Sen. Gary C. Peters

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes training for Defense Media Activity staff on verifying the origins of military digital content (like photos and videos) to combat AI-generated forgeries. It requires a one-year course teaching staff to use industry standards for authenticating media provenance and includes a pilot program testing these standards on publicly released Defense Department content. The pilot, running until 2027, will assess feasibility and effectiveness for current and historical media records. The program mandates reports to Congress on curriculum, implementation, and recommendations for future use.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tag hatchery-raised fish stocked in the Great Lakes. It requires tagging 9-11 million fish annually using automated technology, with data shared to help state, tribal, and federal agencies manage fisheries. The program supports decisions on fish stocking rates, habitat restoration, and balancing predator-prey relationships to sustain recreational, commercial, and Tribal fisheries. The bill authorizes $5 million yearly (2025-2029) for equipment, personnel, and data sharing to improve Great Lakes fishery management.

Maddy summaryThe Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (S 1418) strengthens privacy protections for children under 13 and teens aged 12-17 online. It requires websites, apps, and connected devices that target children or teens, or are reasonably likely to be used by them, to obtain verifiable consent from parents for children and from teens themselves for those aged 12-17 before collecting personal information. The bill prohibits targeted marketing to children and teens, establishes a "Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Teens," and creates a Youth Privacy and Marketing Division within the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these rules. It also sets out specific Fair Information Practices Principles requiring transparency, data accuracy, security, and proper data disposal for children's and teens' personal information.

Maddy summaryThe Kids Online Safety Act requires social media platforms and other online services used by minors to implement safety features protecting children under 17. It mandates default privacy controls, limits addictive features like automatic media playback, restricts advertising of harmful products (tobacco, gambling, alcohol) to minors, and requires annual transparency reports about online risks. Platforms with over 10 million monthly U.S. users must provide parental tools, conduct independent audits, and make de-identified data available for research on online harms. The bill focuses on preventing mental health disorders, bullying, sexual exploitation, and addictive behaviors through platform design changes.

Maddy summaryThe TORNADO Act (S 1284) establishes a new hazard risk communication office within NOAA to improve how the public receives and understands warnings for severe weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes, and flash floods. It requires simplifying warning terminology, developing communication methods based on social science research, and creating a pilot program specifically for tornado warnings. The bill also mandates improved post-storm assessments, updates to tornado rating systems, and prioritizes research funding for minority-serving institutions to study tornado forecasting and communication. These changes aim to make weather warnings clearer, more actionable, and better tailored to vulnerable populations, with the goal of saving lives and reducing property damage.

Maddy summaryThe Air Security Act of 2023 (S 3473) extends an existing prohibition on providing airport improvement grant funds to entities that have violated U.S. intellectual property rights. It amends two sections of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to change the expiration date of this prohibition from 2023 to 2024. This adjustment ensures the restriction remains in effect for an additional year, directly affecting entities seeking these federal grants who have been found to infringe on U.S. intellectual property. The bill makes no new policy changes but extends a technical provision without altering eligibility criteria or funding amounts.

Maddy summaryThe VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to annually survey employees at VA medical centers about security conditions, including criminal activity, staffing gaps for police officers, equipment adequacy, and training needs. The VA must then submit detailed reports to Congress each year, outlining survey results, security weaknesses, and specific action plans with measurable goals to address issues. Additionally, the Comptroller General must produce a comprehensive report within two years examining VA security practices, emergency response protocols, equipment functionality, and training standards across all facilities. This law directly affects VA medical centers and their security staff by mandating regular assessments and transparency to identify and mitigate safety risks. The bill focuses solely on establishing reporting requirements to inform future security improvements, without allocating new funding or prescribing specific solutions.

Maddy summaryThe Grant Transparency Act of 2023 requires federal agencies to clearly disclose how they evaluate grant applications in their funding notices. Specifically, agencies must describe their evaluation criteria, any weighted scoring system used, and how applications are rated before funding is awarded. This applies directly to agencies issuing competitive grants (like those for research, community programs, or infrastructure) and affects applicants (such as nonprofits, universities, or local governments) seeking these funds. The law does not create new funding or change grant award decisions - it only mandates clearer information in the initial funding notice, effective 120 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Streamlining Federal Grants Act of 2023 requires federal agencies to simplify grant application and reporting processes, with a focus on helping communities and organizations that historically haven't received federal grants. It establishes a Grants Council to coordinate across agencies and mandates each agency to develop public plans for streamlining grant programs, including using plain language and providing training resources. Agencies must consult with non-Federal entities during plan development, publish plans for public comment, and submit annual reports on progress to Congress. The bill also requires a study of Grants.gov's accessibility and an evaluation of the law's effectiveness after five years. These changes aim to improve service delivery while reducing administrative burdens for both agencies and grant recipients.

Maddy summaryS 1798 establishes two new offices within the Department of Homeland Security: the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office and the Office of Health Security. The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office will coordinate efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction and related threats (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear), develop policies, identify capability gaps, and manage research and development. The Office of Health Security, led by a Chief Medical Officer, will oversee all medical activities of the Department, including patient care, workforce health and safety, and medical quality assurance. The bill also includes provisions to protect the confidentiality of medical quality assurance records and requires regular strategy updates and congressional briefings.