Sen. John Barrasso

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of January 25-31, 2026, as "National School Choice Week" to recognize educational options for K-12 students. It encourages parents to learn about school choices and urges the public to host events raising awareness about diverse education environments, including public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. The resolution has no policy or funding impact - it is a ceremonial designation acknowledging existing annual events celebrating educational choice.

Maddy summaryThe SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2026 prohibits the FDA from approving new abortion drugs or granting investigational exemptions for them. It requires existing approved abortion drugs to be dispensed only in-person by certified healthcare providers in clinics or hospitals (not pharmacies), mandates providers to verify pregnancy duration and handle complications, and enforces strict adverse event reporting to the FDA. The bill directly affects healthcare providers prescribing abortion drugs, patients seeking these medications, and the FDA’s regulatory authority over such drugs. Key provisions include banning use after 70 days gestation, requiring provider certification for specific medical capabilities, and mandating documentation of risks to patients.

Maddy summarySRES 585 is a commemorative resolution honoring Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. Senator from Colorado and the first Native American to chair the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. It recognizes his military service, Olympic judo career, legislative work (including authoring the National Museum of the American Indian Act), and advocacy for tribal communities. The resolution has no policy impact - it formally expresses the Senate’s respect for his legacy, requests transmission to his family, and directs a moment of silence. It directly affects Campbell’s legacy and family, not any current policy or population. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a bill with legislative provisions.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to cover genetic counseling services provided by licensed or certified genetic counselors starting January 2027. It defines covered services and sets payment at 80% of the lower of the actual charge or 85% of the physician fee schedule. Medicare beneficiaries seeking genetic counseling and genetic counselors practicing in licensed or certified states will directly benefit from this expanded coverage. The bill also prohibits balance billing for these services and updates Medicare rules to clarify that physicians may still bill for genetic counseling if covered under existing rules.

Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act This act reauthorizes through FY2028 the Congressional Award Board, the board that administers the Congressional Award Program, and modifies program medals. (The program, established by law in 1979, awards medals to youth ages 14 to 23 who satisfy standards of achievement set by the board. The program aims to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youth in the areas of public service, personal development, and physical fitness.) The act removes a requirement for program medals to consist of gold-plate over bronze, rhodium over bronze, or bronze. The reauthorization is effective as if enacted on October 1, 2023 (the date on which a prior reauthorization expired).

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate resolution (SRES 573), not a legislative bill, expressing the Senate's position on U.S. leadership in religious freedom. It reaffirms the U.S. commitment to promoting religious freedom globally, encourages the Secretary of State to use diplomatic tools to address foreign violations, and supports existing roles like the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. The resolution does not create new laws or change policies but serves as a symbolic statement urging continued U.S. engagement on this issue. It directly affects U.S. diplomatic efforts and messaging toward countries with religious freedom concerns, such as China and Nicaragua, as cited in the resolution's background.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3520) invalidates a specific Forest Service rule issued on November 25, 2024, which addressed criminal prohibitions related to law enforcement activities. The rule (89 Fed. Reg. 92808) is declared "without force or effect," and the Secretary of Agriculture is prohibited from implementing, enforcing, or administering this rule or any substantially similar rule. The bill directly affects the Forest Service's authority to enforce that particular rule. It is a procedural measure with no new policy provisions, solely reversing an existing regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that public comments on federal land management rules (administered by the Bureau of Land Management) must come only from U.S. citizens, replacing the previous standard. It mandates that agencies implement CAPTCHA systems to prevent artificial intelligence from submitting comments, explicitly stating this is to deter AI-driven public involvement. The changes apply to rulemaking under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, affecting how the public can participate in decisions about national public lands. The bill does not alter land management policies but modifies the process for gathering public input.

Maddy summarySRES 546 is a ceremonial Senate resolution designating November 2025 as "National Hospice and Palliative Care Month." It does not create new laws or policies but formally encourages the public to learn about hospice (end-of-life care focused on comfort) and palliative care (support for serious illness alongside treatment). The resolution urges Americans to recognize caregivers and volunteers, understand the benefits of early palliative care integration, and observe the month with awareness activities. This designation directly affects the general public and healthcare communities by promoting recognition of these services, not by altering legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain non-lethal projectile devices (like pepper ball guns or rubber bullets) from federal firearms and ammunition taxes. It directly affects manufacturers, producers, and importers of these devices by removing tax obligations under IRS Code sections 4181 and 5845. Key provisions define "less-than-lethal" devices as those not expelling standard firearm ammunition, operating below 500 feet per second, and not convertible to lethal weapons. The Secretary of the Treasury must annually update a public list of qualifying devices and report to Congress on non-qualifying devices that exceed the velocity limit.