Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to place a monument honoring Medal of Honor recipients on federal land near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., overriding standard location rules. It specifically requires the monument to be located within the National Mall's "Reserve" area adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial, as defined in federal law. The bill affects the museum foundation's construction plans and the public's access to this new memorial site. It does not change how the Medal of Honor is awarded, only the physical location of its commemorative monument.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program to improve processing of claims for officers injured or killed in the line of duty. It establishes clear timelines for the Bureau to notify claimants about missing information (90 days) and make determinations (270 days), with automatic interim benefits issued if deadlines aren't met. The bill requires regular outreach to public safety officers and underserved agencies, mandates annual audits of backlogged claims, and strengthens subpoena authority to obtain necessary information. It also creates a pathway for expedited processing when claims are approved by the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or World Trade Center Health Program. The bill does not change benefit amounts but aims to make the claims process more efficient and transparent for public safety officers and their families.

Maddy summaryThe ARCH Act requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a records preservation program for specific Afghan individuals who served with U.S. forces between 2001 and 2021. This program allows eligible applicants, including former military personnel, intelligence operators, and justice sector officials, to submit applications through a secure online portal to have their service records and biometric data preserved by the Department of Defense. The bill mandates that these records be kept for potential future use by the applicant or their designee, while prohibiting fees for the application process. Applicants who are denied classification based on eligibility or derogatory information are granted the right to file one written appeal and may request to reopen their case to provide additional clarifying information.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates August 7, 2026, as National Lighthouse Day to honor the 237th anniversary of the 1789 Lighthouse Act and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The bill encourages lighthouse grounds to open to the public and calls on Americans to celebrate maritime heritage through ceremonies, site visits, and support for preservation efforts. It serves as a commemorative measure to recognize the historical significance of lighthouses and the keepers who maintained them, without altering any laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union and recognizes the resilience of the Ukrainian people in pursuing sovereignty and democracy. The text affirms U.S. support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, specifically rejecting the annexation of Crimea, while condemning Russia’s 2022 military invasion. It encourages the U.S. government to provide strong security guarantees to facilitate a lasting peace agreement and to integrate lessons from Ukraine’s defense innovations into American military readiness. Additionally, the resolution urges Ukraine to continue implementing reforms related to anti-corruption measures, free markets, and the rule of law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of August 22 through August 30, 2026, as "National Park Week." It directly affects the public by encouraging responsible visits and support for the National Park System, which includes parks, battlefields, and historical sites located across the United States and its territories. The measure serves as a formal declaration to highlight the parks' role in recreation, education, and economic activity without altering any laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution celebrates the July 2026 NATO Summit held in Ankara, Türkiye, and reaffirms the United States' commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. It commends NATO allies for pledging $80 billion in military support for Ukraine in 2026 and highlights the alliance's goal for members to spend at least 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035. The resolution also urges the Department of Defense to consult with all NATO allies during its force posture review and encourages continued support for Ukraine through initiatives like the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List.

Maddy summaryS 1735, the Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act, requires government agencies that issue permits (like environmental or construction permits) to publish detailed online status updates for each application. Covered agencies must display on their websites: the stages completed in the review process, how long each stage took, the current status and time spent in that stage, contact information for reviewers, the full process steps needed, and an estimated timeline for a final decision. This directly affects permit applicants by providing clear, real-time tracking of their applications instead of opaque waiting periods. The bill mandates these specific, standardized details to make the permitting process more transparent and accountable for all involved parties.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the GOOD Act (Guidance Out Of Darkness Act), requires federal agencies to publish all their non-binding guidance documents - such as memos, bulletins, letters, and blog posts - on a single, publicly accessible government website. It applies to all federal agencies and mandates that existing guidance be posted within 180 days of the law's enactment, with new guidance published immediately upon issuance. Agencies must also maintain rescinded guidance documents online with clear labels indicating they are no longer in effect. The law does not apply to documents already exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Maddy summaryThe Kids Online Safety Act (S 1748) requires major social media platforms, online video games, and other "covered platforms" to implement specific safety features for minors (under 17). These features include default privacy settings that limit harmful design features like infinite scrolling and auto-play, parental controls for managing minors' accounts, and restrictions on advertising illegal products to minors. The bill also mandates annual transparency reports about how platforms are used by minors and requires platforms to provide clear notices about their content algorithms. It creates a Kids Online Safety Council to advise Congress on online safety issues for children. The law applies to platforms with more than 10 million monthly users in the U.S. and takes effect 18 months after enactment.