Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summarySRES 620 designates February 28, 2026, as "Rare Disease Day" to promote awareness, encourage early diagnosis, and support research for rare diseases. The resolution recognizes the impact of rare conditions on over 30 million Americans living with more than 10,000 known rare diseases, acknowledging challenges like limited treatment options and diagnostic difficulties. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but highlights ongoing efforts to address rare disease needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare Part B coverage for medical nutrition therapy (MNT) to include more chronic conditions beyond diabetes and kidney disease. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with conditions like obesity, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, eating disorders, and others listed in the bill. Key provisions broaden the definition of covered conditions and allow additional healthcare providers (like nurse practitioners and clinical psychologists for eating disorders) to deliver MNT services. The change would make MNT services covered for prevention, management, or treatment of these additional conditions, as determined by the Secretary.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Railway Safety Act of 2026, establishes new safety requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials and strengthens emergency response capabilities. It directly affects Class I railroads, emergency response agencies, and communities near rail lines by mandating stricter tank car standards, limiting train speeds in urban areas, and requiring railroads to provide real-time information about hazardous materials shipments to first responders. Key provisions include phasing out older tank cars for flammable liquids by 2027, requiring two-person crews on freight trains, increasing penalties for safety violations, and creating a new emergency response assistance fund to help communities respond to hazardous materials incidents.

Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act or the ROTOR Act This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight. As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control. Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In equipment to provide the aircraft with location information of other aircraft and traffic advisories. Current law does not require this equipment. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights) and requires additional reporting and notifications for the exception. The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception. Further, the bill repeals a 2025 law that exempts certain military helicopters from the ADS-B Out requirements for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The bill also requires the OIG of the Army to audit the Army’s coordination with the FAA, the FAA to establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and review the safety of flight operations and routes around airports, and the FAA to enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.

Maddy summaryThe GRID Act requires new data centers (20+ megawatts) to power all operations - including backup energy - from off-grid sources like captive power plants or on-site generation, effective 180 days after enactment. Existing data centers can continue using the grid for 10 years if they obtain a "Zero Rate Effect Certificate" from the Secretary of Energy, which requires studying whether the data center raises electricity rates for ratepayers - prioritizing residential rates in the analysis. Covered entities must also publicly report utility usage, property acquisitions, and financial agreements with utilities (including Rate Effect Credits) within 90 days of enactment. Violations carry $1 million daily penalties, and all power sources must comply with environmental and labor laws.

21st Century WIC Act of 2026 This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, the bill requires that a state agency allow an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option. A state agency has 90 days to collect data for a nutritional risk evaluation for a remotely certified individual. Further, a state agency may consider an applicant who meets the income eligibility standards to be temporarily eligible on an interim basis to participate in the program and may certify the individual for immediate participation without waiting for a nutritional risk evaluation. The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office. Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program. Currently, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The Food and Nutrition Service has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were originally provided by laws that were enacted to address COVID-19.

Maddy summarySJRES 102 is a congressional resolution disapproving the District of Columbia Council's approval of the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act A26-0217). This resolution, introduced by Senator Scott on January 27, 2026, aims to block the D.C. tax law from taking effect by invoking Congress's disapproval authority under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. The bill directly affects D.C. residents and businesses subject to the income and franchise tax provisions in the disapproved law. If passed, it would prevent the D.C. tax code changes from becoming effective.

Maddy summaryThe Carbon Resource Innovation Act (S 3778) expands a federal tax credit to include businesses capturing carbon in solid or liquid form, directly affecting companies building carbon capture facilities. It modifies the existing 45Q tax credit to cover facilities that capture carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, requiring measurement at the capture source and verification at disposal. The bill sets a minimum annual capture threshold of 1,000 metric tons for these facilities and defines "solid or liquid carbon capture facility" to include systems with net carbon reductions compared to standard processes. This change aims to incentivize broader carbon capture technology adoption beyond current direct air capture methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Medicare program to audit prior authorization rules for high-cost items and drugs by 2027, identifying those needing excessive paperwork steps. By 2028, it mandates standardized prior authorization rules across all Medicare Advantage plans for these specific items and drugs. The law exempts providers in certain risk-based care models (like accountable care organizations) from these standardized requirements. It directly affects Medicare Advantage enrollees and plans by simplifying paperwork for certain treatments and medications. The bill aims to reduce administrative burdens for providers and patients without changing coverage decisions.

Maddy summarySRES 593 is a Senate resolution honoring the 67 victims of the January 29, 2025 mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River. It specifically recognizes the lives of all victims, including 11 U.S. figure skating athletes, their families, and 3 Army soldiers, as well as the 1,700+ first responders who assisted in the recovery efforts. The resolution offers condolences to affected families, acknowledges the bravery of emergency personnel, and commits the Senate to using safety lessons from the crash to prevent future incidents. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or provide direct benefits but serves to formally memorialize the tragedy and honor those impacted.