Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryThis bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It directly affects the spouses of veterans whose death was caused by ALS, specifically those who died on or after October 1, 2022. The key provision amends a law to treat veterans who died from ALS as if they had the disease for the required period before death, removing a prior time requirement for compensation eligibility. This change ensures surviving spouses qualify for the same benefits previously available only to veterans with longer ALS diagnoses.

Maddy summaryThe START Act streamlines the process for registering apprenticeship programs by requiring the Department of Labor to review submitted program standards within 90 days and providing faster, 30-day feedback for incomplete submissions. It establishes a new grant program that provides federal funding to states based on their population and the number of apprentices, with states required to match these funds to support training, technical assistance, and outreach efforts. The legislation also mandates greater transparency by requiring state agencies to publicly post their reciprocity rules, apprenticeship standards, and their average response times to program applications. Additionally, the bill clarifies that state apprenticeship councils do not have final decision-making authority over program registrations, shifting that power to the federal Secretary of Labor or designated state agencies.

Maddy summaryThe ADVICE Act creates a new advisory committee within the Department of Labor to improve how apprenticeship data is collected and shared. This committee will include representatives from state agencies, industries, labor organizations, and educational institutions to develop specific recommendations for better data integration. Their primary goal is to standardize apprenticeship records so they can be easily combined with other workforce and education data systems, while also reducing the reporting burden on program sponsors. After the committee submits its report, the Secretary of Labor must create a policy plan and request funding to help states implement these improvements.

Maddy summaryThe INSIGHT Act requires the Department of Labor to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the status of active pension plan investigations, including timelines, reasons for delays, and estimated completion dates while protecting the privacy of private parties involved. It also mandates transparency regarding "adverse assistance" provided to attorneys by requiring written agreements that outline the scope of help and sharing copies of these agreements with potentially affected employers and plan sponsors. Additionally, the bill adds a formal statement to existing pension laws declaring that promoting voluntary pension plans is a key policy goal to ensure employee retirement security. These measures aim to increase accountability and public understanding of how the government oversees and supports employee benefit plans without revealing sensitive private information.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Title X family planning program to prohibit the use of federal funds for entities that perform or financially support abortions. It allows exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, or life-threatening medical conditions, while also permitting hospitals to receive funding as long as they do not give those funds to non-hospital abortion providers. To enforce these rules, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports detailing which organizations receive grants and the specific number of abortions performed under the medical and criminal exceptions.

Maddy summaryThe Improving IRS Customer Service Act requires the Internal Revenue Service to enhance transparency and accessibility for taxpayers by mandating real-time public dashboards that display phone wait times, call statistics, and refund processing details. The bill also directs the IRS to expand online tools, allowing individuals and authorized representatives to view tax documents, respond to notices, and track refund status through a unified website or mobile app. Additionally, the legislation establishes programs to identify taxpayers facing economic hardships and provide them with information on alternative payment options, while requiring the National Taxpayer Advocate to publish monthly performance statistics on case resolution times. These measures aim to improve communication between the IRS and the public, reduce wait times, and increase the availability of digital services for filing and account management.

Maddy summaryThe A SMART Act modernizes AmeriCorps and other national service programs by expanding flexibility for participants and improving organizational oversight. It allows shorter service terms, extends eligibility for the National Civilian Community Corps to age 26, and enables participants to receive stipends instead of educational awards. The bill also creates new funds for unspent money and technology upgrades, requires clearer evaluation criteria, and permits AmeriCorps members to be hired directly by federal agencies without competition.

Maddy summaryThe Mined in America Act of 2026 establishes a voluntary certification program for Bitcoin mining facilities and pools to ensure they use hardware manufactured in the United States or friendly nations, rather than from foreign adversaries. The program requires operators to meet specific hardware sourcing standards that phase out foreign adversary equipment by 2030, maintain cybersecurity protocols, and participate in U.S.-based mining pools. Certified facilities become eligible for priority access to federal loan, grant, and procurement programs through the Department of Energy and Agriculture. The bill also creates a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve within the Treasury Department, allowing the government to acquire mined Bitcoin from certified sources without recognizing capital gains, and authorizes the use of staking rewards from digital asset stockpiles to fund Bitcoin acquisitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill abolishes the César E. Chávez National Monument in California and stops federal funding for its operation. It redirects any remaining unspent money from the monument to support DNA analysis backlog elimination efforts instead. The legislation directly affects the National Park Service by removing its authority to maintain the site and reallocates resources to a different federal program.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, a nonprofit organization focused on coastal protection and restoration. The Senate formally recognizes and congratulates the Association for its century-long work in promoting science-based coastal stewardship and policy advocacy. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the organization's contributions to preserving U.S. shorelines and beaches.