Sen. James Lankford

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Congress to reject a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that concerns vehicle pollution standards in California. The measure would effectively cancel the EPA's decision to reinstate a waiver that previously let California set its own stricter air quality rules for cars. If passed, the rule would have no legal force, meaning California would lose the ability to enforce its Advanced Clean Car Program under the current framework. The legislation directly impacts the relationship between federal environmental regulations and state-level automotive policies.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to overturn a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that allowed California to set its own stricter vehicle emission standards. By using a congressional disapproval mechanism, the bill aims to nullify this waiver, which would otherwise let California enforce unique pollution control requirements for cars and trucks. If passed, the measure would require all states to follow the federal government's uniform vehicle emission rules instead of California's separate standards. The legislation directly impacts automakers, state regulators, and consumers by ensuring a single set of national rules applies to motor vehicle pollution.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to overturn a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that allowed California to set its own stricter greenhouse gas emission standards for new vehicles. By disapproving this waiver, the bill aims to restore federal preemption, ensuring that all states must follow the same national emission rules rather than California's unique requirements. If passed, the measure would effectively cancel the EPA's decision, forcing automakers to comply with uniform federal standards for vehicle pollution control.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to disapprove a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution standards for small off-road engines in California. If passed, the measure would nullify the federal regulation, preventing it from taking legal effect. The bill directly impacts the EPA and manufacturers of small off-road equipment operating under California's environmental standards. It is a procedural action that relies on the Congressional Review Act to overturn an existing administrative decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal task force led by the Secretary of Labor to coordinate with state agencies and financial institutions for identifying and recovering pandemic unemployment payments that were improperly issued or are currently held in banks and unclaimed property accounts. The task force is responsible for developing model processes, legal guidance, and standardized procedures to help states determine if payments were fraudulent and to return those funds to the federal government efficiently. Additionally, the legislation extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions related to fraud in these specific unemployment programs to ten years from the date of the violation. The Secretary of Labor is also required to reimburse states for administrative costs incurred while coordinating with the task force to recover these funds.

Maddy summaryThe Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026 establishes uniform legal protections for chaplains across the Army, Navy, and Air Force to ensure they can perform their religious duties without interference or retaliation. The bill explicitly prohibits military members from assigning chaplains tasks that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs or the tenets of their endorsing organizations, making such violations subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It also creates new leadership positions, including Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains for each service branch, who will hold general officer ranks and serve as principal advisors on religious support matters. Additionally, the legislation requires commanding officers to provide necessary facilities and transportation to assist chaplains in carrying out their spiritual care responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThe Defense Community Infrastructure Program Tribal Eligibility Act of 2026 amends federal law to include Indian Tribes as eligible recipients for infrastructure funding alongside local governments. This change directly affects tribal communities located near military installations by allowing them to apply for and receive financial support for essential community projects. The bill modifies the definition of eligible entities within the Department of Defense's infrastructure program, ensuring that tribal governments are explicitly recognized under the same terms as other local jurisdictions.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act, clarifies that state-run student loan programs are not subject to certain federal rules about preferred lender arrangements. It directly affects state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other entities that offer private student loans without federal government backing. The legislation defines these state programs by requiring that they offer interest rates and fees at least as favorable as federal Direct PLUS loans and that borrowers are informed about federal loan options before taking out private loans. By making this exclusion explicit, the bill ensures state programs operate under different regulatory requirements than federally backed lending arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, Inc. (SAAMI), a non-profit organization founded in 1926 to set safety and reliability standards for firearms and ammunition. The bill does not create new laws or change regulations; instead, it formally acknowledges SAAMI's century-long work in developing technical guidelines that ensure different gun and ammo brands work safely together. By recognizing the institute's role in promoting public safety and responsible industry practices, the resolution serves as a tribute to its contributions rather than a policy change.