Sen. Bill Cassidy

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 summaryThis bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to produce a report within one year of enactment, analyzing how minors access fentanyl (including fake pills) through social media platforms. The report must cover the prevalence of this access, health and safety risks to minors, how sellers use platform features to market drugs, and current measures by platforms and law enforcement. It also mandates consultation with stakeholders like parents, platforms, and medical experts before publishing. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but focuses on gathering data to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations to encourage pilots and air traffic controllers to seek and disclose mental health care without fear of losing their medical certification. It mandates an annual review of the "special issuance" process (for medical certification) to consider new treatments, improve examiner training, and reduce backlogs, while allocating $15 million annually (2026-2029) to recruit more medical examiners and provide mental health training. Additionally, it funds a $1.5 million annual public campaign to destigmatize mental health care in aviation, improve trust with workers, and make resources easily accessible at aviation medical offices and training facilities. The FAA must consult with industry stakeholders and report progress to Congress on implementation.

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 resolution establishes a mandatory process for the U.S. Senate to address the long-term fiscal stability of Social Security by creating a bipartisan working group that must submit legislative proposals within specific deadlines. The bill requires the Senate to introduce and consider legislation that ensures the Social Security Trust Funds can pay 100 percent of scheduled benefits for at least 50 years, restricting debate to 30 hours and limiting amendments to those that meet this solvency standard. Passage of the final bill in the Senate requires a three-fifths supermajority vote, and the resolution prohibits the inclusion of any provisions unrelated to changing Social Security outlays, revenues, or financing.

Maddy summaryThe Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 grants Temporary Protected Status to Afghan nationals who have been continuously present in the United States since the bill's enactment, providing them with legal protection and work authorization until July 1, 2029. To qualify, applicants must register with biometric data and pass criminal and national security background checks, while the Department of Homeland Security is required to process these applications within 90 days, subject to a potential extension for specific security concerns. The legislation also allows recipients to apply for waivers on filing fees and permits brief international travel in cases of emergency or extenuating circumstances.

Maddy summaryThe Supporting Disabled Entrepreneurs Act establishes a new position within the Small Business Administration’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights to coordinate support for businesses owned by individuals with disabilities. This Coordinator is tasked with developing strategies, facilitating outreach, and creating training programs to help these businesses access capital, counseling, and federal contracting opportunities. The bill requires the SBA to voluntarily collect data on the disability status of small business owners through intake forms and to publicly report on services provided to this group. Additionally, the Coordinator must hold semi-annual public meetings with stakeholders and submit a report to Congress within two years detailing program effectiveness and recommendations for further support.

Maddy summaryThe READ Act aims to improve student literacy by directing federal funding toward evidence-based reading instruction known as the science of reading, which explicitly teaches phonics and decoding while prohibiting the use of the three-cueing model. Under this bill, the U.S. Department of Education would distribute grants to states, with a specific focus on those performing in the lowest tier of reading assessments, to implement statewide policies, update teacher training standards, and provide universal early literacy screenings for all students before third grade. The legislation also requires schools to notify parents when a student is identified as at risk for reading difficulties and mandates that these notifications be provided in the family's primary language. Additionally, the act allocates funds to support high-quality instructional materials, literacy coaching for teachers, and interventions like tutoring for struggling readers, while ensuring that federal money supplements rather than replaces local education spending.

Maddy summaryThe Pay PCPs Act of 2026 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a hybrid payment model for Medicare primary care providers, combining predictable monthly payments with traditional fee-for-service reimbursements. This new structure aims to fund activities that are currently difficult to bill individually, such as patient communications and team-based care coordination, while allowing providers to opt into the program voluntarily. Additionally, the bill reduces beneficiary out-of-pocket costs by 50% for covered primary care services when patients designate a specific provider as their usual source of care. To support these changes, the legislation appropriates $10 billion over five years and establishes a temporary technical advisory committee to review and improve how Medicare values physician services.