Maddy summaryThis bill updates federal laws to ensure that members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force cannot be excluded from jobs or assignments based on their gender. It requires the Department of Defense to establish occupational standards using scientifically rigorous methods that evaluate technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities without gender bias. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports to Congress detailing any involuntary reclassifications or separations and requires a detailed review of the operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units. These changes are scheduled to take effect on September 30, 2026, with the first required report due the following year.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Audit the Pentagon Act requires the Department of Defense to reduce its funding by 2 percent if it fails to receive a clean financial audit for a given year. This penalty applies to all departments, agencies, and elements within the Pentagon starting after fiscal year 2024. The withheld money is distributed proportionally across various programs and projects, while the remaining funds are sent to the Treasury to help reduce the national deficit.
Maddy summaryThe MAP Roads Act creates a pilot program that provides federal grants to states to help digitize and map county roads, directly affecting state and local transportation agencies. To receive funding, states must demonstrate they can distribute money to counties and maintain a centralized, publicly accessible online database for road data. The program prioritizes states with significant gaps in digital road records and requires that the resulting data be compatible with popular mapping platforms and updated at least once a year. Authorized funding of $20 million annually from 2026 to 2031 will support these efforts, while the bill explicitly ensures it does not change existing laws regarding road ownership or jurisdiction.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a streamlined process for transferring specific U.S. military supplies, such as artillery shells and rocket munitions, to Ukraine without requiring the usual case-by-case approval from Congress. It allows these items to be sold to designated allied nations like NATO members, Australia, Japan, and others, who can then transfer them directly to the Ukrainian government. To ensure control, the law requires Ukraine to promise in writing that it will not send these weapons to other countries without U.S. permission and must take physical possession of the items by December 31, 2030, a deadline that can be extended annually as long as Russia continues its invasion.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. military forces from ongoing hostilities against Iran that were not authorized by Congress. The bill is based on the constitutional principle that Congress holds the sole power to declare war and notes that no formal declaration or specific authorization for force against Iran has been enacted. While the resolution mandates withdrawal from active combat operations, it allows the U.S. to continue defensive actions, intelligence gathering, and limited support for allies facing Iranian attacks. The measure is intended to enforce congressional oversight of military engagements and restore constitutional war powers to the legislative branch.
Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Cooperative Watershed Management Program through fiscal year 2031, providing $40 million annually to support collaborative watershed projects. The program directly affects land management agencies, local communities, and Indian tribes by expanding eligibility criteria and increasing grant funding amounts to $150,000 per year for a minimum of three years. Key changes include adding Indian tribes as eligible participants, allowing multiple grant applications per year, and permitting grant extensions for successful projects. The legislation also clarifies what types of technical assistance are covered under the program and requires regular availability of funding opportunities.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes federal funding to support water storage projects in western states (Reclamation States) to improve water security. It creates two main programs: one for small surface and groundwater storage projects (200-30,000 acre-feet for surface, 200-150,000 acre-feet for groundwater) and another for "natural" projects using natural methods like aquifer recharge ($15 million annually for 2027-2031). Eligible applicants include states, tribes, water districts, and local entities, with projects requiring Federal cost-sharing up to 90%. Funding must be distributed across multiple Reclamation States, and the bill explicitly states it doesn’t override state water rights or laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill redesignates Arizona's Chiricahua National Monument as Chiricahua National Park, maintaining its existing boundaries as shown on a 2021 map. It ensures all existing funding, laws, and administrative rules for the monument now apply to the park. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to protect tribal cultural sites by consulting with Native American tribes and providing access for traditional uses, with temporary public closures allowed only for minimal necessary areas and time. This directly affects tribal communities and park management under federal law.
Maddy summaryThis bill resolves long-standing water rights claims for the Yavapai-Apache Nation regarding the Verde River Watershed and Colorado River by ratifying a settlement agreement. It authorizes construction of the Tú ńlį́į́níchoh Water Infrastructure Project, including a pipeline to deliver water from C.C. Cragin Dam and a drinking water system for the tribe. The bill establishes a $731 million fund for pipeline infrastructure and a $152 million fund for drinking water, with additional funds for water projects and watershed restoration. It includes waivers of water rights claims by the tribe and U.S. government, with specific exceptions for future claims and certain water uses.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the Route 66 National Historic Trail under the National Trails System Act, covering all alignments of U.S. Highway 66 from 1926 to 1985 (approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California). It requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer the trail while respecting its unique character and consulting with affected Native American tribes. Key provisions limit federal land acquisition to no more than 1/4 mile on either side of the trail, prohibit eminent domain, clarify the trail is not part of the National Park System, and ensure existing energy development and transportation activities remain unaffected. The designation does not require new permits or alter current easement authorities for existing infrastructure.