Sen. Andy Kim

Maddy summaryThe Kidd's Stuttering Act requires Medicaid and CHIP programs to include screening for childhood-onset fluency disorders, such as stuttering, in well-child visits for children aged 2 to 6. Starting in 2028, these screenings must be added to standard health quality measures, and by 2029, states must provide coverage for specific speech therapy services treating these disorders. The law ensures that coverage for stuttering therapy is not more restrictive than coverage for other speech and language disorders and allows these services to be delivered via telehealth. Additionally, managed care organizations and insurance plans must follow established rules to guarantee equal access to these treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct periodic assessments of federally funded programs managed by state and local governments to identify risks of waste, fraud, and abuse. The report will analyze specific administrative practices that create vulnerabilities and evaluate which current strategies effectively reduce these risks. It also aims to recommend improvements for federal tools and enrollment processes to better protect public funds. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to enhance oversight by providing Congress with a clear picture of where federal money administered by states is most susceptible to misuse.

Maddy summaryThe CHAT Act 2.0 requires companies operating AI chatbots to register users with age verification and implement specific safety measures to protect minors from harm. The law categorizes these chatbots into three tiers based on their purpose, imposing stricter rules on those designed for companionship or mental health support, such as mandatory break reminders, limits on memory retention, and protocols to detect and report suicidal thoughts. Covered entities must clearly disclose that the chatbot is not human, prohibit the sale of minor users' data, and ensure that any AI providing therapeutic services is supervised by a licensed professional. Enforcement of these requirements falls under the Federal Trade Commission, which also has the authority to work with state attorneys general to address violations.

Maddy summaryThe Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act creates a new category called "chameleon carriers" to identify trucking companies that repeatedly change their legal identity to avoid safety penalties, insurance hikes, or enforcement actions. To combat this, the bill requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to develop a specialized automated tool that analyzes business data to detect these patterns during the registration process. The legislation also mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office to estimate the number of such carriers and their impact on road safety, along with an appeals process for applicants denied registration based on the tool's findings.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Drive in Willingboro, New Jersey, as the "James A. Cotten Post Office".

Maddy summaryThe UNLOCK AUKUS Act amends federal export control laws to allow the transfer of specific defense articles and services to partners under the AUKUS security pact. By modifying the Arms Export Control Act, the bill removes certain restrictions that previously limited what technology and equipment could be shared with these allied nations. This change directly impacts the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense, enabling them to facilitate the collaboration required for next-generation nuclear-powered submarine programs. The legislation does not alter the core requirements for these transfers but adjusts the regulatory framework to support the partnership's goals.

Maddy summaryThe Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act aims to strengthen the United States' role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor by prioritizing diplomatic and strategic cooperation with Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. It directs the Secretary of State to institutionalize multilateral dialogues, focus foreign policy efforts on energy security and defense in the region, and maintain leadership in existing initiatives like the East Mediterranean Gas Forum. Additionally, the bill requires federal officials to submit annual reports on implementation progress and to study the feasibility of creating new bilateral research and development programs with these nations, similar to those currently established with Israel.

Maddy summaryThe Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026 establishes a framework to strengthen Taiwan's unmanned aerial system (UAS) capabilities and integrate them into U.S. defense supply chains. The bill creates a working group to assess Taiwan's drone production capacity, identify barriers to U.S. certification, and explore public-private partnerships for co-developing secure, PRC-independent drone components. It also mandates a cooperative framework with regional allies to promote Taiwan's participation in secure UAS programs and establishes a fast-track certification process for Taiwanese manufacturers to expedite export controls and security reviews. The legislation authorizes funding for these initiatives while explicitly stating it does not change U.S. policy on Taiwan's international status.

Maddy summaryThe Patients Deserve Price Tags Act requires hospitals, clinical diagnostic laboratories, imaging services providers, and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for healthcare services in machine-readable formats. This includes standard charges, discounted cash prices, payer-specific negotiated rates, and other relevant pricing data that consumers can easily access and compare. The law applies to all facilities that provide services to Medicare beneficiaries, with implementation dates starting in 2026 for hospitals and 2027 for other providers. Non-compliant facilities face daily civil monetary penalties ranging from $300 to $10,000 per day, depending on facility size and duration of non-compliance.

Maddy summaryS 2252, the "Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act," prohibits the U.S. government or its partners from destroying foreign aid commodities like food, medicine, vaccines, or family planning products before they spoil or expire. Instead, it requires agencies to urgently deliver these items to intended beneficiaries - such as people in disaster zones, refugee camps, or communities facing health crises - through donation, sale, or other means. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing any expired, spoiled, or destroyed aid, including reasons for failure to deliver and associated costs. This directly affects U.S. agencies managing global health and food aid (like USAID and the State Department) and aims to prevent waste while supporting health outcomes and U.S. agricultural exports.