Sen. Ben Ray Luján

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act, directs federal agencies to ignore three specific final rules issued by the Department of State. It explicitly prohibits any government department from implementing, enforcing, or creating new policies similar to these existing rules, effectively treating them as if they never existed. The targeted regulations concern protecting life, combating discriminatory equity ideology, and addressing gender ideology within foreign aid programs. By nullifying these rules, the legislation removes the current administrative requirements related to these topics from U.S. foreign assistance activities.

Maddy summaryThe WATCH Personnel Act of 2026 establishes a minimum annual salary of $40,000 for Transportation Security Officers and requires future salary adjustments based on inflation data. To address potential funding gaps, the bill provides continuing appropriations to ensure these officers receive their standard pay and benefits during any period when regular government funding is unavailable. Additionally, the legislation authorizes a one-time $10,000 bonus for officers working as of February 14, 2026, though this bonus is explicitly excluded from calculations for retirement and other employee benefits. The law takes effect retroactively as if it were passed on February 13, 2026, ensuring immediate financial stability for the Transportation Security Administration workforce.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses support for library staff across public, school, academic, and special libraries in the United States. It highlights the essential services libraries provide, such as equitable internet access, social support, and community resources, while calling for adequate funding at all government levels. The measure reaffirms the right of citizens to freely access information and explicitly supports the ability of library workers to unionize and collectively bargain. Additionally, it defends the civil rights of library staff against intimidation and censorship, noting recent challenges like book bans and the potential elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Maddy summaryThe No Passes for Polluters Act of 2026 requires Congress to explicitly approve any federal exemptions from Clean Air Act requirements before they take effect. Under this bill, the President and federal agencies must submit a detailed message to both houses of Congress whenever they propose to exempt a pollution source from regulations, outlining the reasons and potential impacts. Once received, these proposals must be reviewed by congressional committees and enacted through a joint resolution that requires a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The legislation also mandates regular reports to Congress and allows citizens to sue if the government uses an exemption without the necessary congressional approval.

Maddy summaryThe PRICE Act requires third-party food delivery apps to show customers the exact delivery fee before they finalize an order, preventing these fees from changing during the checkout process. Under this law, delivery fees must be calculated based only on the cost of the food and distance, excluding factors like a customer's past buying habits or willingness to pay. The bill also mandates that apps clearly display the total price, including taxes and fees, throughout the ordering process and explain what each fee covers before payment is requested. Enforcement of these rules falls to the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, who can take legal action against platforms that violate the new pricing transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally acknowledges April as Community College Month to honor the role of over 1,000 institutions in providing affordable higher education and workforce training. The bill does not change any laws or allocate funding; instead, it serves as a symbolic statement recognizing how these colleges support economic prosperity and serve diverse student populations. By highlighting statistics on enrollment, tuition costs, and economic impact, the resolution aims to raise public awareness about the value of community colleges without imposing new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act, aims to overturn a specific executive order by repealing it and prohibiting the use of federal funds to implement similar directives in the future. It directly affects the United States Postal Service, various federal agencies, and state election officials by restricting their ability to regulate mail-in ballots or create national citizenship lists for voting purposes. Key provisions ban federal agencies from sharing voter registration data, compel the Postal Service to continue delivering state-issued mail ballots without interference, and forbid the use of taxpayer money to enforce rules that would require states to adopt specific citizenship verification methods. The legislation seeks to preserve the current system where states manage their own election administration while the Postal Service delivers ballots, citing historical precedents and the high volume of mail-in voting used by Americans.

Maddy summaryThe Drug Deal Disclosure Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publicly release specific records regarding agreements between the federal government and major drug manufacturers starting in 2025. This law mandates the disclosure of contracts that include provisions such as reduced drug prices based on international rates, direct-to-consumer sales discounts, duty exemptions, and special treatment for Medicare programs. While the bill allows for the redaction of confidential pricing details, it prohibits withholding information based on political sensitivity or reputational harm and requires a detailed justification for any redactions. Additionally, the act mandates reports to Congress and independent analysis from the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the economic and budgetary impacts of these agreements.

Maddy summaryThe Fair and Transparent Gas Prices Act of 2026 directs the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study on how oil and gas companies influence market prices and fuel availability. This investigation will examine whether corporate actions, such as stock buybacks or reduced production investments, lead to higher consumer costs or limit access to alternative fuels. The commission is authorized to hire up to 50 new staff members and receive $15 million over two years to carry out this research. Once completed, the findings will be reported to Congress along with recommendations for potential laws or administrative actions to ensure fair and competitive markets.

Maddy summaryThe VOICE Act creates a new civil remedy allowing individuals to sue the United States government if a federal law enforcement officer or someone acting under their direction violates their constitutional rights during immigration-related enforcement actions. This law specifically applies to people within U.S. jurisdiction who claim their rights were deprived while being acted upon by federal officers, regardless of whether the officer was following official policy. If the government is found liable, the specific federal agency that employed the officer must pay monetary damages, and the claimant is guaranteed at least $2 million in punitive damages. Additionally, the bill ensures that these lawsuits cannot be dismissed based on the government's sovereign immunity, while still allowing victims to pursue other legal remedies against individual officers.