Maddy summaryThe American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 streamlines the permitting process for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for federal and state agencies to complete their portions of the review. The bill also modifies water quality laws to reduce the number of required certifications for discharges into navigable waters, extends the validity of certain nationwide permits for dredged or fill material from five to ten years, and creates a new fund to address abandoned hardrock mines. Additionally, the legislation updates the National Environmental Policy Act to limit the scope of environmental reviews to effects directly caused by a project, impose specific timelines for agency decisions, and restrict the ability of courts to issue injunctions that would halt construction while legal challenges are pending.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to individuals who fought for or with the United States in the Pacific theater during World War II and were taken as prisoners of war. This recognition specifically honors those who participated in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor, including Filipino soldiers and civilians who served alongside American forces, as well as nurses and other personnel who endured the Bataan Death March and subsequent imprisonment. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the Smithsonian Institution for display, while also permitting the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.
Maddy summaryThe Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes the presentation of gold medals to the four crew members of the Artemis II Mission to recognize their historic contributions to space exploration. This legislation directs the U.S. Treasury to strike these medals, which must depict the mission's crew, and allows the mint to sell duplicate bronze versions to cover production costs. The bill highlights the mission's significance as the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since 1972 and notes the diverse achievements of the astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color to travel around the Moon. By designating these awards as national medals, the act formally honors the crew's role in advancing human spaceflight capabilities.
Maddy summaryThe Credit for Prior Learning Act allows students to use federal financial aid to pay for assessments that evaluate their existing knowledge and skills for college credit. It specifically allocates up to $2,000 per year to cover reasonable costs like test fees for these evaluations, provided the assessments meet specific criteria regarding skills rather than just experience. The law also requires colleges to have clear, expert-reviewed standards for granting credit and mandates that institutions publicly report data on how many students receive this credit, broken down by race, income, and Pell Grant status. These changes are designed to make it easier for individuals to earn academic credit for what they already know while increasing transparency in higher education. The provisions will take effect on July 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryThe Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act expands hazard pay eligibility to include firefighters who conduct prescribed burns and smokejumpers performing training or operational parachute jumps. This legislation amends federal law to equate the pay differential for these specific duties with the rate paid for fighting forest and range fires on the fireline. The Office of Personnel Management is required to issue regulations within 90 days to implement these changes, which will apply to pay periods beginning after that deadline or after the regulations are finalized.
Maddy summaryThe FIRE SMART Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update its regulations regarding rural water infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bill requires the EPA to define "communities at high risk from fire or wildfire" and to prioritize funding for water system improvements that aid in fire suppression within these areas. Additionally, the legislation mandates that projects benefiting both drinking water and fire suppression receive priority if the community has adopted a wildfire protection plan or taken steps to reduce private property fire risks. These regulatory changes aim to ensure that federal funding for rural water systems explicitly supports wildfire prevention efforts.
Maddy summaryThe Honor Gold Star Families Act increases the death gratuity payment for military families from $100,000 to $200,000, effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. This change also establishes a permanent annual cost-of-living adjustment mechanism, requiring the payment amount to be updated each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Secretary of Defense will be responsible for publishing these updated figures annually in the Federal Register. The legislation directly affects families of service members who have died while on active duty.
Maddy summaryThe America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through 2033, increasing its annual funding from $1.9 billion to $2 billion. It requires that projects funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund must secure at least 15% of their costs from public donations, which will be solicited through public awareness campaigns, donation locations at recreation sites, and during the purchase of recreation passes. The bill also mandates new reporting requirements for deferred maintenance and disposal of assets no longer serving public interest, while ensuring donations are credited to the Fund and allocated to specific projects.
Maddy summaryThe Duty Status Reform Act reorganizes federal laws to consolidate how reserve military members are ordered to active duty, creating a unified framework that applies to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force. The bill establishes four distinct categories of duty - ranging from mandatory training and remote assignments to emergency mobilization - and aligns the benefits, pay, and survivor protections for National Guard members with those of other reserve components. It also updates the legal definition of a "contingency operation" to include these new reserve duty categories and repeals older, overlapping statutes to streamline the system. Notably, the legislation includes a transition provision that delays the law's effective date by ten years, allowing time for agencies to prepare for implementation.
Maddy summaryThe Precision Agriculture Cybersecurity Act directs federal agencies to assess cybersecurity risks facing modern farming technologies, such as sensors and data management systems. Specifically, it requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Homeland Security to produce a public report within a year that evaluates current cyber threats, identifies planning gaps, and reviews existing funding and staff resources. The bill also mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office to examine how well different federal departments are coordinating their cybersecurity efforts in this sector. These reports will be shared with relevant congressional committees to inform future policy decisions regarding the protection of agricultural technology.