Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis

Maddy summaryThe SPEED Act (S 1894) amends federal transportation law by doubling the funding thresholds for projects eligible for categorical exclusion from environmental reviews. It increases the federal assistance limit from $6 million to $12 million and the project cost limit from $35 million to $70 million. This change directly affects state and local transportation projects that qualify under these thresholds, allowing them to bypass certain federal environmental assessments. The bill makes a technical adjustment to existing law without creating new requirements or altering approval processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program to improve its operation. It raises the minimum guarantee amount to $25 million per bond issue, sets an annual cap of $1 billion for all guarantees, and extends the program's deadline by four years from enactment. The changes aim to provide more predictable access to long-term capital for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving underserved communities. The bill also requires the Treasury Secretary to submit two reports on the program's effectiveness to Congress within one and three years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 allows livestock producers and their employees to remove or kill black vultures that are harming or likely to harm livestock, but prohibits using poison for this purpose. It requires these individuals to submit an annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about vultures taken, using a simple form developed by the agency within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. The reporting form must be no more complicated than similar forms under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This bill directly affects livestock operations facing vulture-related losses while maintaining federal bird protections outside these specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic prior authorization systems by 2028 and report detailed transparency data starting in 2027. Plans must publicly disclose approval/denial rates, average processing times (including for appeals), technology use, and other metrics for covered medical services. It mandates 24-hour response standards for expedited requests and routinely approved services, with data collection to analyze access patterns and potential disparities in rural/low-income communities. These changes directly affect Medicare Advantage plans, providers, and seniors enrolled in these plans by standardizing and increasing visibility into prior authorization processes.

Maddy summaryS 1807, the Timely and Accurate Benefits Act, requires states to implement a new income verification system within one year of enactment to confirm eligibility for federal benefit programs. It directly affects states administering programs like SNAP, Medicaid, or housing assistance, and the individuals applying for those benefits. The law mandates an "Enhanced Income Identification and Verification Platform" that uses real-time, user-permitted access to bank account data to verify all income sources - including wages, gig work, Social Security, rental income, and gifts - ensuring accurate benefit calculations. This replaces reliance on traditional tax and payroll data with a system designed to catch underreported income and prevent improper payments.

Maddy summaryThe TAKE IT DOWN Act requires major social media platforms and websites hosting user-generated content to establish a 48-hour removal process for nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (including deepfakes) upon verified request. It defines "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions" as images or videos of identifiable people shared without consent, with criminal penalties for sharing such content with intent to cause harm. The law exempts law enforcement activities, medical purposes, and content shared for legitimate educational reasons. Platforms must remove these materials quickly but are protected from liability if they act in good faith. This law directly affects social media companies and individuals whose intimate images are shared without consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury Secretary to instruct U.S. representatives at major international financial institutions (like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank) to oppose and reverse restrictions on financing coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy projects. It requires these institutions to eliminate policies blocking such financing and ties 50% of U.S. funding for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to certification that these restrictions have been removed. The bill aims to increase access to energy financing for developing countries by promoting these specific energy sources, with annual reports to Congress tracking progress. It directly affects how U.S. funds are used at global banks and the energy project options available to developing nations.

Maddy summaryThe COUNTER Act (S 1793) amends U.S. military law to clarify and expand authorities for responding to drone threats. It allows the Secretary of Defense to delegate drone mitigation actions to combatant commanders and exempts related technology and protocols from public disclosure under federal and state laws. The bill specifies that certain federal laws (like those covering cybercrime and aviation) do not apply to military drone mitigation efforts conducted outside the United States. It also updates reporting deadlines and adds new definitions for military commands involved in drone threat response, with key provisions extending until 2030. This bill directly affects Department of Defense and Coast Guard operations related to unmanned aircraft system threats.

Maddy summaryThe Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act of 2025 requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to update federal safety standards to accommodate fully autonomous vehicles (Level 4 and Level 5 systems) within one year. It directs the Transportation Secretary to revise or exempt existing safety rules - such as those governing driver controls, cabin design, and seating - to remove assumptions requiring human drivers, addressing barriers identified in the Volpe 2016 Report. The bill also mandates a roadmap for commercial deployment of these vehicles, including a safety risk assessment and periodic updates to regulations. This directly affects autonomous vehicle manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, streamlining certification without altering safety outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal health plans (like the Federal Employees Health Benefits program) from covering gender-affirming care for individuals under 18 years old. It defines gender-affirming care broadly as medical interventions for gender dysphoria, including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries, but includes specific exceptions for medically necessary treatments like precocious puberty, disorders of sexual development, and injuries requiring immediate care. The bill allows ongoing hormone therapy for minors already receiving it as of the effective date to continue for up to one year under a physician-supervised reduction plan. It applies only to federal health plans, not private insurance or other programs.