Sen. John Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing financing to individuals or companies with seriously delinquent federal tax debt. The law requires the Bank to check tax records through the System for Award Management website and consult with the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner to identify such debt. Exceptions are allowed if the President determines there are urgent and compelling circumstances affecting U.S. interests, requiring a report to Congress within 30 days. The definition of seriously delinquent tax debt excludes debts being paid under agreements, pending hearings, or under continuous levies.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes existing regional ocean partnerships through 2031, extending funding for coastal states and tribes managing ocean resources. It sets specific annual funding levels: $11.57 million for 2028, $11.69 million for 2029, $11.81 million for 2030, and $11.92 million for 2031. The bill makes technical updates to reporting requirements and adjusts the funding period to align with the new authorization. It directly affects current regional ocean partnership programs under the 2023 defense act, ensuring continued federal support for coastal management efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations to encourage pilots and air traffic controllers to seek and disclose mental health care without fear of losing their medical certification. It mandates an annual review of the "special issuance" process (for medical certification) to consider new treatments, improve examiner training, and reduce backlogs, while allocating $15 million annually (2026-2029) to recruit more medical examiners and provide mental health training. Additionally, it funds a $1.5 million annual public campaign to destigmatize mental health care in aviation, improve trust with workers, and make resources easily accessible at aviation medical offices and training facilities. The FAA must consult with industry stakeholders and report progress to Congress on implementation.

Maddy summaryThe FISH Act of 2025 establishes a U.S. government "blacklist" of foreign fishing vessels, fleets, and their beneficial owners engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing or fishing involving forced labor. The bill prohibits listed vessels from accessing U.S. ports, receiving supplies within U.S. waters, and having their seafood imported into the United States. It creates procedures for adding vessels to the list based on evidence from international organizations, U.S. authorities, or civil society, with mechanisms for removal after corrective actions are taken. The act also authorizes sanctions against entities supporting IUU fishing and requires reports on enforcement efforts and technological solutions to combat IUU fishing.

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 summaryThis bill, the Conscience Protection Act of 2025, strengthens protections for healthcare providers and organizations that refuse to participate in certain medical procedures (including abortion, assisted suicide, and sterilization) based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It creates a private right of action allowing affected entities to seek legal remedies when their conscience rights are violated, addressing a gap in current law where victims could not defend their rights in court. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit discrimination against such healthcare entities and establishes clearer enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Health and Human Services, including administrative investigations and civil actions. It directly affects healthcare providers, hospitals, insurers, and other health-related organizations operating under federal funding. The bill aims to address inconsistent enforcement of existing conscience protections like the Weldon Amendment, which has been challenged in cases such as California's abortion coverage mandate.

Maddy summaryS 880, the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, bans colleges receiving federal student aid from giving preferential treatment to applicants based on family connections to donors or alumni. This amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965 directly affects all institutions participating in federal financial aid programs. The key provision prohibits schools from considering an applicant’s relationship to donors (like major contributors) or alumni (like family members who graduated) during admissions decisions. The ban takes effect starting with the second academic year after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThe Love Lives On Act of 2025 modifies veterans' and military survivors' benefit rules to prevent remarriage from automatically ending eligibility. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans or military members who remarried, ensuring they retain access to key benefits. Key provisions include: (1) preventing termination of veterans' dependency compensation (under 38 U.S.C. §1311/1562) due to remarriage; (2) stopping termination of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities solely for remarriage, with specific rules for those who remarried before age 55; and (3) expanding TRICARE coverage to include remarried widows/widowers whose subsequent marriage ended (via death, divorce, or annulment). These changes restore or maintain benefits that were previously lost upon remarriage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a sanctions framework that would impose economic penalties on the Chinese government and Communist Party if they threaten Taiwan's security. It requires the President to identify threats and then blocks property, restricts financial transactions, and prohibits investments in sanctioned Chinese entities. The legislation also allows for increased import duties on Chinese goods and bans the trading of Chinese securities on U.S. exchanges. Key provisions include targeting Chinese officials, state-owned banks, and companies that support China's military-industrial capacity, while providing the President authority to waive sanctions for national security reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require the U.S. Treasury to produce and sell three types of commemorative coins honoring firefighters and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. The legislation authorizes the minting of up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins, all featuring designs that recognize firefighter service and sacrifice. All coins would be legal tender, but they would be sold at a price that covers production costs plus a surcharge, with the surcharge funds going to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The coins would only be available for purchase during a one-year window starting in 2029, and the Treasury must ensure the program does not result in a net cost to the federal government.