Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryThis bill makes the Department of Labor's voluntary Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) pilot program permanent. It allows employers to self-audit unintentional violations of minimum wage or overtime rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), submit detailed payroll data to the Labor Department, and pay back wages to affected employees directly. Employees receive settlement offers they can accept (waiving future lawsuits) or decline while retaining their right to sue. The program aims to resolve wage issues faster and more efficiently than traditional enforcement, as shown in the pilot's data where self-audits paid more back wages per case and per enforcement hour than standard investigations. It directly affects employers covered by the FLSA and their employees who may have unpaid wages.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics (marking 1925) and celebrates U.S. scientists who advanced the field. It honors the foundational role of quantum physics in modern technologies like semiconductors, medical imaging, and GPS. The Senate reaffirms U.S. leadership in quantum research and supports public education about quantum science's future impact on computing, security, and industry. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the temporary waiver allowing hospitals to provide acute care at home until 2030, directly affecting hospitals participating in the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative and the patients receiving care through this program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a detailed study by September 2028, comparing care quality, costs, patient outcomes, and experiences between home-based care and traditional inpatient hospital care. The study must analyze specific metrics like readmission rates, staffing ratios, treatment types, and patient demographics across participating and non-participating hospitals. The findings will be reported to Congress, providing data to inform future policy decisions about home-based hospital care.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) to reinstate stricter sentencing requirements for individuals with prior serious felony convictions. It mandates a minimum 15-year prison sentence (with no probation or suspended sentence) for anyone convicted under Section 922(g) who has three or more prior serious felony convictions, where each conviction was for an offense punishable by at least 10 years in prison under the statute. The bill defines "serious felony conviction" to include any offense with a statutory maximum sentence of 10+ years (regardless of actual sentencing guidelines) or consolidated convictions totaling 10+ years in a single proceeding. This applies only to offenses committed after the bill's enactment and affects individuals with three prior qualifying felony convictions who possess firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2263 (Control Tower Continuity Act), changes rules for air traffic controllers aged 61 or older. It removes the mandatory retirement age of 61, allowing controllers to continue working past that age. It also requires the FAA to update medical clearance rules so that for controllers 61+, medical clearance expires after six months instead of being valid longer. These changes directly affect current and future air traffic controllers who reach age 61. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 2225, the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2025, allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement therapists (locum tenens) under Medicare for outpatient physical therapy services. The bill amends Medicare rules to apply the same provisions currently used for physicians' services to physical therapy services, meaning therapists can now fill in gaps during staff shortages without disrupting patient care. This directly affects physical therapists providing Medicare-covered outpatient therapy and Medicare beneficiaries receiving those services. The change takes effect after the bill is enacted, ensuring continuity of care when therapists are unavailable.

Maddy summaryS 2207 defines digital assets for tax purposes and creates a de minimis rule allowing taxpayers to exclude small gains or losses from digital asset transactions (under $300 per transaction, with a $5,000 annual limit). The bill amends tax treatment for digital asset lending agreements, wash sales (with specific exceptions for payment stablecoins), and creates a mark-to-market election for dealers and traders in digital assets. It also defers income recognition for digital asset mining and staking activities until the assets are sold, and allows charitable contributions of actively traded digital assets. These provisions apply to taxable years beginning after 2025 and will terminate after December 31, 2035.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Senate's preference that the Parliamentarian of the Senate serve no more than one 6-year term. It references historical service averages of 15 years (since 1981) to argue that term limits would prevent long tenures, promote accountability, and encourage fresh perspectives. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change current appointment rules but states the Senate's view on the role's structure.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 308) formally honors Frederick W. Smith, founder of FedEx, for his military service (including combat in Vietnam), pioneering business leadership, and dedication to Memphis, Tennessee. It recognizes his role in revolutionizing global logistics and his community contributions through FedEx's operations and philanthropy. The resolution directs the Senate to transmit a copy to his family and share it with the House of Representatives. As a commemorative resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents.

Maddy summaryThe STOP CSAM Act of 2025 strengthens protections for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by expanding definitions of abuse to include psychological abuse and kidnapping, and by imposing new reporting requirements on internet service providers. The bill requires providers with over 1 million monthly users to report apparent child sexual abuse material to the CyberTipline within 60 days, with penalties for noncompliance including fines up to $1 million for large providers. It creates new civil remedies allowing victims to sue providers who host or promote child pornography, and establishes protections for "covered persons" (children under 18 who are victims or witnesses) by limiting public disclosure of their personal information. The bill also enhances law enforcement's ability to investigate online child exploitation while maintaining privacy safeguards for victims.