Sen. Marsha Blackburn

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and modifies the American Battlefield Protection Program through 2035, extending funding deadlines and increasing grant percentages for battlefield preservation. It raises the maximum federal share for battlefield acquisition, interpretation, and restoration grants from 50% to 75% and sets a $2 million annual appropriation for these programs. The bill also mandates new studies to identify, assess, and propose preservation options for sites tied to the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and Mexican-American War (1846-1848), requiring consultation with states, tribes, and preservation groups. The studies must be completed within two years and reported to Congress, focusing on site significance, threats, and potential preservation strategies.

Maddy summaryS 3456, the Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recreation Pass Act, creates a free annual pass for eligible law enforcement officers and firefighters to use at national parks and federal recreational lands. The bill directly affects active officers and firefighters employed by federal, state, local, or tribal governments who perform duties related to crime prevention/detection or fire suppression. It amends existing law to require the Secretary to provide these passes at no cost, after verifying eligibility through proof of employment. The key mechanism is expanding the current pass program to specifically include these public safety professionals under defined roles.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Transparency Act of 2026 requires Medicare Advantage plans to submit detailed data on supplemental benefits to the federal government starting in 2029. This information will include specific details about what benefits are offered, eligibility rules, and how much each enrollee spends on these services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will then make this de-identified data available to the public and researchers for analysis after a two-year delay. To support the implementation of these reporting requirements, the bill appropriates $12 million for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham from South Carolina. It formally acknowledges his extensive career in the military, state government, and Congress, noting his service as a Senator and his roles as Chairman of the Judiciary and Budget committees. The Senate expresses its sorrow over his death and requests that this tribute be shared with the House of Representatives and Graham's family.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive sanctions framework targeting the Russian government and its affiliated entities in response to ongoing military actions. It authorizes the President to block assets, revoke visas, and prohibit financial transactions for Russian officials, military leaders, and foreign persons supporting Russia's defense industry or undermining Ukraine. The legislation also bans U.S. investments in Russian energy sectors, prohibits the purchase of Russian sovereign debt, and imposes high tariffs on Russian imports while restricting crude oil purchases by specific foreign nations. Additionally, the bill prevents Russian companies from listing on U.S. stock exchanges and includes mechanisms for terminating sanctions only if Russia signs a peace agreement accepted by Ukraine and ceases hostilities.

Maddy summaryThe Ban Birth Tourism Act of 2026 prohibits individuals from entering the United States if their main reason for travel is to have a child born there to gain U.S. citizenship. This law makes such travelers inadmissible upon arrival and subject to deportation if they are found to have entered the country specifically for this purpose. Officials determine whether someone is engaging in birth tourism by assessing if the person's primary goal is obtaining citizenship for a child or if they are likely to give birth within ten months of entry. The bill directly affects foreign nationals planning to visit the U.S. with the intent of using their child's birthplace to secure citizenship status.

Maddy summaryThe ONSHORE Manufacturing Act creates three new tax credits to financially encourage the domestic production of essential medical supplies and equipment. The first credit provides a percentage of a company's taxable income based on wages paid to workers manufacturing specific drugs, devices, and ingredients listed as critical for national security or defense. The second and third credits offer tax breaks for businesses that purchase and install advanced machinery or environmental compliance equipment used to produce these same medical products within the United States. These incentives are designed to support companies that manufacture specified medical goods in whole or significant part domestically, with the benefits applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026. Additionally, the bill requires several federal agencies to submit annual reports to Congress starting in 2027 to track how these credits affect supply chain resiliency and adherence to domestic procurement laws.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting American Taxpayers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to combat government fraud, recover misused funds, and strengthen oversight across various federal programs. It directly affects federal agencies, state governments administering public assistance, small businesses, veterans, and contractors by imposing new reporting requirements, extending statutes of limitations for fraud cases, and restricting financial assistance to entities linked to foreign agents or the Taliban. Key mechanisms include requiring child care payments to be based on recorded attendance rather than enrollment, mandating investigations into sudden spikes in health care spending, prohibiting small businesses with convicted fraudsters from receiving loans, and creating a new officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated to scam prevention. Additionally, the legislation rescinds unspent pandemic-era funds for deficit reduction, expands whistleblower protections for defense and non-defense contractors, and establishes stricter rules against transferring public assistance money abroad via remittance transfers.

Maddy summaryThe Citizenship Act of 2026 redefines the legal status of individuals currently in the United States without legal admission as "invaders" and removes birthright citizenship from children born to these individuals. This change specifically targets mothers who are unlawfully present in the country or entered for the purpose of giving birth, as well as foreign nationals involved in commercial surrogacy contracts within the U.S. By amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, the bill ensures that citizenship is no longer automatically granted to these specific groups of children, regardless of their place of birth. Additionally, the legislation declares that courts cannot review the government's determination that an invasion is occurring at the border.

Maddy summaryThe American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 streamlines the permitting process for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for federal and state agencies to complete their portions of the review. The bill also modifies water quality laws to reduce the number of required certifications for discharges into navigable waters, extends the validity of certain nationwide permits for dredged or fill material from five to ten years, and creates a new fund to address abandoned hardrock mines. Additionally, the legislation updates the National Environmental Policy Act to limit the scope of environmental reviews to effects directly caused by a project, impose specific timelines for agency decisions, and restrict the ability of courts to issue injunctions that would halt construction while legal challenges are pending.