Sen. James C. Justice

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 205th anniversary of Greece's independence and celebrates the shared democratic values of Greece and the United States. The bill formally congratulates the Greek people on their independence day, acknowledges historical ties between the two nations including American support during Greece's independence struggle and World War II, and recognizes Greece's ongoing role as a NATO ally and strategic partner. It also commends the Greek-American community for its contributions to American society and highlights current bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy security and regional stability.

Maddy summaryThe FARM Home Loans Act of 2026 modifies the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to expand financing options for rural homeowners. It allows Farm Credit institutions to provide loans for accessory dwelling units in addition to traditional home improvements. The bill also increases the maximum loan amount for these rural housing projects from $2,500 to $10,000. These changes directly affect rural property owners seeking financing for secondary living spaces on their land. The legislation aims to increase access to home improvement funding in rural markets through existing Farm Credit programs.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates Taiwan's 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election in 1996 and expresses support for Taiwan's democratic institutions. The bill formally acknowledges Taiwan's democratic milestones, including peaceful transfers of power and the protection of civil liberties, while referencing existing U.S. policy frameworks like the Taiwan Relations Act. It states that the Senate regards Taiwan's democracy as a strategic strength and commits to supporting Taiwan's self-defense and the liberty of its people. The resolution clarifies that it does not authorize the use of military force.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 21, 2026, as "National Women in Agriculture Day" to recognize the contributions of women in the agricultural sector. The bill directly affects women working in farming, research, education, and related industries by formally acknowledging their roles as producers, leaders, and mentors. It highlights that women represent over one-third of U.S. agricultural producers and generated $222 billion in agricultural sales in 2022. The designation encourages citizens to celebrate and support women in agriculture during National Ag Week, which coincides with the date. This is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change that alters laws or programs.

Maddy summaryS 2903, the Safe Step Act, requires health insurance plans and employers offering health coverage to establish a clear, timely process for patients or doctors to request exceptions when step therapy protocols (where insurers require trying cheaper drugs first) would harm a patient. It mandates approval for exceptions if prior drugs failed, delay would cause severe harm, a drug is unsafe, or a patient is stable on their current medication. Plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and cover the requested drug without extra cost-sharing. The bill also requires annual reports to the government on exception requests, approvals, denials, and trends by medical condition or specialty. This directly affects patients on health plans with step therapy, their doctors, and the insurers managing those plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public colleges and universities receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition solely because of their religious beliefs, practices, or standards. It directly affects public higher education institutions and religious student organizations seeking equal treatment alongside secular groups. The key mechanism requires institutions to provide religious groups with the same rights, benefits, and privileges - such as meeting space, event scheduling, and official status - as non-religious student organizations. This policy change ensures religious groups cannot be discriminated against in campus activities through the threat of withheld federal funding.

Maddy summaryS 2287, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, establishes federal funding to expand training for health professionals in palliative and hospice care. The bill creates multiple programs including grants for education programs, fellowships for faculty to gain specialized training, and career incentive awards for students pursuing palliative care specialties. It prioritizes training in rural and underserved areas, for pediatric populations, and for racial and ethnic minorities. The bill authorizes $15 million annually through 2030 to build a more skilled palliative care workforce for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1677, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act) requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. It mandates coverage for reconstructive services, dental/orthodontic care, and related treatments during the course of medical treatment, while excluding purely cosmetic procedures not medically necessary. Plans may apply cost-sharing requirements similar to those for other medical services but must provide notice about these coverage requirements to participants by January 1, 2026. The bill also directs a study on provider network adequacy and cost impacts related to these coverage requirements, to be completed by December 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow federal law enforcement officers, including retired officers, to purchase firearms that have been retired from federal service. It requires the General Services Administrator to create a program where officers can buy these surplus weapons within six months of retirement, provided they are in good standing with their agency. The firearms would be sold at salvage value, which reflects their age and condition, and the program must be established within one year of the bill's enactment. The legislation defines eligible officers and firearms using existing legal definitions while excluding certain machineguns that were not lawfully possessed before specific federal restrictions took effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the tax credit period for producing refined coal, which is used as fuel in the steel industry. It directly affects companies that manufacture refined coal and sell it to steel producers. The key change allows these companies to claim a tax credit for coal produced and sold after December 31, 2025, instead of the previous 10-year limit from when the facility started operating. The credit can now be claimed for production before January 1, 2033, and during the taxable year in which the coal is sold.