Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026," would prohibit the United States from making any financial contributions, direct or indirect, to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) or its related entities. It also revokes diplomatic privileges and immunities for all UNRWA officials, employees, and representatives. Furthermore, the bill restricts the use of federal funds for United States delegations and contributions to any United Nations agency, body, or program if it is chaired by a country designated by the Secretary of State as repeatedly supporting international terrorism.

Maddy summaryThe Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment Act of 2026 aims to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in the United States. It expands the Department of Energy's (DOE) authority to regulate certain nuclear facilities and activities, including commercial ones on federal land or for federal purposes, and requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to revise related regulations. The bill establishes a "Nuclear Energy Launch Pad" program where private companies can test and demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors and fuel cycle technologies in designated federal zones, providing streamlined pathways to commercial licensing. Additionally, it allows Federal power marketing administrations to purchase, transmit, and market electricity from nuclear facilities. Finally, it creates a new program to repurpose surplus plutonium for use as fuel in advanced reactors, terminating the previous "dilute and dispose" program. These changes primarily affect the Department of Energy, private nuclear technology developers, federal power marketing agencies, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Maddy summaryThe Security And Freedom Enhancement Act of 2026, known as the SAFE Act, introduces new rules for how U.S. intelligence agencies collect and use information about Americans and people in the United States. The bill requires the FBI to conduct regular audits of its data queries, obtain additional approvals before searching for information about elected officials and judges, and create detailed records of all searches. It also limits when government agencies can access Americans' communications without a warrant and restricts intelligence agencies from purchasing personal data from private companies about people in the United States. The law increases transparency by requiring more detailed reports to Congress and the public about surveillance activities, and it expands the role of independent reviewers in court proceedings related to intelligence gathering.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large defense contractors to agree to specific restrictions as a condition for receiving Department of Defense contracts. It prohibits these contractors from buying their own company stock, paying dividends, or linking employee compensation to short-term financial metrics, while also capping annual covered compensation at $5 million per employee. Contractors must demonstrate strong performance on delivery dates, readiness, technical metrics, and cost reporting to qualify for a waiver of these restrictions. The Department of Defense must establish a review process to identify violations, renegotiate existing contracts, and can impose penalties including contract termination or clawing back employee compensation if rules are broken.

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 summaryThis bill requires VA-employed physicians or nurse practitioners to sign a veteran's death certificate within 48 hours of learning of their death (for natural causes), addressing delays that have lasted up to eight weeks. It directly affects veterans' families and survivors who face blocked burial arrangements and delayed access to benefits due to these certification delays. The bill also mandates annual VA reports to Congress on compliance, including the percentage of timely certifications and reasons for delays. Key provisions focus on setting a clear 48-hour deadline for VA providers and creating transparency through mandatory reporting. It does not override state medical certification laws or require VA staff to violate their licensing requirements.

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 summaryThe Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026 implements reforms to foreign intelligence surveillance authorities and related privacy protections. The bill directly affects federal intelligence agencies, law enforcement, technology companies, and individuals whose communications may be collected. Key provisions include prohibiting warrantless queries for communications of U.S. persons and those located in the U.S., requiring court supervision for certain surveillance activities, limiting data retention to five years, and banning federal law enforcement from purchasing personal data from data brokers. The legislation also establishes new transparency requirements, including annual reports on surveillance activities and enhanced oversight by the Inspector General and Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Additional reforms extend protections to car data, vehicle tracking devices, and ensure consistent privacy standards across different types of electronic communications.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a formal process for temporarily waiving coastwise endorsement requirements for vessels transporting goods between U.S. ports. It allows agencies to grant waivers when no suitable product carriers are available and the applicant has made a good faith effort to find one. The bill sets specific timelines for agency responses, requires detailed explanations for denied requests, and mandates notifications to Congress within 48 hours of any waiver request or issuance. This legislation primarily affects shipping companies and logistics operators who need to move goods across U.S. waters but lack vessels meeting standard coastwise regulations.