Sen. Bernard Sanders

Maddy summaryThe Work Without Worry Act of 2026 changes how the Social Security Administration evaluates disability for children who receive benefits based on a parent's work record. It allows these children to be considered disabled even if their condition started before age 22 but continued after that age, removing the requirement that they remain disabled continuously until they apply for benefits. Additionally, the bill treats a child's application for benefits as a simultaneous request for their own disability or retirement benefits if they meet specific age and insurance criteria, though they will only receive the higher payment amount. These changes apply to applications filed at least two years after the law is enacted.

Maddy summaryThe Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2026 aims to address market concentration in the food and agricultural sectors by imposing a moratorium on large mergers and requiring a retroactive review of past deals that may have harmed competition. It strengthens regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act to prohibit unfair practices, such as restrictive forward contracts and performance-based penalties in poultry production, while also mandating that packers purchase a significant portion of livestock through transparent spot markets. The bill restores mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, pork, and dairy products to increase transparency for consumers and producers. Additionally, it provides increased funding and grants to support beginning, retiring, and socially disadvantaged farmers, as well as small-scale processing facilities, to bolster rural economies and food system resilience.

Maddy summaryThe Agricultural Worker Justice Act of 2026 establishes new rules to improve wages, safety, and accountability for workers in the meat and poultry processing industry. It requires the USDA to only purchase food from facilities where workers are paid at least the local prevailing wage and prohibits companies receiving USDA funds from buying back their own stock or paying dividends. The bill also mandates stricter safety standards, including limits on increased production line speeds, better access to toilet facilities, and enhanced protections against retaliation for reporting injuries or unsafe conditions. Additionally, the legislation creates a system to blacklist contractors with repeated labor law violations and requires detailed annual reports on grant recipients and racial disparities in the sector.

Maddy summaryThe Mamas First Act expands Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, labor, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. To qualify for this coverage, these professionals must meet specific certification, training, or recognition standards, such as doulas having continuing education and references from former clients or healthcare providers. The bill also prohibits Medicaid programs from charging copayments or deductibles for these essential services. These changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, aiming to improve maternal health outcomes by increasing access to supportive care.

Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2030, modifies, and establishes programs under the Older Americans Act, which supports social services and activities for individuals aged 60 years or older. Reauthorized programs and activities include the national eldercare locator service; regional aging and disability resource centers; grants to support counseling and assistance on pensions and other retirement benefits; grants to support home-delivered nutrition services (sometimes referred to as meals on wheels programs); programs to facilitate the delivery of supportive services to tribal organizations; and programs to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  The bill also modifies existing programs for older individuals, including by explicitly permitting states to use certain grant funds to make carryout meals available at congregate meal sites or community locations. (Some providers began offering carryout meals to seniors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.) Further, the bill permits the Administration on Aging to establish and operate, through grants to or contracts with eligible entities, a national resource center to support growth of the direct care workforce. The center’s activities may include the provision of training and technical assistance and the promotion of strategies to recruit and retain direct care workers.  Finally, the bill establishes or reconvenes certain advisory groups, including (1) an advisory committee to provide guidance regarding the needs of older Native Americans and the implementation of related programs, and (2) a White House Conference on Aging to recommend improvements to federal programs that serve older individuals.

Maddy summaryThe Good Jobs for Good Airports Act establishes new federal standards to ensure that workers at small, medium, and large hub airports receive a living wage and adequate health benefits. It defines "covered service workers" to include employees in roles such as baggage handling, passenger assistance, security, ticketing, and concession services, regardless of whether they are directly hired by the airport or work for a contractor. Under the bill, employers must pay these workers at least the higher of the federal Service Contract Act wage rates or applicable state and local minimum wages, and they must provide similar fringe benefits. To enforce these rules, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Transportation will have the authority to investigate violations, issue penalties, and require employers to submit monthly compliance certifications. Additionally, the law allows private individuals to file lawsuits against non-compliant employers and mandates annual reports to Congress on the implementation of these labor standards.

Maddy summaryThe Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2026 prohibits data brokers from buying, selling, or sharing personal location and health information, while allowing exceptions for authorized disclosures, HIPAA-compliant activities, and newsworthy public interest reporting. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with defining specific data categories and enforcing these rules, with penalties including civil fines up to 15 percent of a company's revenue and the ability for the FTC, state attorneys general, and private individuals to sue for violations. This legislation applies to entities that trade data collected from others rather than directly from individuals, and it preempts only state laws that require the disclosure of data this bill forbids.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the 27th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Olmstead v. L.C. decision, which established that states must offer community-based services to individuals with disabilities rather than forcing them into institutions. The bill affirms the legal requirement that people with disabilities should live in the most integrated settings possible and salutes those who have expanded home and community support services. It also condemns a recent Department of Justice opinion that challenges this integration mandate and calls on the department to rescind that opinion. Additionally, the resolution criticizes cuts to the Medicaid program and urges Congress to restore funding to protect the health and independence of people with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes June 2026 as LGBTQ Pride Month to honor the history, contributions, and ongoing struggles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in the United States. The document outlines the community's achievements in civil rights and public service while highlighting persistent challenges such as discrimination in employment and housing, as well as hate crimes. It also acknowledges the global context of LGBTQ rights, noting both international progress and the persecution faced by individuals in various countries. Ultimately, the resolution expresses support for equal treatment and encourages the public to use the month to learn about and celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Maddy summaryThe Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0 of 2026 allows licensed addiction medicine specialists to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder to be dispensed directly through pharmacies, rather than requiring patients to visit traditional treatment clinics. Under this bill, these practitioners must use electronic prescribing and can only dispense liquid or dispersible tablet formulations, while pharmacies do not need separate registration to handle these prescriptions. The law also permits telemedicine for maintenance or detoxification treatment and requires doctors to obtain informed consent from patients regarding how privacy protections differ between clinic and pharmacy settings. Additionally, the Attorney General can revoke a doctor's registration if a state requests it, and the Drug Enforcement Administration must report annually on the number of registered providers and pharmacies involved in the program.