Sen. John Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes suicide as a serious public health issue and supports the designation of September 8, 2026, as "988 Day." The bill highlights the role of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides free and confidential support through phone, text, and chat services to individuals in crisis. It commends the lifeline's operations and encourages continued public education about its availability, particularly for high-risk groups. Additionally, the resolution supports federal, state, and local efforts to expand access to mental health services and crisis intervention programs across the country.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution supports designating the week from September 11 to September 17, 2026, as "Patriot Week" to honor American history and foundational values. The bill encourages citizens, educational institutions, and government agencies at all levels to participate in activities that promote the study of U.S. history, founding documents, and national symbols. It also acknowledges the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks while emphasizing the importance of renewing civic engagement with the nation's core principles each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes existing regional ocean partnerships through 2031, extending funding for coastal states and tribes managing ocean resources. It sets specific annual funding levels: $11.57 million for 2028, $11.69 million for 2029, $11.81 million for 2030, and $11.92 million for 2031. The bill makes technical updates to reporting requirements and adjusts the funding period to align with the new authorization. It directly affects current regional ocean partnership programs under the 2023 defense act, ensuring continued federal support for coastal management efforts.

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.

National Plan for Epilepsy Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a national plan, form an advisory council, and take other actions to address epilepsy. The requirements sunset on December 31, 2035. Specifically, the bill requires HHS to carry out a National Plan for Epilepsy to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure epilepsy. In carrying out the plan, HHS must implement activities such as coordinating research and services across all federal agencies and soliciting public comments. Also, HHS must establish an Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services. The advisory council must report to HHS and Congress every two years with an evaluation of federally funded efforts. Additionally, HHS must annually report to Congress with recommended actions based on its assessments of the nation’s progress on epilepsy.

Maddy summaryThe INSULIN Act of 2026 requires health insurance plans to limit insulin copayments to $35 per 30-day supply starting in 2027, with plans choosing to cap costs at 25% of the negotiated price after 2028. The bill also mandates that pharmacy benefit managers pass all rebates and discounts related to insulin directly to health plans rather than retaining them. Additional provisions include measures to speed up the approval process for generic and biosimilar insulin products, establish a pilot program to provide affordable insulin to uninsured individuals in 10 states, and create a resource center and hotline to help uninsured people access assistance programs.

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 Financial Artificial Intelligence Risk Reduction Act directs the Financial Stability Oversight Council to assess how artificial intelligence impacts financial system stability and requires it to submit a report to Congress within 180 days identifying specific threats, regulatory gaps, and recommendations for action. The bill mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission issue rules requiring major financial entities, such as issuers and brokers, to establish policies and controls that specifically address their use of AI, including governance measures for testing, monitoring, and human oversight. Additionally, it expands regulatory authority over third-party service providers by allowing federal housing finance agencies to examine contractors performing activities on behalf of regulated entities and clarifies that the use of AI does not excuse compliance with existing securities laws.

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 summaryThe Display America's Art Act creates a new program to loan visual art from federal museums to the personal offices of Members of Congress. Under this initiative, the Architect of the Capitol would work with institutions like the Smithsonian to select artworks that are currently not on public display. These pieces could then be exhibited in the private workspaces of lawmakers if both the Architect and the lending institution agree the art is suitable. The bill directly impacts federal cultural institutions and congressional staff by establishing a formal process for rotating art into legislative offices.