Maddy summaryThe Support our Firefighters Act establishes mandatory rest and recuperation leave for federal wildland firefighters working for the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. The bill requires these employees to take paid leave after completing specific deployment periods, such as 3 days after 14 days of work or 4 days after 21 days of work, with policies set jointly by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. Additionally, the legislation allows up to $5 million in unspent wildfire management funds to be transferred between the two departments to support ongoing salary increases for firefighters. The act also removes expiration dates on overtime pay provisions for wildland firefighters, ensuring these benefits continue indefinitely rather than being limited to specific years.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe WINGS Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer ownership of aircraft and aircraft parts from the federal government to state and local firefighting agencies that have used them for at least five to ten years. This change applies to equipment originally obtained through the Federal Excess Personal Property program, which allows states to borrow surplus government property for wildland firefighting. To qualify for ownership transfer, agencies must demonstrate responsible stewardship, maintain accurate records, and agree to continued public use of the equipment for a set period after transfer. The bill also requires the Secretary to establish clear application procedures and regulations within 18 months of enactment to manage these transfers.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally recognizes Congress's duty to protect the rights and economic security of working women in the United States. It highlights concerns about wage gaps, workplace discrimination, and recent policy changes that the bill's sponsors claim have disproportionately harmed women in the workforce. The document calls for federal action to ensure equal pay, workplace safety, access to healthcare, and the right to unionize, while affirming the importance of women's contributions to the economy. As a non-binding statement of principle, it does not create new laws but serves to express congressional intent and guide future legislative priorities.
Maddy summaryThe Kira Johnson Act establishes a federal grant program to support community-based organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes for demographic groups facing higher rates of maternal mortality and health disparities. The bill authorizes $100 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for grants that fund programs addressing social determinants of health, culturally congruent care, and midwifery support, with special consideration given to organizations led by individuals from affected communities. It also creates a separate $5 million annual grant program for respectful maternity care training that requires ongoing education for all maternity care staff, including administrative and support personnel, to address bias and racism. Additionally, the legislation mandates that hospitals establish compliance programs to report and respond to instances of bias in maternity care, requires regular reporting on patient experiences, and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct studies on reducing discrimination in healthcare settings.
Maddy summarySJRES 103 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule on reproductive health services for veterans. The resolution, if passed, would block the VA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code), meaning the rule published in the Federal Register (December 31, 2025) would have no legal force. This directly affects the VA’s ability to implement new guidelines for reproductive health services at its facilities, preserving existing policies instead. The resolution does not create new policy but halts a specific administrative rule.
Maddy summaryThe AFTER Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to retire research animals to nonprofit rescue organizations, sanctuaries, or shelters rather than euthanizing them when they are no longer needed for studies. The bill defines specific categories for these receiving facilities and excludes rats and mice from the retirement requirements. Federal facilities must create regulations within 90 days of enactment to facilitate adoption and placement of retired animals, including consideration of locations beyond their immediate geographic area. The legislation also ensures that state or local laws with stricter animal welfare standards remain in effect and allows chimpanzees used in research to be placed in existing sanctuary systems.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, directs the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the discharge of pre-production plastic pellets and related materials into wastewater and runoff from specific industrial facilities. It requires the EPA to issue new rules within 60 days that prohibit these discharges from factories that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets, as well as from facilities regulated under existing federal water pollution regulations. The law mandates that these new restrictions be included in all wastewater and stormwater permits issued by the EPA and state programs, as well as in performance standards for affected industrial point sources. This legislation directly impacts manufacturers and distributors of plastic pellets and aims to prevent plastic pollution from entering water systems during the production and packaging stages.
Maddy summarySJRES 116 requires the President to remove U.S. military forces from hostilities against Iran that lack a congressional declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. It specifically cites the Trump administration's Operation Epic Fury as an example of unapproved military action, referencing statements from officials calling it a "war." The resolution allows for continued defense of U.S. personnel, intelligence sharing, and support for allies attacked by Iran, but mandates withdrawal of forces engaged in unapproved hostilities. This policy change enforces the constitutional principle that Congress, not the executive, must authorize military conflict.
Maddy summaryThe WIPPES Act (S 1092) requires manufacturers and retailers to label specific wipes with a clear "Do Not Flush" notice and symbol. It directly affects producers of baby wipes, antibacterial wipes, cleaning wipes, and personal care wipes (like makeup remover or feminine hygiene wipes) that could be flushed. The law mandates precise labeling on packaging - ensuring visibility, high contrast, and specific placement depending on package type - while banning all claims that these wipes are flushable. Enforcement falls to the Federal Trade Commission under existing consumer protection laws, and the federal standard preempts conflicting state regulations.
Maddy summaryS 921, titled "Tyler’s Law," requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases, along with the costs, benefits, privacy impacts, and effects on patient-clinician relationships. The study must examine current testing frequency, associated costs, and how fentanyl testing might influence patient privacy and care. Within six months of completing the study, the Secretary must issue guidance on whether hospitals should routinely test for fentanyl, how to inform clinicians about testing protocols, and how such testing might affect future overdose risks and health outcomes. This bill directly affects hospitals with emergency departments and patients experiencing overdoses, but it does not mandate testing - it only mandates a study and subsequent guidance.