Firearm Safety Act of 2026 This bill allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue safety standards for firearms and firearm components. Under current law, firearms, shells, cartridges, and components thereof are excluded from the CPSC's rulemaking authority.
Maddy summaryThe Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act requires the Department of Education to collect and publish detailed statistics on the experience, licensing, and demographics of public school teachers and principals. This new data will include specific metrics such as the number of full-time staff, their years of experience broken down into categories, and whether they hold full state certification or specialized credentials in subjects like math and special education. The bill mandates that this information be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and sex, and presented in an accessible report with visual aids to help identify workforce trends across different states. Additionally, the legislation ensures that while data is made public, the privacy of individual educators is protected by keeping personally identifiable information confidential. These changes will apply to all future civil rights data collections conducted by the Department of Education.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. It states that Congress has not declared war or provided specific authorization for these military actions, citing the War Powers Resolution's 60-day limit for such operations. The bill mandates the withdrawal of forces unless Congress explicitly declares war or passes a specific authorization for military force against Iran. However, it clarifies that this directive does not prevent the U.S. from defending itself, sharing intelligence, assisting allies with defensive measures, or evacuating U.S. citizens.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as National Small Business Week to honor the contributions of small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States. The measure expresses appreciation for the economic role these businesses play and acknowledges the resilience of their owners and employees. By adopting this designation, the Senate aims to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit within every community without imposing any new laws or regulations.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as "Fair Chance Jobs Month" to raise awareness about employment barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals. While the bill itself does not change laws, it encourages the removal of obstacles like licensing restrictions and promotes fair-chance hiring practices. The resolution also calls for expanded workforce development programs, better access to housing and healthcare, and increased collaboration between government agencies and community groups to help returning citizens secure stable employment.
Maddy summaryThe CREATE AI Act establishes the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, a centralized system designed to connect U.S. researchers and educators with advanced computational tools, data, software, and educational materials. Managed by the National Science Foundation, this resource will be built by coordinating contributions from federal agencies, state governments, and private organizations to support artificial intelligence research and workforce development. Access to these tools is primarily reserved for eligible U.S.-based universities, nonprofits, government entities, and small businesses, with a specific provision to exclude individuals employed by designated foreign countries. The bill also outlines a flexible fee structure that includes a free tier for users, mandates the use of open-source software where possible, and requires annual public reporting on the resource's progress.
Maddy summaryThe Puppy Protection Act of 2026 amends the Animal Welfare Act to impose stricter housing and care standards on dog dealers. It requires dealers to provide dogs with solid flooring, sufficient indoor space based on size, and temperature control between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The bill also mandates daily nutritious food, unrestricted outdoor exercise for most dogs over 12 weeks, and at least 30 minutes of daily social interaction with humans. Additionally, it establishes specific rules for breeding, such as limiting the number of litters a female dog can produce and requiring health screenings before breeding. These new requirements must be implemented through final regulations issued by the Secretary within 18 months of the law's enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act, directs federal agencies to ignore three specific final rules issued by the Department of State. It explicitly prohibits any government department from implementing, enforcing, or creating new policies similar to these existing rules, effectively treating them as if they never existed. The targeted regulations concern protecting life, combating discriminatory equity ideology, and addressing gender ideology within foreign aid programs. By nullifying these rules, the legislation removes the current administrative requirements related to these topics from U.S. foreign assistance activities.
Maddy summaryThe CLEAN Mergers Act strengthens antitrust enforcement by requiring companies involved in mergers worth at least $10 billion to divest assets or keep them separate while regulators review the deal. It also allows agencies to retroactively investigate and force divestitures of smaller mergers if they were approved despite internal objections, evidence of corruption, or misleading information. To support these measures, the bill mandates strict record-keeping for all parties and extends the time limit for filing antitrust lawsuits from four to ten years.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It directly affects the spouses of veterans whose death was caused by ALS, specifically those who died on or after October 1, 2022. The key provision amends a law to treat veterans who died from ALS as if they had the disease for the required period before death, removing a prior time requirement for compensation eligibility. This change ensures surviving spouses qualify for the same benefits previously available only to veterans with longer ALS diagnoses.
