Sen. James E. Risch

Maddy summaryS 449, the Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025, streamlines forest restoration projects by modifying environmental review rules for the U.S. Forest Service. It directs the Forest Service to use categorical exclusions (avoiding full environmental reviews) for hazardous fuel and insect/disease risk reduction projects in designated "insect and disease treatment areas," provided the areas are suitable for timber production or lack timber harvest prohibitions. The bill also requires states to prioritize wildfire/insect risk reduction in these areas and mandates annual public reporting on treated acreage. This primarily affects Forest Service operations and state agencies managing projects under the "Good Neighbor Authority" program, which allows states to use timber sale revenue for additional restoration work.

Supporting Made in America Energy Act This bill requires oil and natural gas lease sales that include certain public land and waters, prohibits lease sales in other areas, and establishes related requirements. Beginning in FY2025, the Department of the Interior must conduct a minimum of four onshore lease sales annually in each state that has federal land available for oil and natural gas leasing. If a lease sale is canceled, delayed, or deferred, Interior must conduct a replacement sale during the same year.  Beginning in FY2026, Interior must conduct a minimum of two offshore, region-wide lease sales annually in the Gulf of Mexico Region of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) by specified dates. The sales must include the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. Interior must also conduct a minimum of six offshore lease sales of at least 1 million acres each over a 10-year period in the Cook Inlet Planning Area. The bill sets a 12.5% royalty rate for such leases. Interior must plan and approve the subsequent OCS oil and gas leasing programs by specified deadlines. The bill extends through 2035 a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain eastern and central portions of the Gulf of Mexico and expands the moratorium to include the South Atlantic Planning Area and the Straits of Florida Planning Area. The bill also requires the President to obtain congressional approval before impeding or circumventing certain federal energy mineral leasing processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require federal agencies to submit detailed reports about new regulations to Congress before they take effect. Major rules (defined as those with an annual economic effect of $100 million or more, or significant effects on competition, employment, or public safety) would need congressional approval via a joint resolution before taking effect, with Congress having 70 days to act. Nonmajor rules would have a different, shorter review process. The bill would also require agencies to publish cost-benefit analyses and other supporting documentation, and would mandate that rules be reviewed and potentially reapproved after 10 years.

Maddy summaryS 383 (the JOBS Act of 2025) expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in certain short-term job training programs at eligible institutions of higher education. The bill creates a "job training Federal Pell Grant" for programs meeting specific criteria: 150-600 clock hours over 8-15 weeks, aligned with high-demand industry sectors, and leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that meet employer hiring requirements or licensure prerequisites. It also lowers the minimum Pell Grant award from 10% to 5% of the full annual amount. This directly affects students seeking career-focused training and institutions offering qualifying programs that validate industry partnerships.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Access to Banking Act (S 401) prohibits large financial institutions ($10 billion+ in assets) and payment networks from denying services to lawful businesses based on political or reputational factors, such as the type of legal business they operate. It requires banks to justify denials using objective, risk-based standards instead of category-based decisions, and mandates written explanations for denials. The law enables lawsuits against violators with treble damages and civil penalties up to 10% of service value (capped at $10,000 per violation). It directly affects major banks, payment processors, and credit unions that serve large-scale customers, ensuring fair access for businesses operating within federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies by requiring the closure of DEI offices, rescinding related executive orders (including those on racial equity and LGBTQ+ inclusion), and prohibiting federal funds from being used for DEI-related activities. It defines "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice" as including training that asserts certain groups are inherently superior or inferior, or requiring employees to sign statements about such concepts. The bill affects all federal agencies, personnel, contractors, and grantees by banning DEI training, offices, and related activities while exempting Equal Employment Opportunity offices and disability-related programs. It also creates a private cause of action allowing individuals to sue for violations with penalties of $1,000 per violation per day.

Maddy summaryS 364, titled the "Hearing Protection Act" (though it regulates firearm silencers, not hearing protection), changes federal law to treat firearm silencers like firearms for tax and regulatory purposes. It imposes a 10% federal tax on silencers (similar to firearms), preempts state laws that tax or regulate silencers beyond federal rules, and requires the destruction of existing silencer registration records within one year. The bill clarifies definitions of "firearm silencer" in federal law and modifies licensing requirements for these devices. This directly affects silencer owners, manufacturers, and state governments that previously imposed additional restrictions or taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently prohibits U.S. foreign assistance funds from being used for abortions, involuntary sterilizations, or related biomedical research. It amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Peace Corps Act to block funding for organizations supporting coercive abortion or sterilization programs. The law directly affects all U.S. government programs distributing foreign aid, including international health and development initiatives. It ensures funds cannot cover abortion services as family planning, lobbying on abortion, or programs involving coercion.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American civil rights advocate who challenged the WWII internment of Japanese Americans. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, commemorates his lifelong fight against racial discrimination and his role in exposing government deception regarding the internment. The bill creates no new legal obligations or policy changes - it solely establishes a symbolic honor recognizing Korematsu's legacy of justice and equality.

Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act This bill allows, beginning in 2028, for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that are used to screen for cancer across many cancer types, if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services determines such coverage is appropriate. Coverage is limited to those under a certain age (age 68 in 2028, increased by one year every year thereafter) and to one test every 11 months.