Maddy summaryThe CLOSE THE GAP Act aims to streamline the permitting process for installing and modifying communications facilities, such as cell towers, on Federal land managed by agencies like the National Park Service and the Forest Service. It requires these agencies to create standardized, technology-neutral rules that allow applications to be processed simultaneously rather than sequentially and mandates that fees charged to applicants be based solely on the actual administrative costs incurred. To improve transparency and speed, the bill establishes online portals for submitting applications, requires agencies to track and report processing times, and creates a new working group to coordinate reviews across different Federal land management agencies. Additionally, the legislation simplifies environmental reviews for projects on previously analyzed land and allows for faster approval of public safety improvements at existing sites without requiring new environmental impact statements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Stop TNR Act of 2026 establishes a formal definition for transnational repression, which covers foreign government efforts to harass, threaten, or harm individuals in the United States, including the use of cyberattacks and artificial intelligence. This legislation mandates that crimes involving such activities face a mandatory sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. To enforce these rules, the bill requires the Attorney General to centralize the oversight of related investigations and prosecutions within the FBI and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice. Additionally, the act directs federal agencies to produce annual public reports detailing incidents of repression and outlines a strategy for using artificial intelligence to investigate and counter these threats.
Maddy summaryThe SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act requires the Small Business Administration to create a detailed plan for updating its information technology systems based on a recent audit report. This plan must outline specific steps to manage project risks, improve scheduling and cost estimates, and ensure security experts are involved in hiring contractors. The agency must submit this implementation plan to Congress within 180 days and provide a briefing on it within 30 days of submission. These measures aim to establish clearer policies for managing technology projects and reducing risks within the SBA.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution condemns China's new Ethnic Unity and Progress Law for allegedly enforcing cultural assimilation and restricting the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and other minority groups. The bill directly addresses concerns about the law's provisions, which it claims criminalize dissent, limit religious freedom, and allow for extraterritorial enforcement against individuals outside China. It calls on the Chinese government to repeal the law, imposes sanctions on officials involved in human rights violations, and urges the U.S. to coordinate with allies to monitor these policies. Additionally, the resolution reaffirms support for the Dalai Lama's role in Tibetan religious succession and demands that China resume dialogue with his representatives.
Maddy summaryThe Preserving Patient Access Act requires health insurance plans to grant special enrollment periods when they remove a doctor from their network or stop covering a specific prescription drug that a patient has used recently. Under this bill, Medicare Advantage and individual market plans must allow individuals to join or switch plans within the same year if their current provider becomes out-of-network after a visit within the last two years or if a covered medication is dropped from the formulary within the last six months. These protections apply to both Medicare Advantage plans and private individual market plans, ensuring that patients can maintain access to their preferred doctors and medications without waiting for the annual open enrollment window. The changes are scheduled to take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryThe AI Labeling Act of 2026 requires providers of generative artificial intelligence systems to clearly label digital content created or substantially modified by their tools, ensuring these disclosures are visible to users and accessible to individuals with disabilities. The law mandates that these labels include machine-readable data identifying the AI system used, the creation date, and other provenance details, while also obligating major online platforms to display these markers and prevent their removal. To enforce these rules, the Federal Trade Commission is empowered to treat violations as unfair or deceptive practices and can impose penalties, while the bill also prohibits companies from selling products designed to remove or falsify these required disclosures. Additionally, the legislation establishes a working group to develop technical standards for labeling and detection, and it provides specific exemptions for content used solely for internal research and for nonprofit libraries and educational institutions.
Maddy summaryThe Securing Partner Supply Chains Act creates a new government program called the Initiative on Foreign Investment Screening to help allied nations protect their economies from security threats. Led by the State Department, this initiative will train foreign partners on how to screen investments from outside their countries to prevent risks to critical infrastructure and sensitive technology. The program is designed to assist partner countries, defined as those with free trade agreements or mutual defense treaties with the U.S., in building their own regulatory systems to manage foreign investment safely. The initiative will operate for five years, after which the Secretary of State must report to Congress on the progress made and any remaining security concerns.
Maddy summaryThe Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act of 2026 creates a competitive grant program to help organizations transport materials removed during wildfire risk reduction projects on National Forest System lands. Eligible recipients include for-profit companies, nonprofits, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and universities, with funding available from fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Grants can cover costs for transporting wood and biomass, maintaining transport equipment, and workforce training, but cannot be used for construction or buying timber. The program prioritizes projects in high-risk wildfire areas and offers higher funding percentages to Indian Tribes compared to other applicants.
Maddy summaryThe SAFE KIDS Act requires companies providing AI chatbots to verify user ages, conduct regular safety risk assessments, and implement specific safeguards to protect children from harms such as self-harm, sexual exploitation, and manipulative design. Providers must offer robust parental controls that allow parents to limit usage, restrict data collection, and receive notifications if their child encounters dangerous content or expresses suicidal ideation. The legislation also prohibits targeting children with advertisements or selling their personal information without explicit parental consent, while mandating annual independent audits to ensure compliance. Enforcement of these rules will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission, which has the authority to impose civil penalties for violations.
Maddy summaryThe PFAS Alternatives Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create grant programs that help develop and train firefighters on using protective gear free from PFAS chemicals. Under this law, eligible nonprofit and educational organizations can receive funding to research next-generation turnout gear that maintains safety standards without relying on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The legislation allocates up to $25 million between 2027 and 2031 for research grants and $2 million between 2028 and 2032 for training initiatives, ensuring that new gear designs are tested and that first responders learn proper care and decontamination methods. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to submit a progress report to Congress within two years of enactment to track the implementation of these safety improvements.