Sen. Jeff Merkley

Maddy summaryThe Restoring Justice for Workers Act prohibits employers from requiring workers to sign agreements that force them to resolve disputes through individual arbitration rather than in court or as part of a group. It bans retaliation against employees who refuse to arbitrate and mandates that any post-dispute arbitration agreements be truly voluntary, requiring plain language explanations, a 45-day waiting period, and written consent. The bill also amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it illegal for employers to enter into or enforce contracts that prevent workers from joining together to file joint or class-action lawsuits regarding workplace rights. These changes apply to all workers, including independent contractors, and take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Audit the Pentagon Act requires the Department of Defense to reduce its funding by 2 percent if it fails to receive a clean financial audit for a given year. This penalty applies to all departments, agencies, and elements within the Pentagon starting after fiscal year 2024. The withheld money is distributed proportionally across various programs and projects, while the remaining funds are sent to the Treasury to help reduce the national deficit.

Maddy summaryThe FORK Act of 2026 creates a pilot program to provide grants for purchasing, retrofitting, or repairing vehicles used to deliver summer meals to children. These grants are intended for service institutions, such as schools or community organizations, and will prioritize applicants in areas with high poverty, outside major metropolitan regions, or serving many students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Each eligible recipient can receive up to $100,000 for a one-year term, with a limit of 10% of funds allowed for administrative costs. The program authorizes $1 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 and requires recipients to report on the number of sites served and children fed, with a final report due to Congress four years after the program begins.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new independent Anti-Corruption Bureau to enforce federal laws regarding campaign finance, government ethics, and whistleblower protection. It establishes a seven-member bureau with staggered six-year terms and strict political balance requirements to prevent any single party from controlling the agency. The legislation also introduces a private right of action that allows citizens to sue officials for corruption and recover stolen funds, while transferring the functions of the Federal Election Commission, Office of Government Ethics, and Office of Special Counsel into this new entity.

Maddy summaryThe Tracking Plastic Act of 2026 creates a Federal working group to develop recommendations for tracking recycled plastic content across various industries. This group will include representatives from federal agencies, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology leading the effort. The working group is tasked with proposing standardized measurements for data collection, designing a federal tracking system to help align state requirements, and considering ways to improve trade data clarity and monitor toxic chemicals in recycled plastics. The group must submit annual reports to Congress and will operate for up to ten years until it completes its duties.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to officially reject a rule proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the Child Care and Development Fund. If passed, the measure would prevent the new regulations from taking effect, thereby maintaining the previous rules governing how federal child care funds are administered. The bill directly impacts families and organizations that rely on CCDF subsidies for child care assistance by blocking the specific administrative changes outlined in the disputed rule. By exercising its authority under the Congressional Review Act, Congress aims to ensure the proposed flexibility measures do not alter the current structure of child care funding.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. military forces from ongoing hostilities against Iran that were not authorized by Congress. The bill is based on the constitutional principle that Congress holds the sole power to declare war and notes that no formal declaration or specific authorization for force against Iran has been enacted. While the resolution mandates withdrawal from active combat operations, it allows the U.S. to continue defensive actions, intelligence gathering, and limited support for allies facing Iranian attacks. The measure is intended to enforce congressional oversight of military engagements and restore constitutional war powers to the legislative branch.

Maddy summaryThe Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants and loans to help local air pollution control agencies purchase and operate portable air sensors in rural and remote areas. These low-cost devices are intended to measure smoke pollutants like PM2.5 and ozone in locations where traditional monitoring equipment is scarce, thereby improving the accuracy of air quality data for communities affected by wildfires. To ensure success, the bill also authorizes funding for technical assistance to help agencies install and maintain these sensors, while requiring that the data collected be shared with the EPA to update public air quality maps. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually through 2032 for grants and provides additional unspecified funding for loan programs and technical support, with a specific focus on expanding coverage to Indian tribes and areas lacking existing monitoring infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThe Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 reauthorizes federal funding for nursing education programs through 2030, increasing annual appropriations to support nurse training and workforce development. It expands grant eligibility to include nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and clinical nurse specialist programs, while requiring funds to cover clinical education costs like preceptor fees. The bill directs grants toward technology such as simulation labs, telehealth, and virtual training to modernize nursing education, and mandates partnerships with healthcare facilities to create clinical training opportunities. Additionally, it updates program requirements to include support for survivors of sexual assault and focuses on increasing nursing faculty and student enrollment to address nationwide nursing shortages.

Maddy summaryThe Green New Deal for Health Act establishes a comprehensive federal framework to address the intersection of climate change and public health by creating new offices, expanding funding, and mandating specific actions across the health care sector. It directly affects hospitals, health care providers, medical manufacturers, health professions schools, and communities identified as environmentally or medically underserved. Key provisions include establishing an Office of Climate Change and Health Equity to develop a national strategic action plan, requiring hospitals to provide detailed notifications and mitigation plans before discontinuing services or closing, and offering grants to modernize medical facilities for climate resilience. The bill also mandates that the health care sector disclose climate risks associated with medical supplies, expands Medicare coverage for home resiliency services like heat pumps for vulnerable patients, and allocates billions in funding to train health workers on climate-related health risks. Additionally, the legislation creates a research initiative to study climate impacts on health and establishes requirements for green, zero-emission medical manufacturing and supply chains.