Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life and legacy of Donald W. Riegle, Jr., a former U.S. Senator from Michigan who passed away in April 2026. The bill formally acknowledges his nearly three decades of public service, including his roles as a Representative and Senator, and highlights his significant contributions to legislation on banking, housing, and veterans' health. It also expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and directs officials to share the resolution with the House of Representatives and send a copy to Riegle's family. Finally, the Senate will stand in adjournment as a mark of respect for the former senator when the session concludes.

Maddy summaryThe Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 automatically provides federal funding for government programs if Congress fails to pass a budget by the start of a new fiscal year. This mechanism supplies money for 14-day periods that can be extended as long as the shutdown continues, ensuring essential services like food assistance and loan programs keep running without interruption. To prevent political games during these shutdowns, the bill restricts official travel for government officials and limits what Congress can debate or vote on, except for passing a new budget or addressing the national debt limit.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to highlight mental health issues within the farming industry. The bill aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness among the approximately 3.37 million agricultural producers and 1.6 million farmworkers in the United States. It acknowledges specific challenges faced by these workers, such as suicide rates that are significantly higher than the general population, and encourages the use of existing resources like the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture to promote well-being rather than enacting new laws or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution reaffirms congressional support for the Taiwan Relations Act and longstanding bipartisan U.S. policy toward Taiwan. It explicitly upholds provisions such as maintaining defensive arms sales to Taiwan and opposing any efforts to determine Taiwan's future by force or coercion. The measure also reiterates the U.S. commitment to regional peace and stability while recognizing Taiwan's role as a significant economic partner and democracy. By restating these principles, the bill aims to clarify the United States' position without altering existing legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryThe 9-8-8 Connect Act establishes a new grant program to help crisis centers provide follow-up care to individuals who contact the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via call, text, or chat. These grants, totaling $30 million for fiscal year 2026, will fund activities such as well-being check-ins, outreach to ensure continued support, and referrals to appropriate care, all of which require the individual's informed consent. The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission to create rules ensuring that all mobile phone calls and texts are routed to 9-8-8, including those from devices without a service plan. Additionally, the legislation updates federal communications laws to officially include 9-8-8 alongside 9-1-1 as a dialable number on multi-line telephone systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the enforcement of contractual clauses that prevent victims of sexual abuse of minors from disclosing their abuse or related facts. It directly affects survivors of child sexual abuse, alleged perpetrators, and any parties to agreements containing such nondisclosure provisions. The law declares these clauses void and unenforceable under public policy, applies retroactively to agreements made before or after enactment, and preempts state laws that would allow enforcement of prohibited clauses. The bill also preserves the ability to settle cases while still allowing disclosure of abuse-related information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 236) amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to allow the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to lease reservation and trust land for up to 99 years. It directly affects these two federally recognized tribes by expanding their authority to lease tribal land under the existing leasing framework. The key provision modifies the 1955 Act to specifically include their lands in the leasing authority, replacing a reference to the Chehalis Reservation. This change would enable tribes to enter longer-term leases for economic development or other purposes on their designated lands.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and legacy of John Seymour, a late U.S. Senator from California, by formally acknowledging his public service and contributions. The document details his career highlights, including his roles as Mayor of Anaheim, his work in securing the relocation of the Los Angeles Rams, and his legislative achievements such as passing a major transportation bill. It also lists his committee assignments and advocacy for issues like special education, women's rights, and environmental protection. Finally, the resolution requests that the Senate Secretary communicate this tribute to the House of Representatives and send a copy to Seymour's family.

Maddy summaryThe AVERT Future Violence Act of 2026 directs the Attorney General to conduct a study analyzing the link between animal cruelty and future human violence, with the goal of developing evidence-based prevention strategies. To support this research, the bill authorizes $2 million in funding for a grant program that helps states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations create early intervention resources and training for law enforcement and mental health professionals. These grants can be used to build specialized units, improve data tracking systems, and provide behavioral health treatment for individuals who have committed animal cruelty offenses. The legislation also defines specific acts of animal cruelty while excluding standard veterinary care, hunting, and necessary pest control from its scope.

Maddy summaryThe PETSAFE Act expands federal funding for emergency preparedness to include better care for companion animals during disasters. It allows state and local governments to use up to 90 percent of certain grants to purchase items like pet crates, mobile shelters, and veterinary supplies. Additionally, the bill updates official disaster plans to explicitly recognize the needs of animal shelters that house homeless or lost pets. These changes aim to ensure pets can be safely evacuated and cared for alongside their owners in emergency situations.