Sen. Ted Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to place a monument honoring Medal of Honor recipients on federal land near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., overriding standard location rules. It specifically requires the monument to be located within the National Mall's "Reserve" area adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial, as defined in federal law. The bill affects the museum foundation's construction plans and the public's access to this new memorial site. It does not change how the Medal of Honor is awarded, only the physical location of its commemorative monument.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Local Access to Courts Act (LACA), is a procedural change that adds College Station, Texas and El Centro, California to the list of locations served by federal district courts in those states. It amends existing U.S. Code provisions to formally include these cities in court organization, without creating new legal rights or obligations. The change affects only the administrative structure of federal courts in those specific locations.

Maddy summaryThe Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act updates the minimum monetary threshold required for federal courts to hear cases based on diversity of citizenship. It raises the current limit of $75,000 to $150,000 and establishes a mechanism to automatically adjust this amount every ten years starting in 2030 based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts will calculate these adjustments and publish them annually, ensuring the threshold keeps pace with inflation. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if a plaintiff recovers less than the required amount, the court may deny or impose costs on them. This legislation directly affects individuals and businesses seeking to file civil lawsuits in federal court by changing the financial requirements for jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program to improve processing of claims for officers injured or killed in the line of duty. It establishes clear timelines for the Bureau to notify claimants about missing information (90 days) and make determinations (270 days), with automatic interim benefits issued if deadlines aren't met. The bill requires regular outreach to public safety officers and underserved agencies, mandates annual audits of backlogged claims, and strengthens subpoena authority to obtain necessary information. It also creates a pathway for expedited processing when claims are approved by the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or World Trade Center Health Program. The bill does not change benefit amounts but aims to make the claims process more efficient and transparent for public safety officers and their families.

Maddy summaryThe Stopping Border Surges Act proposes significant changes to U.S. immigration law regarding unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. It mandates that unaccompanied alien children be repatriated to their home countries if they do not meet specific criteria, while also allowing for the detention of families who entered the country together for misdemeanor border-crossing charges. For asylum applicants, the bill restricts eligibility to those arriving at designated ports of entry and shortens the deadline to file an application from one year to six months. It introduces a "safe third country" provision that can bar asylum claims if an individual transited through another nation without seeking protection there first. Additionally, the legislation requires audio or video recording of expedited removal interviews, imposes criminal penalties for asylum fraud, and terminates asylum status if an individual voluntarily returns to their home country.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing sanctions against Nicaragua until 2035 unless the government commits to holding free and fair elections, stopping violence against civilians, and investigating past killings. It broadens the scope of financial penalties to include individuals operating in Nicaragua's gold sector and those who arrest or prosecute people for exercising religious freedom or engaging in legitimate political activity. The legislation also adds officials from the military social security institute to a list of priority sanctions targets and requires the Secretary of State to report annually on the implementation of these measures. Additionally, the bill mandates an assessment of the conditions necessary for a democratic transition, including judicial independence and police reform, to be submitted to Congress within 90 days.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of August 22 through August 30, 2026, as "National Park Week." It directly affects the public by encouraging responsible visits and support for the National Park System, which includes parks, battlefields, and historical sites located across the United States and its territories. The measure serves as a formal declaration to highlight the parks' role in recreation, education, and economic activity without altering any laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThe Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 2026 restructures the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth U.S. Circuit Courts to better align their geographic boundaries with current population distribution. The bill moves Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming from the Ninth Circuit to the Eighth, while transferring Arizona and Nevada from the Ninth to the Tenth Circuit, leaving California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands in the newly defined Ninth Circuit. Each affected circuit receives a specific number of judges based on its new composition, with existing judges assigned to their respective new circuits based on their current locations while retaining their original seniority dates. Additionally, the legislation requires that states changing circuits immediately adopt the legal precedents of their new courts and mandates the General Services Administration to plan for new courthouse facilities in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Maddy summaryThe Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2026 significantly expands the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to detain non-citizens who are facing removal from the United States. The bill removes time limits on detention during removal proceedings and allows for indefinite detention after a final order is issued if specific conditions, such as national security threats or public safety risks, are certified by government officials. It restricts access to bond hearings for many detainees, requiring them instead to prove they are not flight risks or community threats through clear and convincing evidence. Additionally, the legislation establishes administrative review processes that permit detention beyond standard removal periods if an individual fails to cooperate with deportation efforts or poses a continuing danger.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Lubbock, Texas, as the "Lieutenant General Bernie Mittemeyer VA Clinic." It requires that all future federal laws, regulations, and official documents refer to the facility by this new name.