Rep. Jennifer L. McClellan

Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 and modifies the Weatherization Assistance Program. Under the program, the Department of Energy (DOE) provides grants for low-income households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The bill increases the cap on the average assistance provided per home from $6,500 to $12,000. The bill also directs DOE to include in its annual report to Congress a description of the impacts of enhancement and innovation readiness efforts on eligibility for assistance under the program.

Maddy summaryHR 7334 establishes the Commission on American Leadership in Robotics to study how robotics development impacts U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The 18-member Commission, appointed with balanced political representation (3 each from House/Senate leadership and 6 by the President), will review robotics applications in industry, supply chains, workforce needs, and global trends. It must submit an interim report after one year and a final report with recommendations after two years, working with federal agencies but having no authority to enact new laws. The Commission will terminate 18 months after its final report.

Maddy summaryHR 7278, the Cost of Police Misconduct Act of 2026, requires federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies receiving Byrne JAG program funds to collect and report detailed data on misconduct settlements and judgments. Agencies must track information like the type of allegation (e.g., use of force, racial profiling), costs paid, officer demographics, and funding sources, then submit annual reports to the Attorney General. Non-compliant states or localities face up to a 10% reduction in Byrne JAG or Cops on the Beat program funding. The Attorney General will create a public, searchable database of this aggregated data (excluding personal identifiers) and issue annual reports with recommendations for reducing misconduct. The bill mandates a GAO study after two years of data collection to analyze trends and costs across agencies.

Maddy summaryHR 7297, the "ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act," creates a direct legal path for individuals harmed by ICE or CBP officers to sue the U.S. government for constitutional violations. The bill amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to allow lawsuits when officers violate rights like due process, privacy, or free speech - without requiring proof that a government policy caused the harm. Monetary damages would come from specific federal appropriations, and the government waives its usual immunity from such lawsuits. This directly affects people subjected to unlawful immigration enforcement actions by these agencies. The bill does not change agency operations but provides a new civil remedy for victims.

Maddy summaryHJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on December 31, 2025, which addressed "Reproductive Health Services" (90 Fed. Reg. 61310). This resolution directs Congress to disapprove the VA rule under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, meaning the rule would have no legal effect if passed. The bill directly affects the VA's implementation of reproductive health services for veterans, as it seeks to nullify the agency's existing policy. This is a procedural measure, not a substantive policy change, aimed solely at blocking the VA's rule through congressional action.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 68 would require the President to remove U.S. military forces from Venezuela unless Congress has explicitly authorized their use through a declaration of war or a specific law. This applies to any U.S. Armed Forces currently stationed in Venezuela without such authorization. The resolution is based on the War Powers Resolution, which mandates congressional oversight of military deployments. It directs the immediate withdrawal of unapproved forces without adding new time limits or conditions.

Maddy summaryHRES 1018 is a resolution calling for the U.S. government and international partners to prioritize women's rights in Haiti's crisis response. It specifically demands ensuring at least 30% of Haiti's leadership positions (including security, humanitarian, and election roles) are held by women, funding services for gender-based violence survivors, and requiring gender-disaggregated data collection in all aid programs. The resolution also urges rebuilding U.S. Women, Peace, and Security programs and mandates that all policies address women's distinct needs in Haiti's transition. This resolution directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation and Haiti's transitional government, emphasizing that women's inclusion is critical for stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for businesses selling products made with U.S.-grown cotton. The credit equals 24% of the cotton's market value if processed only in the U.S. or in countries with U.S. trade deals, or 18% for other processing locations. To qualify, cotton must be digitally traced from U.S. farms to finished products and certified by the USDA as meeting origin requirements. It directly affects clothing and textile manufacturers selling qualifying products in the U.S. market.

Maddy summaryHR 7173, the Follow the Science Act, restricts political appointees from influencing National Institutes of Health (NIH) operations and grant decisions. It prohibits most political appointees (defined broadly as those in policy-making roles) from being employed by NIH or participating in grant reviews, funding selections, or policy implementation. The bill requires the NIH Director to report on past political appointee involvement in these activities to Congress within 30 days of enactment. These changes aim to ensure NIH decisions are based on scientific merit rather than political influence, with limited exceptions for other federal agencies.

Maddy summaryThe PORCUPINE Act amends the Arms Export Control Act to include Taiwan alongside New Zealand and Israel in specific certification and reporting requirements related to U.S. arms exports. This legislative change ensures Taiwan is treated similarly to these allied nations in certain foreign policy contexts involving defense article transfers. The bill also directs the Secretary of State to assess the feasibility of creating an expedited licensing process for military equipment transfers from designated allies to Taiwan within 90 days. Additionally, the act requires biennial reports on the implementation of these amendments and includes a provision stating that the legislation does not alter existing U.S. policy toward Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. The entire measure is set to expire seven years after its enactment.