Sen. Tom Cotton

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 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 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 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 summaryThe Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 authorizes funding for U.S. intelligence activities and establishes new rules for how intelligence agencies operate. Key provisions include creating a new task force to monitor military threats from China regarding Taiwan, strengthening intelligence sharing with allies in the Indo-Pacific and Israel, and setting strict guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence, including prohibitions on certain models and requirements for labeling AI outputs. The bill also expands restrictions on purchasing equipment from specific foreign nations, mandates better protection for trade secrets, and outlines procedures for handling sensitive information about U.S. persons.

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 summaryThis Senate resolution commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, an initiative that facilitates international student and scholar exchanges in education, culture, and science. The bill formally acknowledges the program's role in promoting global goodwill and advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security through its extensive network of grants in over 160 countries. Additionally, it congratulates all past and present recipients of Fulbright awards and encourages people worldwide to pursue opportunities that foster international understanding and partnership.

Maddy summaryThe Fiscal Sponsorship Transparency Act of 2026 requires tax-exempt organizations to publicly disclose details about their fiscal sponsorship arrangements, including the names of involved parties, financial amounts, and the specific activities funded. This new reporting rule applies to organizations that receive donations on behalf of non-exempt entities or specific projects, while explicitly excluding private foundations and donor-advised funds. The legislation also introduces penalties for "improper conduit arrangements," where funds are transferred to non-exempt individuals without the organization maintaining control over how the money is used. Under these provisions, organizations and their managers could face significant taxes if they knowingly facilitate such improper transfers and fail to correct them within the required timeframe. These changes are designed to increase transparency and accountability in charitable giving and will take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham from South Carolina. It formally acknowledges his extensive career in the military, state government, and Congress, noting his service as a Senator and his roles as Chairman of the Judiciary and Budget committees. The Senate expresses its sorrow over his death and requests that this tribute be shared with the House of Representatives and Graham's family.

Maddy summaryThe Ratepayer Protection Act establishes a new federal standard to protect utility customers from high electricity bills caused by large industrial users. It defines "large-load customers" as non-residential entities with a peak power demand of 100 megawatts or more that primarily use electricity for data centers and computing. Under this bill, these customers must pay for the full cost of any power plant, transmission line, or distribution upgrade needed to serve them, including costs incurred if the customer leaves the utility early. Additionally, utilities are required to obtain financial guarantees from these large customers before making such infrastructure investments. State regulators must review and implement these rules within two years, unless a state has already enacted similar protections.