Sen. Rand Paul

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to prohibit the United States from selling 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and associated engines to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also blocks the transfer of related non-major defense equipment, which includes secure communications devices, spare parts, training aids, and various support services. The bill directly affects the U.S. Department of Defense by preventing it from executing this specific arms export agreement with Saudi Arabia.

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 summaryS. Con. Res. 40 establishes the federal budget framework for fiscal year 2027 and sets spending, revenue, and deficit targets for the decade through 2036. The resolution dictates specific funding levels for major government functions, including national defense, healthcare, and social security, while projecting a transition from annual deficits to a balanced budget by 2031. It also outlines procedural rules for both chambers of Congress to enforce these financial limits and allows for adjustments in response to emergencies or changes in economic baselines.

Maddy summaryThe Duplication Scoring Act of 2025 requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess most federal bills and joint resolutions for risks of creating new redundant government programs or initiatives. For each covered bill, the GAO must identify if it would duplicate or overlap with existing programs previously flagged in GAO reports, specifying the program name, bill section, and relevant report. The GAO must publish this analysis online and provide it to Congress and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which may include the findings in its budget estimates. This bill directly affects congressional committees, the CBO, and federal agencies by adding a standardized duplication review step to the legislative process. It does not create new policies but mandates a new assessment mechanism for bills.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution establishes the official budget framework for the U.S. federal government for fiscal year 2027 and sets spending targets for the subsequent nine years through 2036. It defines specific limits on total revenues, new budget authority, outlays, deficits, and public debt, while also allocating funds across major functional categories such as national defense, health care, and social security. The resolution directs various congressional committees to propose legislation that aligns with these targets, including a requirement for the Senate Finance Committee to identify at least $500 billion in deficit reduction over the ten-year period. Additionally, it grants budget committee chairs the authority to adjust allocations to accommodate emergency requirements, disaster relief, and changes in baseline estimates.

Maddy summaryThe Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025 creates a program to reward federal employees who identify unnecessary spending in agency budgets. Employees can report funds not required for agency operations (called "surplus salaries and expenses funds"), and agencies must verify these savings through their Inspector General or designated staff. If verified, agencies transfer the funds to the Treasury for deficit reduction, while retaining up to 10% of the amount to pay cash awards to the employees who identified the savings. Agencies must submit annual reports on savings and awards to the Treasury, which then shares this data with Congress. The program expires 6 years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026 significantly narrows the federal definition of "navigable waters" by excluding wetlands without continuous surface connections, intermittent streams, and groundwater from federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill prohibits federal agencies from using aggregation methods or the "significant nexus test" to assert authority over these excluded water bodies and invalidates existing regulations that expand the definition of covered waters. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to obtain written consent before entering private property for data collection and mandates that they pay affected landowners double the value of any economic loss caused by new federal water regulations.

Maddy summaryThe Cold War Military Force Repeal Act removes an old 1958 law that authorized the President to use military force in the Middle East without a specific declaration of war. This legislation directly affects the legal framework governing U.S. military actions in the region by eliminating the authority granted under Public Law 85-7. By repealing this specific joint resolution, the bill clarifies that future military engagements in the Middle East must rely on current statutory or constitutional authorities rather than this historical mandate. The change does not create new powers or restrictions but simply deletes a provision from the United States Code that has been in place since the Cold War era.

Maddy summaryThe Audit the Pentagon Act requires the Department of Defense to reduce its funding by 2 percent if it fails to receive a clean financial audit for a given year. This penalty applies to all departments, agencies, and elements within the Pentagon starting after fiscal year 2024. The withheld money is distributed proportionally across various programs and projects, while the remaining funds are sent to the Treasury to help reduce the national deficit.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Insurance Office Abolishment Act of 2026 eliminates the Federal Insurance Office within the Department of the Treasury and removes the position of its Director. This legislation amends existing laws to delete references to the office and its director, ensuring that related financial regulatory powers remain with the Secretary of the Treasury. By striking specific sections in the Dodd-Frank Act and other statutes, the bill clarifies that oversight of insurance matters will continue under the Treasury Secretary's authority without the dedicated office. The changes directly affect the organizational structure of federal financial regulation by removing a specific entity while preserving the underlying legal authority of the Treasury Department.