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.
Sponsored bills
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 summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which occurred in 1876 during the Great Sioux War. The bill formally recognizes the historical significance of the conflict involving the United States Army and various Tribal Nations, including the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho. It honors the soldiers, scouts, civilians, and warriors who died in the battle and encourages the public to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument to learn about the event.
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.
Maddy summaryThe Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to individuals who fought for or with the United States in the Pacific theater during World War II and were taken as prisoners of war. This recognition specifically honors those who participated in the defense of Bataan and Corregidor, including Filipino soldiers and civilians who served alongside American forces, as well as nurses and other personnel who endured the Bataan Death March and subsequent imprisonment. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the Smithsonian Institution for display, while also permitting the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs.
Maddy summaryThe Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes the presentation of gold medals to the four crew members of the Artemis II Mission to recognize their historic contributions to space exploration. This legislation directs the U.S. Treasury to strike these medals, which must depict the mission's crew, and allows the mint to sell duplicate bronze versions to cover production costs. The bill highlights the mission's significance as the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since 1972 and notes the diverse achievements of the astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color to travel around the Moon. By designating these awards as national medals, the act formally honors the crew's role in advancing human spaceflight capabilities.
Maddy summaryThe Credit for Prior Learning Act allows students to use federal financial aid to pay for assessments that evaluate their existing knowledge and skills for college credit. It specifically allocates up to $2,000 per year to cover reasonable costs like test fees for these evaluations, provided the assessments meet specific criteria regarding skills rather than just experience. The law also requires colleges to have clear, expert-reviewed standards for granting credit and mandates that institutions publicly report data on how many students receive this credit, broken down by race, income, and Pell Grant status. These changes are designed to make it easier for individuals to earn academic credit for what they already know while increasing transparency in higher education. The provisions will take effect on July 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryThe Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act expands hazard pay eligibility to include firefighters who conduct prescribed burns and smokejumpers performing training or operational parachute jumps. This legislation amends federal law to equate the pay differential for these specific duties with the rate paid for fighting forest and range fires on the fireline. The Office of Personnel Management is required to issue regulations within 90 days to implement these changes, which will apply to pay periods beginning after that deadline or after the regulations are finalized.
Maddy summaryThe FIRE SMART Act of 2026 directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update its regulations regarding rural water infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bill requires the EPA to define "communities at high risk from fire or wildfire" and to prioritize funding for water system improvements that aid in fire suppression within these areas. Additionally, the legislation mandates that projects benefiting both drinking water and fire suppression receive priority if the community has adopted a wildfire protection plan or taken steps to reduce private property fire risks. These regulatory changes aim to ensure that federal funding for rural water systems explicitly supports wildfire prevention efforts.
Maddy summaryThe Honor Gold Star Families Act increases the death gratuity payment for military families from $100,000 to $200,000, effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. This change also establishes a permanent annual cost-of-living adjustment mechanism, requiring the payment amount to be updated each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Secretary of Defense will be responsible for publishing these updated figures annually in the Federal Register. The legislation directly affects families of service members who have died while on active duty.