Sen. Gary C. Peters

Maddy summaryS 3581, the "No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act," prohibits using federal funds (including the Judgment Fund) to settle claims by individuals convicted of assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach. It directly affects those convicted under federal or D.C. law for assaulting officers during the Capitol events, banning settlements for claims related to harm suffered during the events or prosecution for those acts. The bill's key mechanism blocks all federal financial obligations for such settlements, regardless of the claim's basis. This is a substantive policy change affecting legal settlements for specific convicted individuals, not a procedural measure.

Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act This act reauthorizes through FY2030 research and monitoring conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in support of binational fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin. This research is completed through the Great Lakes Science Center and may involve invasive species science, studies on fishery resources, and the use of biological assessment tools and other capabilities to support fishery management decisions.

Maddy summarySJRES 82 is a joint resolution seeking to block a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding how the agency should follow the text of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), a federal law governing how agencies create regulations. The rule, published in March 2025, was identified by the Government Accountability Office as a "rule" subject to the Congressional Review Act. If enacted, this resolution would void the HHS policy, preventing it from taking effect and requiring HHS to disregard this specific internal guideline. The bill directly affects HHS's rulemaking procedures by invalidating the policy statement on APA adherence.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC) process for addressing threats posed by nonbank financial companies. It requires the FSOC to first determine, in consultation with the company and its primary regulator, that alternative actions (like new safeguards or company plans) are impractical or insufficient before voting on a formal determination. The key change adds a new step (paragraph (3)) to Section 113 of the 2010 Financial Stability Act, directly affecting how the FSOC evaluates risks to U.S. financial stability. This applies specifically to U.S. nonbank financial companies under FSOC review.

Maddy summaryS 3563 requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a roadmap by June 2026 for adopting open technical standards to verify the origin and history of digital media (like photos or videos) released by the Department of Defense, military branches, and field activities. The roadmap must assess existing standards, outline processes for embedding and verifying content credentials, identify acquisition approaches, and establish metrics for evaluating these technologies. It also mandates a congressional briefing by July 2026 on feasibility, stakeholder input, and next steps. This bill directly affects how the DoD handles public digital content to ensure authenticity. The focus is on creating verifiable digital content provenance systems, not on mandating specific technologies or outcomes.

Maddy summaryS 3543, the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025, modifies how interest from antidumping and countervailing duties is distributed to eligible businesses. It updates the reference date for interest calculations from October 1, 2014, to October 1, 2000, and creates a special distribution process for interest accrued before the bill's enactment. Eligible businesses must have previously received distributions under the 2000 Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act, file timely certifications, and meet historical eligibility criteria. The bill mandates pro-rata distributions of this interest by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 210 days of enactment, split between interest from 2010 onward and 2000-2010.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3541) aims to increase competition in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracting by removing barriers for small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. It requires the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance within one year allowing past performance from commercial projects (not just government work) to be considered for contracts, and to validate non-government references. The bill also mandates a Defense Acquisition Regulations Council to identify and eliminate unnecessary procedural barriers - like excessive paperwork - within 90 days, with full implementation of streamlining measures required within two years. The goal is to prioritize cost-efficiency and quality in contract awards while making it easier for small businesses and nontraditional contractors to compete.

Maddy summaryThe Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require lobbyists to disclose the names and addresses of foreign governments or political parties (other than the client) that direct, plan, supervise, or control their lobbying activities. This affects lobbyists representing clients with foreign influence, mandating new transparency in their registration filings. The bill adds a specific disclosure requirement to the existing registration process, ensuring foreign entities beyond the client are identified. This change increases public visibility into foreign involvement in U.S. lobbying efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a single online application system for all federal disaster assistance programs, replacing multiple separate applications. It requires FEMA to establish a unified platform by 360 days after enactment, allowing survivors to apply once for aid like housing, small business loans, or food benefits, track their application status, and receive updates. The system mandates data security standards and allows FEMA to waive certain paperwork rules during disasters while requiring transparency through public notices. This directly affects disaster survivors seeking aid and federal/state agencies administering disaster assistance programs.

Maddy summaryS 865, the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act, requires lobbyists registering under the Lobbying Disclosure Act to disclose whether they claim an exemption from foreign agent registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938. The bill amends registration forms to add a specific question about exemption status under Section 3(h) of that law. This change directly affects lobbyists who register with the government and assert they are not subject to foreign agent registration rules. The amendment improves transparency by clarifying exemption claims in public disclosure records.