Sen. James Lankford

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Congress to disapprove multiple federal regulations issued near the end of a presidential term in a single resolution, rather than requiring separate resolutions for each rule. It specifically applies to regulations submitted during the final year of a president's term, streamlining the congressional review process under existing rules. This change directly affects federal agencies that issue such "midnight rules" and Congress when considering disapproval resolutions. The key mechanism enables a single joint resolution to list and invalidate multiple rules at once, as specified in the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal task force led by the Secretary of Labor to coordinate with state agencies and financial institutions for identifying and recovering pandemic unemployment payments that were improperly issued or are currently held in banks and unclaimed property accounts. The task force is responsible for developing model processes, legal guidance, and standardized procedures to help states determine if payments were fraudulent and to return those funds to the federal government efficiently. Additionally, the legislation extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions related to fraud in these specific unemployment programs to ten years from the date of the violation. The Secretary of Labor is also required to reimburse states for administrative costs incurred while coordinating with the task force to recover these funds.

Maddy summaryThe Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026 establishes uniform legal protections for chaplains across the Army, Navy, and Air Force to ensure they can perform their religious duties without interference or retaliation. The bill explicitly prohibits military members from assigning chaplains tasks that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs or the tenets of their endorsing organizations, making such violations subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It also creates new leadership positions, including Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains for each service branch, who will hold general officer ranks and serve as principal advisors on religious support matters. Additionally, the legislation requires commanding officers to provide necessary facilities and transportation to assist chaplains in carrying out their spiritual care responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThe Defense Community Infrastructure Program Tribal Eligibility Act of 2026 amends federal law to include Indian Tribes as eligible recipients for infrastructure funding alongside local governments. This change directly affects tribal communities located near military installations by allowing them to apply for and receive financial support for essential community projects. The bill modifies the definition of eligible entities within the Department of Defense's infrastructure program, ensuring that tribal governments are explicitly recognized under the same terms as other local jurisdictions.

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 bill, known as the State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act, clarifies that state-run student loan programs are not subject to certain federal rules about preferred lender arrangements. It directly affects state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other entities that offer private student loans without federal government backing. The legislation defines these state programs by requiring that they offer interest rates and fees at least as favorable as federal Direct PLUS loans and that borrowers are informed about federal loan options before taking out private loans. By making this exclusion explicit, the bill ensures state programs operate under different regulatory requirements than federally backed lending arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates August 1, 2026, as Gold Star Children's Day to honor the sacrifices and hardships faced by children of fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill does not create new laws or change government operations; instead, it serves as a formal expression of gratitude from the Senate and encourages the public to observe this day in support of these families. By establishing this specific date, the measure aims to raise awareness about the legacy carried by children who lost a parent in military service.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates July 30, 2026, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day" to honor individuals who report misconduct, fraud, or abuse within the government. It requires federal agencies to inform employees, contractors, and the public about the legal protections available for reporting wrongdoing and to acknowledge the contributions whistleblowers make to saving taxpayer money. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but serves as a commemorative measure to encourage ethical reporting and recognize the role of whistleblowers in maintaining an ethical government.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act prohibits the use of federal funds to support research or publications regarding gender transition for individuals under the age of 18. This restriction specifically targets studies that aim to affirm a minor's perception or identity when it differs from their sex assigned at birth, as defined by their reproductive biology and genetics. The bill directly affects federal agencies and institutions that might otherwise receive funding to conduct such observational studies on hormonal treatments or surgical procedures for minors. By limiting financial support, the legislation seeks to prevent government resources from being used for research that challenges the biological definition of sex at birth.

Maddy summaryThe Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act aims to strengthen the United States' role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor by prioritizing diplomatic and strategic cooperation with Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. It directs the Secretary of State to institutionalize multilateral dialogues, focus foreign policy efforts on energy security and defense in the region, and maintain leadership in existing initiatives like the East Mediterranean Gas Forum. Additionally, the bill requires federal officials to submit annual reports on implementation progress and to study the feasibility of creating new bilateral research and development programs with these nations, similar to those currently established with Israel.