Sen. Ron Wyden

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 Email Privacy Act amends federal law to clarify how electronic communication providers must handle user data disclosures and government requests. It changes the definition of when a provider can share information, ensuring that voluntary disclosures are limited to the people involved in the communication or their agents, and it updates the terminology used to describe how data is stored. The bill also modifies the rules for government access, requiring warrants for obtaining the contents of stored communications and allowing providers to notify users about certain warrants and legal requests. Additionally, the legislation includes specific exceptions for communications related to public advertisements and ensures that the act does not restrict Congress's power to issue subpoenas.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act, strengthens protections and incentives for individuals who report tax violations to the Internal Revenue Service. It ensures that whistleblower award decisions are reviewed de novo by the Tax Court based on the original administrative record and any new evidence, while also granting whistleblowers the right to remain anonymous unless a specific societal interest outweighs the potential harm to them. The legislation further safeguards these awards from budget cuts and mandates that interest be paid on awards if the IRS delays notifying the whistleblower of a preliminary recommendation. Additionally, it requires annual reports to list top tax avoidance schemes revealed by whistleblowers and corrects a technical error regarding attorney fee deductions.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE for Survivors Act of 2026 establishes new federal protections for individuals experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other gender-based violence by mandating that employers provide up to 40 work days of leave per year, including at least 10 paid days, to address these incidents. This legislation also prohibits employers and insurers from discriminating against victims or retaliating against them for seeking leave, requesting workplace safety accommodations, or filing related claims, while ensuring that any information about the abuse remains strictly confidential. Additionally, the bill expands access to unemployment compensation for those who leave their jobs due to violence, strengthens insurance rules to prevent denial of coverage based on victim status, and authorizes funding for public education campaigns and workplace resource centers to support survivors.

Maddy summaryThe Elder Pride Act amends the Older Americans Act to formally recognize LGBTQI individuals and people living with HIV as distinct groups requiring specific attention. It establishes a new Office of LGBTQI Inclusion within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate services, conduct research, and administer grants aimed at improving care for older LGBTQI people. Additionally, the bill creates a $5 million rural outreach grant program to fund initiatives that reduce isolation, enhance cultural competency among service providers, and expand sexual health services in non-urban areas. These changes are designed to ensure that aging services are more inclusive and accessible to older adults who have historically faced discrimination or lack of tailored support.

Maddy summaryThe Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act creates a new funding program to hire more counselors, psychologists, and social workers for schools with high numbers of low-income students. These funds are distributed to states, which then award subgrants to local school districts to help them reach recommended staffing ratios of 250 students per counselor, 500 per psychologist, and 250 per social worker. To qualify for the money, states must match the federal grant with their own funds and submit detailed plans showing how they will prioritize high-need schools. The bill also requires regular reporting on how many mental health staff are hired and the current student-to-staff ratios in participating schools.

Maddy summaryThe SLUSH FUND Act of 226 introduces a new federal tax on settlement payments made to former U.S. presidents, their immediate families, and entities they control. Under this legislation, any money received by these individuals from civil lawsuits against the government would be taxed at a rate of 100 percent, effectively doubling the cost to the recipient. The bill also mandates that financial institutions report these payments to the IRS and publicly disclose the details of such transactions. Failure to pay the tax or file the required reports would result in significant penalties, including a 50 percent surcharge on the unpaid tax and a flat $10,000 fee per instance of non-compliance. These rules would apply to payments received on or after May 20, 2026.

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program Reauthorization This bill extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional five years. The program tests the feasibility of cost-based reimbursement under Medicare for small rural hospitals that are too large to qualify for special payment as critical access hospitals. The bill specifies that hospitals that participate in the program between December 30, 2024, and January 1, 2027, may continue to participate during the five-year extension period.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal framework for cloud storage providers to securely store and share digital evidence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) used in law enforcement investigations. It designates "approved vendors" (cloud companies contracted by U.S. law enforcement) and grants them limited civil/criminal liability protection when following strict cybersecurity protocols, such as using NIST standards, end-to-end encryption, and annual audits. The bill requires all CSAM evidence stored via approved vendors to remain within the U.S., mandates detailed notification procedures to the Department of Justice, and sets requirements for evidence retention and transfer. It directly affects cloud storage companies working with law enforcement agencies and ensures their services meet rigorous security and privacy standards during investigations.

Maddy summaryThe Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026 authorizes competitive grants to help partnerships create or expand training programs for early childhood education careers. These grants are intended for groups that include colleges, child care providers, and local businesses to work together on education and training initiatives. The funds can be used to develop educational materials, support student recruitment and retention, provide work-based learning experiences, and offer professional development for teachers and staff. Priority is given to applicants serving rural and urban areas, particularly those addressing documented shortages of child care providers and focusing on infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. Recipients must submit detailed applications and annual reports to demonstrate how the programs benefit students and improve outcomes in the workforce.