Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally honors the life, service, and legacy of Jon Llewellyn Kyl, a former U.S. Senator from Arizona who passed away at age 84. It details his career highlights, including his time in the House of Representatives, his long tenure in the Senate, and his work on issues such as water policy, national security, and crime victims' rights. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to share this tribute with the House of Representatives and Kyl's family, while also ordering the Senate to adjourn for the day as a mark of respect.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates the week of September 27 through October 3, 2026, as "Religious Education Week" to recognize the role of religious instruction in civic and moral development. The bill highlights historical perspectives and legal precedents that support the right to religious education, including the use of sectarian schools and released time programs for public school students. It calls on all states, territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate individuals who wish to leave public school attendance to attend religious classes.

Maddy summaryThe License to Drill Act amends the Mineral Leasing Act to extend the expiration date of a specific fee provision from 2026 to 2037. It requires the Bureau of Land Management to transfer all oil and gas permit processing fees collected between fiscal years 2027 and 2037 into a dedicated fund for improving permit processing. This change directly affects the BLM by altering how revenue from drilling permits is managed and retained over a ten-year period.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam. The study will assess how to optimize hydropower generation when releasing cold water while preventing invasive species from being drawn into the water system, following existing Colorado River management plans. It requires completion within 18 months using existing federal funds (nonreimbursable), with consultation from the Department of Energy and power contractors. The bill does not change current operations guidelines for Lake Powell or Lake Mead.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers the Moab uranium mill tailings site in Utah to Grand County, Utah, after the U.S. Department of Energy completes cleanup to a level approved by regulators. The transfer occurs at no cost, but the federal government retains necessary water rights to maintain ongoing groundwater remediation efforts. Grand County cannot sell or transfer any portion of the land to private entities or nonprofits. The transfer requires the Secretary of Energy’s determination that the site meets cleanup standards for land conveyance under federal law.

Maddy summaryThe Student Voter Data Protection Act amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to restrict how postsecondary institutions handle student data related to voting. It prohibits colleges from disclosing personally identifiable information, including directory information, for the purpose of measuring voter registration or turnout without obtaining prior written consent from the student. Additionally, the bill bans any postsecondary institution from selling a student's education records or directory information without explicit written permission. Institutions that violate these rules would lose access to federal funds under applicable programs.

Maddy summaryThe Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026 mandates that the Department of Energy finalize specific procedural rules for setting appliance efficiency standards, including requirements for comparative economic analysis and longer lead times before new standards can be proposed. The bill significantly restricts the agency’s ability to issue new or stricter regulations by requiring clear evidence that changes are necessary to ensure product availability and prevent market disruptions, while also prohibiting standards that would eliminate consumer-valued features such as specific fuel types or installation methods. Additionally, it extends compliance timelines for manufacturers to at least five years after a rule is published and requires separate efficiency standards for different venting categories of heating equipment. The legislation also strengthens federal preemption over state and local laws regarding the sale and use of energy-efficient products, explicitly preventing jurisdictions from banning appliances based on their fuel source or emissions, and permanently halts new efficiency standard-setting for distribution transformers.

Maddy summaryThe FEAT Act allows individuals involved in specific Department of Interior administrative proceedings to move their cases to a federal district court instead of having them heard solely by internal agency tribunals. This change applies to parties who either seek approval for certain conduct or are appealing sanctions and penalties imposed by the Department. Under the new rules, these parties must file for removal within 60 days of starting the action, and the federal court will review the case from scratch rather than relying on the agency's initial decision.

Maddy summaryThe LIT Act of 2025 repeals three existing Department of Energy energy efficiency rules for general service lamps (common incandescent light bulbs). It directly affects manufacturers and retailers of traditional incandescent bulbs by removing regulatory requirements they previously had to meet. Key mechanisms include amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate specific references to incandescent standards and formally terminating three finalized rules (from 2022 and 2024) that established minimum efficiency levels. This bill makes no new efficiency requirements for these bulbs but removes the existing ones.