Maddy summaryThe "No Political Enemies Act" (S 3646) prohibits federal officials from taking enforcement actions against individuals or groups that are substantially motivated by their constitutionally protected speech, such as criticism of government policies. It creates legal defenses for those targeted, requiring courts to dismiss enforcement actions if proven to be politically motivated, and establishes new remedies including the ability to seek injunctions and sue for damages. The bill also requires the Justice Department to report quarterly to Congress on sensitive investigations and prohibits using government funds for politically motivated enforcement actions. This legislation directly affects federal enforcement agencies, officials, and anyone engaging in protected speech who might face government action.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to change its food procurement practices to prioritize foods supporting local farmers, worker well-being, environmental sustainability, and equitable food systems. It mandates the USDA to purchase more foods produced by beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, veterans, and those using sustainable practices, while requiring transparency through annual reports on procurement spending. The bill sets specific targets for increasing such purchases by 2032, allocates $2 million annually from 2026-2031 for covered producers, and creates a $25 million grant program to help small producers meet USDA requirements. The legislation also establishes a pilot program to evaluate "best value" procurement that considers factors beyond price, such as environmental impact and labor practices.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National School Lunch Program to allow schools participating in the program to serve whole milk as an option to students, in addition to reduced-fat and fat-free milk. It permits schools to offer whole milk (organic or non-organic), reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk, as well as lactose-free milk and nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages that meet specific nutritional standards. The bill clarifies that milk fat in whole milk should not be counted as saturated fat for compliance with meal nutrition standards. Additionally, it requires schools to include food allergy information in training for food service personnel. These changes directly affect schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and the students who eat school meals.
Maddy summarySJRES 84 is a joint resolution seeking to block a rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Affordable Care Act. The rule, published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2025, aimed to improve affordability and integrity in health insurance marketplaces. If approved, this resolution would invalidate the rule under a federal disapproval process, preventing its implementation. This directly affects how health insurance plans are structured and priced for consumers using ACA marketplaces.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal funds from being used to support Venezuela's oil and petroleum infrastructure, including construction, property purchases, insurance, payments to companies, or government advocacy for the sector. It directly affects all U.S. government departments, agencies, and entities using federal funds, preventing them from financing or promoting Venezuela's oil industry. The prohibition includes all forms of financial support except for expenditures explicitly authorized by future Acts of Congress. Additionally, the Secretary of State must submit annual reports to congressional committees detailing any related activities and confirming compliance.
Maddy summaryThe REAADI for Disasters Act requires federal, state, and local governments to ensure people with disabilities and older adults have equal access to disaster services through accessible communication (including American Sign Language, captions, and plain language), inclusive planning processes, and accessible shelters. It establishes a new Disaster Human Services Emergency Fund to provide rapid support during disasters, including accessible housing, transportation, case management, and community-based services. The bill mandates that people with disabilities and older adults be included as key decision-makers in all phases of disaster planning, response, recovery, and mitigation, and requires adherence to accessibility standards for rebuilding damaged housing. It also creates training centers to help emergency management agencies better serve these communities and ensures that all disaster-related communications and services meet accessibility requirements.
Maddy summaryS 3623, the Credit Card Competition Act of 2026, requires major credit card issuers (with over $100 billion in assets) to allow credit cards to process transactions through at least two payment networks, preventing exclusive agreements that limit consumer and merchant choice. It prohibits restrictions on how merchants route transactions between networks and bans requirements for security technologies exclusive to one network. The bill creates a public list of payment networks deemed a national security risk, updated every two years. This applies to most credit card processing but excludes credit cards issued under a "3-party payment system" model. The regulations take effect 180 days after final rulemaking.
Maddy summaryThe DEFIANCE Act of 2025 creates civil legal remedies for individuals harmed by non-consensual digital forgeries depicting them in sexually intimate situations without their consent. It defines "intimate digital forgery" as fabricated images or videos that appear authentic to a reasonable person, even with disclaimers, and allows victims to sue those who create, possess, or disclose such content. Key provisions include fixed damages of $150,000 (or $250,000 for severe cases like sexual assault-related forgeries), court-ordered privacy protections (like pseudonyms and redacted filings), and a 10-year statute of limitations. The law applies to interstate or online disclosures and explicitly preserves existing state laws, ensuring it does not override stronger state protections.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to cover genetic counseling services provided by licensed or certified genetic counselors starting January 2027. It defines covered services and sets payment at 80% of the lower of the actual charge or 85% of the physician fee schedule. Medicare beneficiaries seeking genetic counseling and genetic counselors practicing in licensed or certified states will directly benefit from this expanded coverage. The bill also prohibits balance billing for these services and updates Medicare rules to clarify that physicians may still bill for genetic counseling if covered under existing rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) affect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. It revises the date when COLAs stop counting toward income from July 1 to January 1, potentially increasing SNAP benefits earlier for some recipients. The bill also adds a new exclusion for specific Social Security supplementary payments under Section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act. These changes take effect October 1, 2027, directly impacting SNAP recipients whose income calculations include Social Security benefits.