Sen. Mark R. Warner

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage for advance care planning services, which help individuals discuss future healthcare preferences and complete advance directives. Starting January 1, 2026, Medicare will cover 100% of these services - no deductibles or coinsurance - for beneficiaries, with providers including physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinical social workers using HCPCS codes 99497/99498. It requires HHS to conduct outreach to providers about this new coverage and mandates a MedPAC study analyzing how these services are provided and billed under Medicare. The policy directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and healthcare providers who offer these counseling sessions.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings in rural areas. It provides a 30% credit for non-affordable projects and a 40% credit for projects meeting the bill's affordable housing criteria (requiring at least half of housing square footage to be affordable), with a $5 million cap on eligible expenses per project. Property owners can transfer the credit to another business through a certified process, requiring specific documentation and reporting. Affordable housing projects must maintain affordability standards, with penalties for violations. These changes apply to projects completed after 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses off-the-shelf software and artificial intelligence tools. The GAO must report to Congress within one year on how these technologies improve IRS efficiency, taxpayer services, cost savings, fairness in enforcement, and tax collection accuracy, while also assessing risks like bias or security issues. The report must include details on IRS contractors, project costs, contracting methods, and comparisons between customized software and off-the-shelf alternatives. This study focuses solely on gathering factual information about current IRS technology use, with no new requirements or changes to IRS operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal contractors with significant contracts (over $250,000) or those managing government systems to implement standardized processes for reporting security vulnerabilities in their systems. It mandates updates to federal procurement rules (FAR and DFARS) to align with NIST cybersecurity guidelines, ensuring contractors systematically address security flaws in systems used for government contracts. The changes must follow industry best practices and existing federal standards for vulnerability disclosure. Contractors may be exempt only if a federal agency head justifies a national security waiver, requiring congressional notification.

Maddy summaryThe Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act establishes a new National Park System unit focused on the Chesapeake Bay region to protect its ecological, cultural, and historical resources. It defines the area's boundaries using a specific map, creates a 19-member advisory commission with representation from Maryland, Virginia, tribal communities, and youth, and outlines land acquisition methods through donation or purchase. The bill requires coordination with existing programs like Chesapeake Gateways and mandates a management plan to guide public access, conservation, and educational programming. It directly affects communities in Maryland and Virginia bordering the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, aiming to enhance sustainable tourism while respecting the Bay's environmental health.

Maddy summaryThe Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S 3502) limits how consumer credit reports can be shared during mortgage applications. It prevents credit reporting agencies from sending these reports to third parties solely based on a mortgage-related request, unless the third party has the homebuyer's explicit authorization or is directly involved in the loan (like the mortgage lender, loan servicer, or their bank holding the homebuyer's account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by restricting unauthorized sharing of their credit data. The bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to add these privacy protections without creating new government programs or altering existing mortgage processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for costs related to relocating three contaminated drinking water wells currently on NASA property. It authorizes NASA to enter a 5-year agreement with the town to cover expenses like planning, engineering, property acquisition, and building new wells on town-controlled land. The agreement must detail the relocation site and costs, and NASA must report the plan to Congress within 18 months. The policy directly affects Chincoteague residents by addressing contaminated water sources on NASA-administered land.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968-1982) and the first African American to seek a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image and name, which will be presented to her family by congressional leaders. After presentation, the medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution for public viewing and research. The bill also authorizes the production and sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. This is a commemorative measure honoring Chisholm's historic contributions to American politics and civil rights.

Maddy summaryThe Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 91) authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats who risked their careers and safety to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. These diplomats, representing countries including Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and others, issued visas and provided safe passage to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution despite strict orders from their home governments. The medal will be presented collectively to the next of kin of each diplomat, along with representatives from their home countries, and then permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The act recognizes these individuals' bravery without implying they represent all who performed similar humanitarian acts during the Holocaust. The medal serves as a permanent tribute to their sacrifice and will be available for public display and research.

Maddy summaryThe United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act of 2024 establishes an Immersive Technology Advisory Panel to guide U.S. strategy in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality. The panel, composed of federal agency heads and outside experts, will assess how these technologies impact the economy, national security, and ethical use - including privacy protections - and recommend ways to boost American competitiveness and collaboration with private industry. Within two years, the panel must complete a study and submit a report to Congress with findings and actionable recommendations. This bill directly affects federal agencies and sets a framework for future policy decisions in the immersive technology sector.