Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1518) redesignates Saratoga National Historical Park as Saratoga National Battlefield Park and updates all federal references to the park's name. It directly affects federal documents, maps, regulations, and records that previously used the old name. The key provision is a simple administrative change to align official terminology with the park's historical identity. This is a procedural bill with no policy changes or direct impact on citizens or programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to study how public K-12 schools across all states teach about the Holocaust. The study will examine whether Holocaust education is mandatory or optional in curricula, review teaching materials and methods, and assess how schools measure student understanding of the Holocaust and related issues like antisemitism. It specifically looks at teacher training, use of museum resources, and challenges schools face in implementing this education. The museum must submit a detailed report to Congress within three years of the bill's enactment. This study aims to inform future educational approaches but does not change current school requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026 restructures the United States immigration court system by creating a new, independent judicial branch under Article I of the Constitution, separate from the executive branch. This new system consists of three divisions: an appellate division with judges appointed by the President and Senate for 15-year terms, a trial division with judges appointed by the appellate division for 15-year terms, and an administrative division that manages operations and advises on court needs. The bill establishes specific qualifications for judges, sets their salaries at levels comparable to federal district court judges, and defines their powers to conduct hearings, issue rulings, and manage court resources. Additionally, the legislation transfers all existing immigration functions from the Department of Justice to this new court system while ensuring that pending cases continue without interruption.

Maddy summaryThe PROKID Act establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsperson within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect immigrant children in government custody. This new office would have the authority to conduct regular unannounced site visits, investigate complaints of abuse or neglect, and advocate for the quickest possible release of detained children. To support these efforts, the bill requires the government to share real-time data on child locations and custody details with the ombudsperson while strictly prohibiting the use of this information for immigration enforcement. Additionally, the act creates an expert advisory committee to review facility compliance and mandates that the government publish monthly statistics on the number and length of time children are held in detention.

Maddy summaryThis bill would fundamentally change how Supreme Court justices are appointed and how long they serve by establishing a fixed schedule of biennial appointments. Under the new rules, the President could only nominate one justice every two years, specifically within the first 120 days of their term or following a rejected nomination, ensuring that the total number of justices hearing appellate cases never exceeds nine. Additionally, the legislation sets a 14-year term limit for each justice, meaning their service would end automatically when their term expires rather than continuing for life. These changes aim to reduce the impact of single appointments on the court's composition for decades while maintaining the current nine-justice quorum for most cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands existing rules to prevent foreign nationals from influencing U.S. elections by tightening restrictions on domestic businesses that are owned or controlled by foreign interests. It requires companies with significant foreign ownership or control to file a sworn certification confirming they are not foreign entities before making any political contributions or spending money on election activities. Additionally, the law prohibits recipients of these funds from using them for further political spending unless they receive and verify the original certification, while also clarifying that these rules apply to state and local ballot measures as well as corporate political committees.

Maddy summaryThe Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026 establishes comprehensive standards for the treatment, care, and placement of noncitizen children in immigration custody, primarily affecting the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. Key provisions include a prohibition on separating children from their parents or guardians unless there is clear and convincing evidence of an imminent threat, alongside requirements for rapid family reunification and the elimination of family detention facilities. The bill mandates that children be housed in state-licensed facilities that provide trauma-informed care, adequate medical and educational services, and access to legal representation, while also phasing out large congregate care settings in favor of family-based placements. Furthermore, it creates an independent Office of the Ombudsperson to monitor compliance, investigates age assessments that ban invasive medical procedures, and enforces strict data privacy rules to prevent information from custody cases from being used in immigration removal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally recognizes the significant wage gap between Black women and white, non-Hispanic men in the United States. The document cites data showing that Black women earn roughly 65 cents for every dollar earned by white men and highlights how this disparity impacts their ability to support families and accumulate wealth. By referencing existing laws like the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act, the bill reaffirms Congress's support for equal pay for equal work without proposing new legislation or policy changes. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the economic challenges faced by Black women due to dual discrimination based on race and gender.

Maddy summaryThe Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026 establishes a federal commission to study child marriage in the United States and requires the Department of Justice to create a model state law that sets the minimum marriage age at 18. The bill also amends immigration laws to generally deny visas to spouses or fiancés who were under 18 years old at the time of their marriage, with limited exceptions for compelling humanitarian reasons. Additionally, the legislation prohibits the use of federal property to facilitate any marriage where one or both individuals are under 18 and provides grants to states that establish task forces to examine and address child marriage.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham from South Carolina. It formally acknowledges his extensive career in the military, state government, and Congress, noting his service as a Senator and his roles as Chairman of the Judiciary and Budget committees. The Senate expresses its sorrow over his death and requests that this tribute be shared with the House of Representatives and Graham's family.