Rep. Nancy Mace

Maddy summaryHR 4788 would amend a 1932 District of Columbia law to allow Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives) to carry concealed firearms in Washington, D.C., if they hold a valid concealed carry license from a state where they are permitted to carry, or are otherwise legally allowed to carry concealed in their home state. The bill requires these members to not be federally prohibited from possessing firearms, to carry a valid state-issued license or proof of residency rights, and to present photo identification. This exception applies only to Members of Congress and does not alter D.C.'s general concealed carry laws for other individuals. The provision would take effect upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHJRES 111 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule on barred owl management. The rule, published in September 2024, outlined strategies to reduce barred owl populations to protect the endangered spotted owl. Under the Congressional Review Act, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing its implementation. If enacted, the rule would have no legal effect, and the agency could not enforce the barred owl management strategy.

Maddy summaryThe PRIME Act exempts custom slaughter facilities from federal meat inspection requirements when they follow state laws and sell meat exclusively within the same state. It specifically allows facilities to slaughter animals and prepare meat without federal oversight if the products go only to household consumers or local businesses (like restaurants, hotels, or grocery stores) serving consumers directly in that state. The bill clarifies that this exemption does not override stricter state regulations governing custom slaughter or meat sales. This primarily affects small-scale slaughter operations and local food businesses operating within a single state's borders.

Maddy summaryThe End the Vaccine Carveout Act changes the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) to allow individuals to sue vaccine manufacturers or administrators directly in court for vaccine-related injuries or deaths, without first needing to file a claim under the NVICP. It removes time limits for filing NVICP claims and repeals rules that previously let people choose between the program and a lawsuit for the same injury. The bill also specifically excludes COVID-19 vaccines from the definition of "covered countermeasure," meaning they are no longer protected by the same emergency liability shield that applied to other pandemic vaccines. This affects vaccine manufacturers, providers, and individuals who experience vaccine-related harm, shifting liability from the NVICP to the court system for most cases.

Maddy summaryHR 4698, the PAAW Act, prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or funding research that causes significant pain or distress to dogs or cats. This directly affects NIH-funded studies involving these animals, specifically banning research assigned to USDA-defined severe pain categories (D or E). The law takes effect 90 days after enactment and relies on existing USDA pain classification standards under the Animal Welfare Act. It creates a clear policy change limiting NIH research involving dogs and cats when severe pain is anticipated.

Maddy summaryHR 4706 prohibits Chinese government-linked entities (including Chinese corporations, CCP-affiliated organizations, and entities controlled by China) from acquiring, leasing, or owning U.S. agricultural land or residential real estate. The bill requires such entities to sell all existing U.S. agricultural land holdings within one year (with a 180-day letter of intent deadline) and residential real estate holdings within one year, imposing daily fines of $100 per acre for agricultural land violations and $1,000 per residential unit. It also voids noncompete agreements between these entities and their employees. The law applies to all 50 states and territories, with enforcement by the Agriculture and Commerce Departments, and includes a 2-year temporary residential purchase ban ending in 2026 (extendable by the President).

Maddy summaryHR 4710, the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act, increases penalties for health insurance plans and issuers that violate balance billing protections, which prevent surprise medical bills. The bill raises fines from $100 to $10,000 per violation for specific balance billing rule violations and adds a new penalty of three times the difference between initial payment and out-of-network rates for late payments after Independent Dispute Resolution decisions. It requires health plans and nonparticipating providers to make timely payments within 30 days of a payment determination, with interest accruing on late payments. The bill also establishes new transparency reporting requirements for the Secretary to submit regular reports to Congress about audits, enforcement actions, and penalties. These provisions directly affect health insurance issuers, group health plans, and nonparticipating healthcare providers.

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 or the Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

Maddy summaryThe RESPECT Act (HR 4600) increases criminal penalties for intentionally disclosing nonconsensual intimate images or videos. It directly affects individuals who share such private content without consent, raising maximum prison sentences for these offenses. Key provisions amend the Communications Act to increase maximum terms: from 2 to 5 years for certain violations, 3 to 10 years for others, and lesser offenses from 18 months to 3 years and 30 months to 5 years. The bill focuses solely on strengthening existing criminal penalties for this specific type of exploitation.

Maddy summaryHR 4620 amends federal law to include rioting as a form of racketeering activity under Title 18, United States Code. This change would allow prosecutors to charge individuals who organize or participate in riots as part of a larger criminal enterprise under federal racketeering laws. The bill specifically targets coordinated riot activities linked to organized crime, not isolated or spontaneous protests.