Sen. Joni Ernst

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes February 1 as Blue Star Mothers Day to honor the contributions of mothers supporting children serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It formally adds this designation to the U.S. Code and encourages federal, state, local, and private groups to recognize the day through proclamations and educational activities. The legislation aims to acknowledge the sacrifices made by these families while strengthening military communities through volunteer support.

Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 This bill expands a requirement for federal agencies to report expenditures on the USAspending.gov website to include other transaction agreement expenditures. (Other transaction agreements, or OTAs, are contractual instruments other than standard procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements; they are exempt from many federal procurement laws and regulations). Under current law, federal agencies must report expenditures on federal awards to USAspending.gov with the term federal award defined as federal grants, loans, cooperative agreements, contracts, and certain other types of expenditures. This bill expands the definition of federal award to include expenditures under OTAs, and therefore such expenditures must be included on the USAspending.gov website.  The Department of the Treasury must ensure that data relating to OTAs are automatically transmitted to the website and a centralized view of this data is available on the website. Treasury must also annually post on the USAspending.gov website a report that includes (1) the total amount of federal spending on federal awards for which data has not been posted on the website, and (2) the reason why such spending data was not posted. For 10 years after enactment, the Office of Inspector General of specified federal agencies must periodically submit to Congress and make publicly available a report assessing the agency's spending data and use of data standards.

Maddy summaryS 825 requires the Justice Department to develop a report within 150 days on programs providing evidence-based mental health care for public safety officers, including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. The report must outline how to deliver trauma-informed care, peer support, and family services through in-person or telehealth options, while ensuring confidentiality for officers seeking help. It also needs to detail administrative efficiency across states and territories, draft necessary grant conditions, and estimate annual funding needs. This bill does not fund programs but sets a framework for future action based on the high rates of PTSD and suicide among these frontline workers.

Maddy summaryThe Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act empowers federal agencies to temporarily pause, condition, or segment payments when there is a significant risk of fraud or financial loss to the government. This authority is triggered by specific fraud-risk indicators, notifications from state or local officials, or orders from the Treasury Department based on its Do Not Pay system. Agencies must notify payees within two days of a pause, outline the review process, and issue a final decision within 30 days, though they may allow routine portions of a payment to proceed while holding anomalous amounts. The bill also provides legal protections for government officials acting in good faith and requires the Treasury to submit annual reports on the number of paused payments and the savings generated.

North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the individuals and communities that provided financial and other support for the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, during World War II.

Maddy summaryThe Ending Double Dealing Act of 2026 prohibits the Department of Defense from contracting with consultancies that currently work for foreign adversaries or have done so within the last five years. This rule directly affects companies providing mission support services to the military, requiring them to disclose any existing or recent financial ties to designated hostile nations and entities. To comply, firms must certify that they are not receiving funds from or working with these adversarial groups, and failure to disclose such relationships can result in contract termination and a five-year ban on future government work. The law also mandates that the Defense Secretary issue specific policies and update acquisition regulations within the first year to enforce these new restrictions.

Maddy summaryThe OASIS Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Defense to assess current air and missile defense systems used by the United States and its allies in the Middle East and to submit a report detailing their effectiveness and production capabilities. Following this assessment, the Defense Department must create a strategy to cooperate with foreign partners on acquiring and producing these defense systems to better protect regional assets. The bill also establishes a new working group to facilitate regular information sharing and best practice exchanges among the United States and its allies regarding missile defense operations. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports on the progress of these collaborative efforts and identifies gaps in current defense capabilities to guide future requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Upward Mobility Act of 2026 would establish a 5-year pilot program allowing up to 5 states to consolidate multiple antipoverty programs (including nutrition assistance, housing subsidies, child care, and employment services) into a single grant. The program aims to reduce "benefit cliffs" by limiting how much direct assistance benefits decrease as people earn more, measured by a "Marginal Effective Tax Rate." States would apply for the program, and the Secretary would approve based on how well the plan would improve employment outcomes and reduce reliance on benefits. The pilot would require states to measure specific outcomes like employment rates, earnings, and reduction in per-capita direct assistance to determine effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life and legacy of Donald W. Riegle, Jr., a former U.S. Senator from Michigan who passed away in April 2026. The bill formally acknowledges his nearly three decades of public service, including his roles as a Representative and Senator, and highlights his significant contributions to legislation on banking, housing, and veterans' health. It also expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and directs officials to share the resolution with the House of Representatives and send a copy to Riegle's family. Finally, the Senate will stand in adjournment as a mark of respect for the former senator when the session concludes.

Maddy summaryThe Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 automatically provides federal funding for government programs if Congress fails to pass a budget by the start of a new fiscal year. This mechanism supplies money for 14-day periods that can be extended as long as the shutdown continues, ensuring essential services like food assistance and loan programs keep running without interruption. To prevent political games during these shutdowns, the bill restricts official travel for government officials and limits what Congress can debate or vote on, except for passing a new budget or addressing the national debt limit.