Rep. Pete Sessions

Maddy summaryThe Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act directs the Office of Personnel Management to evaluate the current and future staffing needs for biotechnology roles across various federal agencies. This assessment requires detailed analysis of position requirements, necessary security clearances, and potential funding gaps, while also examining how well existing job classifications track these specialized roles. The report will explore strategies to address workforce challenges, such as training current employees, sharing staff between agencies, and creating pools of prequalified outside experts. Ultimately, the findings will be submitted to congressional oversight committees to inform decisions on how federal agencies can better develop their biotechnology capabilities.

This resolution expresses support for police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The resolution further recognizes law enforcement officers across the United States in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities; the need to ensure that such officers have the equipment, training, and resources necessary to protect their health and safety while they are protecting the public; and the law enforcement community for acts of sacrifice and heroism. The resolution expresses condolences and appreciation to the loved ones of each law enforcement officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend federal law to strengthen penalties for organized retail crime by expanding definitions of theft to include digital goods, gift cards, and setting a $5,000 aggregate value threshold for charges over a 12-month period. It would establish a new "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" under Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts against cross-jurisdictional theft groups. The Center would share information with retailers, transportation companies, and law enforcement agencies, track crime trends, and produce annual reports on organized retail crime. This legislation directly affects retailers, supply chain businesses, and law enforcement agencies, while targeting organized crime groups responsible for a 93% increase in larceny incidents and rising safety concerns for retail employees. The bill aims to address significant financial losses and supply chain disruptions noted in the National Retail Federation's 2023 data.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes the importance of motherhood and honors mothers on Mother's Day. It explicitly supports policies that define mothers as women and opposes recent legislative efforts to remove the term "mother" from official House rules. The text also acknowledges various types of mothers, including stepmothers, adopted mothers, and single mothers, while rejecting alternative terms like "birthing person" or "gestational parent." Ultimately, the bill encourages the public to celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of mothers to the nation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to analyze indirect economic costs on small businesses when creating new rules, including costs affecting businesses that interact with regulated entities (like suppliers or partners). It creates a new process allowing small businesses to petition the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel to review agency certifications claiming a rule won't significantly impact them. Agencies must then provide detailed cost analyses, publish guidance online for small business feedback, and face penalties if they fail to cooperate with reviews. The bill does not change existing regulations but adds new review steps for small business input.

Maddy summaryThe Save America's Family Forests Act of 2026 provides tax incentives to encourage landowners to replant forests damaged by natural disasters. It increases the standard tax deduction for routine reforestation projects from $10,000 to $30,000 per property and adjusts these amounts annually for inflation. Additionally, the bill allows a special deduction of up to $1 million for expenses related to replanting trees destroyed by federally declared disasters, with specific rules to prevent double-dipping with other tax benefits. These financial benefits are designed to help taxpayers recover costs and promote forest regeneration without changing the underlying laws governing disaster relief or timber management.

Maddy summaryHR 6624, the Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025, requires export licenses for digital files representing human- or AI-designed synthetic DNA or RNA sequences when sent to foreign entities linked to countries designated as national security concerns (like China). It directly affects biotechnology companies and researchers exporting such digital sequence data, mandating licenses for these specific exports within one year of the law's enactment. The key mechanism is a new license requirement under export controls, targeting digital files that could reveal sensitive biotechnology research. This policy change aims to prevent foreign adversaries from accessing U.S. biotech intellectual property through synthetic biology data exports.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal registration system for payment service providers, allowing companies that meet specific state licensing and charter requirements to register with the Comptroller of the Currency and operate across state lines. Once registered, these providers must maintain customer funds in segregated reserve accounts backed by highly liquid assets like U.S. currency, Treasury securities, and insured deposits, and they are prohibited from reusing customer funds for their own purposes. The legislation also requires registered providers to follow fair access rules that prevent discrimination based on political views or beliefs, undergo regular federal examinations, and submit financial reports to regulators. Additionally, the bill grants the Comptroller authority to act as a conservator or receiver for insolvent nonbank payment providers and ensures that customer balances held with these providers are not classified as securities under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses appreciation for the contributions of American cowboys and historic cattle trails to the nation's history, particularly in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It recognizes the diverse roles of Mexican, Black, Native American, and White cowboys who drove cattle along trails like the Chisholm and Shawnee Trails across multiple states. The bill encourages local celebrations of this legacy as part of the national anniversary observances.