Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3541) aims to increase competition in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracting by removing barriers for small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. It requires the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance within one year allowing past performance from commercial projects (not just government work) to be considered for contracts, and to validate non-government references. The bill also mandates a Defense Acquisition Regulations Council to identify and eliminate unnecessary procedural barriers - like excessive paperwork - within 90 days, with full implementation of streamlining measures required within two years. The goal is to prioritize cost-efficiency and quality in contract awards while making it easier for small businesses and nontraditional contractors to compete.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require lobbyists to disclose the names and addresses of foreign governments or political parties (other than the client) that direct, plan, supervise, or control their lobbying activities. This affects lobbyists representing clients with foreign influence, mandating new transparency in their registration filings. The bill adds a specific disclosure requirement to the existing registration process, ensuring foreign entities beyond the client are identified. This change increases public visibility into foreign involvement in U.S. lobbying efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a single online application system for all federal disaster assistance programs, replacing multiple separate applications. It requires FEMA to establish a unified platform by 360 days after enactment, allowing survivors to apply once for aid like housing, small business loans, or food benefits, track their application status, and receive updates. The system mandates data security standards and allows FEMA to waive certain paperwork rules during disasters while requiring transparency through public notices. This directly affects disaster survivors seeking aid and federal/state agencies administering disaster assistance programs.
Maddy summaryS 865, the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act, requires lobbyists registering under the Lobbying Disclosure Act to disclose whether they claim an exemption from foreign agent registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938. The bill amends registration forms to add a specific question about exemption status under Section 3(h) of that law. This change directly affects lobbyists who register with the government and assert they are not subject to foreign agent registration rules. The amendment improves transparency by clarifying exemption claims in public disclosure records.
Maddy summaryThis bill corrects retirement benefits for specific U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers hired between 2008. It applies to officers who received a job offer before July 6, 2008, but started work on or after that date. The bill ensures these officers receive the minimum retirement benefit amount required by law and are exempt from mandatory retirement age rules. It also requires retroactive payments to officers who retired before the law’s enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals an outdated requirement from the 2006 Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act that restricted how FEMA could award emergency contracts without bidding. It directly affects FEMA's contracting process during disasters, allowing the agency to enter contracts without soliciting bids under urgent circumstances. The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit annual reports detailing the number, cost, and purpose of these emergency contracts, as well as how the repeal prevented waste, fraud, and saved taxpayer money. These reports must cover contracts entered during specific periods and include details about the states and disasters involved. The law aims to streamline emergency contracting while adding transparency through mandatory reporting.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3486) requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue non-mandatory guidance to states within 12 months of enactment. The guidance will focus on strategies for states to improve mental health and substance use disorder care provider education, training, recruitment, and retention through Medicaid (Title XIX) and CHIP (Title XXI) programs. It specifically emphasizes expanding workforce capacity in rural and underserved areas and details how states can use existing authorities like Medicaid waivers (Section 1115) to achieve this. The bill directly affects states administering Medicaid/CHIP programs and the providers participating in those programs, aiming to strengthen behavioral health services without creating new federal funding.
Maddy summaryThe SAFER SKIES Act (S 3481) grants state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement and correctional agencies new authority to counter drone threats to public safety and critical infrastructure, including venues for large gatherings and correctional facilities. It requires these agencies to complete federal training and certification before using counter-drone technologies, and mandates 48-hour notifications to federal authorities after taking action. The bill establishes a national training program, creates reporting requirements for agencies using these authorities, and provides funding for purchasing counter-UAS systems through existing grant programs. It also increases penalties for unauthorized drone use near prisons and in national defense airspace, with state and local counter-drone authorities set to expire in 2031.
Maddy summaryThis bill resolves historical land claims by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) regarding 2,743 acres of "Reservation Swamp Lands" and 1,333-2,720 acres of "Reservation Canal Lands" within their L’Anse Reservation in Michigan. It provides $33.9 million in compensation to KBIC for land taken by the federal government without just payment under the Fifth Amendment, while clearing title for current non-Indian landowners who acquired the land in good faith. Upon receiving the payment, KBIC’s claims to these specific lands are extinguished, and current owners gain clear title free of tribal rights. The settlement avoids prolonged litigation and allows KBIC to use funds for government services, economic development, or land acquisition (excluding gaming).
Maddy summaryS 620, the "Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act," authorizes the Indian Health Service to provide public health veterinary services to tribal communities in rural areas to prevent and control zoonotic diseases (diseases that spread between animals and humans). These services include spaying/neutering, vaccinations, disease surveillance, and other activities that reduce disease transmission risk. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to study the delivery of oral rabies vaccines to wildlife in Arctic regions to protect tribal members, and mandates biennial reports to Congress on program implementation.