Sen. James Lankford

Maddy summaryThe Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025 allows private sector employees to earn time off instead of cash for overtime hours, at a rate of 1.5 hours of time off for every hour of overtime worked. To qualify, employees must have worked at least 1,000 hours for their employer in the prior 12 months, and agreements for time off must be voluntary, in writing, and not tied to employment conditions. Employers must pay cash for unused time off by January 31 each year (or another agreed 12-month period), with a cap of 160 hours of accrued time. The bill excludes public employees, includes enforcement provisions for violations, and expires 5 years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Vessel Tracking for Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2025 (S 1103) establishes a 4-year pilot program to use big data analytics in identifying vessels that may be evading U.S. sanctions or export controls by disabling or manipulating their Automatic Identification System (AIS). The program, run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the National Targeting Center, analyzes vessel data like cargo type, ownership, destination, and AIS manipulation patterns to flag high-risk shipments. It requires coordination with Commerce, Treasury, and intelligence agencies, and mandates a report to Congress assessing the pilot's effectiveness and making future recommendations. The bill does not authorize new funding and focuses solely on testing this data-driven approach to detect sanctions evasion.

Maddy summaryThe Safeguarding Medicaid Act (S 1082) requires all Medicaid applicants and recipients in every state and territory to undergo an asset test, removing previous exemptions for people who are aged, blind, or disabled. It sets the resource limit for eligibility at the same level used for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, meaning individuals with assets above this threshold would be ineligible for Medicaid. The bill also mandates states to implement electronic asset verification systems within one year of enactment and report annually on the number of asset checks conducted during eligibility renewals and new applications. This affects all Medicaid applicants and recipients nationwide, with states required to track and report savings from these verification efforts to the federal government.

Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act (S 1064) requires federal agencies to ensure open competition on construction projects by prohibiting them from mandating or banning contractors from entering into labor agreements (like union contracts) or discriminating against contractors based on such agreements. It directly affects federal contractors, subcontractors, and agencies awarding construction contracts or grants for projects involving federal funds. Key provisions ban specific bid specifications or project documents from requiring labor affiliations, apply to all contracts after enactment, and mandate updates to federal procurement rules within 60 days. The bill aims to reduce taxpayer costs, expand opportunities for small businesses, and maintain federal neutrality in labor relations for construction projects.

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2025 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and teachers, allowing them to purchase homes with no down payment. It defines "first responders" as full-time law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and K-12 teachers employed by government or accredited schools. The program requires applicants to be first-time homebuyers with 4 years of recent employment in their field, complete housing counseling, and intend to remain in their role for at least one year after closing. Mortgages under this program must be used for a primary residence, cover 100% of the home's appraised value, and exclude monthly insurance premiums.

Maddy summaryThe Hearing Device Coverage Clarification Act (S 983) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to clarify that implanted active middle ear hearing devices are prosthetics - not hearing aids - so they fall under Medicare's prosthetic coverage instead of the hearing aid exclusion. This change would directly affect Medicare beneficiaries who use these specific devices, ensuring they qualify for coverage without being denied under current policy. CMS must issue this clarification within 60 days of the bill's enactment, referencing the existing regulatory definition of "prosthetic" from 42 CFR § 414.202. The bill does not create new benefits but removes a coverage barrier for these devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from funding, supporting, or conducting research using human fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions. It allows federal research on tissue from miscarriages or stillbirths (defined as loss before 20 weeks or at 20+ weeks, respectively) and permits development of new cell lines not derived from abortion tissue. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to restrict permissible tissue sources to miscarriage/stillbirth and revises definitions accordingly. It also repeals a prior provision allowing research on abortion-derived tissue and adds new restrictions on soliciting or accepting such tissue.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the EPA's 2024 emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles and amends the Clean Air Act to prevent future regulations from mandating specific technologies or limiting new vehicle availability based on engine type. It directly affects the EPA's regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers by blocking technology mandates and restrictions on engine types in new vehicles. Key provisions require the EPA to revise regulations within 24 months to align with these changes, ensuring no federal rules limit vehicle choices based on engine technology. The bill's title is misleading, as it does not address automobile retail sales or consumer choice at dealerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a system for U.S. diplomatic posts to monitor China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) activities globally. It requires each U.S. embassy to designate a "Country China Officer" to track Chinese investments in critical infrastructure, assess debt risks to host countries, and identify BRI projects and related collateral. The officers must submit annual reports detailing these findings to the State Department, which then compiles and distributes comprehensive reports to Congress and relevant agencies. The program is set to expire 10 years after enactment, with no requirement for countries having minimal Chinese investment.

Maddy summaryThe CAMPUS Act requires the Director of National Intelligence to identify Chinese institutions of higher education supporting China's military-civil fusion strategy or defense industrial base, submitting an annual list to Congress. It prohibits federal funding for Department of Defense research contracts with entities partnering with these institutions, blocks facilities from hosting classified information without certification of no such partnerships, and allows visa denials for students/employees of listed institutions. The bill also restricts K-12 education funding for schools with contracts with Chinese entities and lowers the disclosure threshold for foreign gifts to $50,000. Additionally, it authorizes grants for U.S. schools to partner with Taiwan for Mandarin language and cultural programming. The bill directly affects federal research recipients, K-12 schools, and individuals affiliated with targeted Chinese institutions.