Maddy summaryThe FAIR Fees Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations within 270 days that prohibit airlines from charging fees for flight changes, cancellations, baggage, seat selection, or priority boarding if those charges are unreasonable or disproportionate to the actual costs incurred. The bill directs regulators to evaluate specific factors, such as the ability to resell seats and electronic processing costs, when determining if a fee is justified. It also mandates that parents traveling with children age 13 or younger be allowed to sit next to them without paying an extra charge. Airlines holding federal certificates for passenger transport would be subject to these new standards, which must be reviewed and updated at least every three years.
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Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates September 20, 2026, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day to honor the service of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals in the U.S. Armed Forces. The text acknowledges historical discrimination, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and bans on transgender service, which resulted in thousands of discharges and denied benefits. It urges the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to end the current ban on transgender military service and restore access to gender-affirming health care for veterans and active duty personnel. Additionally, the resolution calls for these agencies to improve outreach so that individuals discharged based on their sexual orientation or gender identity can receive the benefits they are owed.
Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the U.S. Senate's support for designating the week of September 19 through September 26, 2026, as National Estuaries Week to raise public awareness about the importance of these coastal ecosystems. The bill highlights that estuaries support a significant portion of the nation's population, jobs, and economic output while providing critical services such as flood control, water filtration, and habitat for fish and wildlife. It acknowledges ongoing threats to these areas, including pollution, sea-level changes, and harmful algal blooms, which have led to the loss of wetlands and degraded water quality. The resolution also commends the efforts of federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as community organizations, in protecting and restoring estuary health.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally honors the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. The bill recognizes her significant contributions to American music, as well as her extensive philanthropy in areas such as childhood literacy, education, healthcare, disaster relief, and wildlife conservation. It specifically highlights her establishment of Dollywood, The Dollywood Foundation, and the Imagination Library program, which provided free books to millions of children. The resolution also acknowledges her financial support for medical research and her efforts to aid families affected by natural disasters in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to overturn a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have established fixed admission periods and specific extension procedures for nonimmigrant academic students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. If enacted, the bill would prevent this immigration policy from taking effect by using the congressional review process outlined in federal law. The measure directly affects individuals entering the United States under these specific nonimmigrant visa categories by maintaining their current status rather than subjecting them to the new time limits proposed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Maddy summaryThe National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to increase the use of prescribed fire (deliberately set fires to manage wildland fuels) on federal lands. It requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to increase prescribed fire acreage by 10% annually on federal lands, and establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund projects meeting specific ecological and collaborative criteria. The bill also addresses liability for prescribed fire managers, streamlines environmental reviews, and creates a national education program to improve public understanding of prescribed fire. It requires annual reporting on prescribed fire activities and landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for national forests and Bureau of Land Management districts.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution supports designating September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day to recognize families affected by stillbirths and promote preventive measures. It cites high annual stillbirth rates in the United States and notes that racial disparities place certain communities at greater risk. The text requests that the President issue a proclamation encouraging nationwide awareness programs and highlights the 2024 Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act as a foundation for federal resources and research.