laws or affect any regulations.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy Families Act would require most private employers and certain government entities to provide employees with earned paid sick time, allowing workers to take up to 56 hours per year for their own health needs, caring for family members, or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with the ability to use it for medical appointments, caring for family members with health needs, or seeking safety from violence. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this time and requires employers to post clear notices about the policy. It applies to most private employers, with specific provisions for government entities like the Library of Congress and Government Accountability Office.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Commerce Department to develop and distribute free training resources to help small businesses adopt artificial intelligence and key emerging technologies like quantum-hybrid computing. The training will cover practical business areas including financial management, cybersecurity, marketing, and supply chain operations, with special focus on small businesses in rural, Tribal, or underserved communities and those in advanced manufacturing. The program requires annual updates to the training materials, distribution through existing Small Business Administration resource centers (like SCORE and small business development centers), and annual reports to Congress tracking participation and business outcomes. The initiative will expire three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Act of 2026 reauthorizes and enhances the National Tsunami Warning System to improve forecasting, warning capabilities, and coordination. It requires better integration of warning systems with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and mandates a study to evaluate and improve tsunami alert terminology and effectiveness. The bill authorizes $35 million annually from 2027-2031 for tsunami warning, research, and hazard mitigation programs, with specific funding allocations for these initiatives. It also requires new reporting requirements for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on system improvements, coordination efforts, and implementation of recommendations from a government-wide study on tsunami coordination.