Rep. Johnny Olszewski, Jr.

Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency in election spending and prevent foreign influence. It expands the ban on foreign money to cover federal, state, and local elections, including ballot initiatives and judicial nominations, and criminalizes using corporations to conceal these funds. The bill mandates that organizations spending over $10,000 on campaign-related activities, such as independent expenditures or judicial nomination advocacy, disclose their beneficial owners and top donors. Additionally, it establishes new "Stand By Every Ad" disclaimers for political communications, requiring the highest-ranking official to approve the message and, for certain ads, list their top funders. These provisions directly affect non-candidate organizations, individuals involved in political and judicial nomination spending, and foreign nationals.

Maddy summaryHR 7740, the African American History Act of 2026, authorizes $4 million annually for the National Museum of African American History and Culture to develop educational resources and support teaching about African American history. The bill directs the museum to create digital and print materials, provide teacher training, and expand access to curriculum resources for K-12 and college classrooms. It requires annual reports to Congress on fund usage and expires in 2030. This program directly affects educators and students by enhancing classroom materials and professional development on African American history.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual stipend for books, supplies, and educational materials under the Post-9/11 GI Bill from $1,000 to $1,400, effective immediately. It also establishes a new automatic annual adjustment starting in fiscal year 2026, tying stipend increases to inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Specifically, the stipend will rise each year by the percentage difference between the current CPI and the previous year’s CPI. This directly affects veterans using the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for their education expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs U.S. agencies to support Iranian people's access to uncensored information and hold Iranian officials accountable for human rights abuses. It requires the State Department and FCC to report on technologies (like satellite networks and mesh systems) that could bypass internet restrictions in Iran, and authorizes $2 million annually to develop such tools. The bill also establishes a new "Iran Kleptocracy Initiative" at FinCEN to track corruption, freeze assets of Iranian regime officials and state-owned businesses, and coordinate with international partners. These measures apply to U.S. policy toward Iran but do not alter Iran's domestic laws; they focus on U.S. sanctions, technology development, and anti-corruption efforts targeting the Iranian regime.

Maddy summaryHR 7412, the "Put America on Commission Act of 2026," creates a new Office of Whistleblower Awards within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to incentivize reporting of fraud related to SBA COVID-19 relief loans. The bill establishes a Whistleblower Award Fund funded by civil penalties collected from individuals or entities convicted of or settling fraud in these specific loan cases. Whistleblowers who provide original information leading to a final conviction or settlement can receive 10% (for U.S. persons/entities) or 15% (for foreign persons/entities) of the penalties collected. The program includes anti-retaliation protections, requires the SBA to track submissions, and expires once all related cases are resolved. It directly affects whistleblowers reporting SBA loan fraud and SBA loan recipients facing fraud allegations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 12-member National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council, appointed by the President with Senate approval, will include experts in African American history and culture who are not federal employees, with balanced representation (6 Democrats, 6 Republicans) and attention to diversity. Its duties include evaluating NEH programs related to African American history, preparing annual reports, and making recommendations to improve preservation and celebration efforts. The Council will operate for 10 years, with members serving five-year terms and receiving partial compensation for their service.

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for various agencies and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for  the Federal Protective Service, the Office of Inspector General, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. The bill does not provide appropriations for some agencies and activities that have been funded in prior DHS appropriations acts, including ICE, CBP, and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary.

Maddy summaryHR 7507, the Fiscal Harms of Federal Firings Act, mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how federal workforce reductions (RIFs) impact state and local government budgets. The study will examine increased costs for services like unemployment insurance and Medicaid, reduced tax revenues, regional economic shifts, and varying fiscal challenges across states. It requires the GAO to consult with state officials, economists, and federal agencies, then submit a public report to Congress within 18 months detailing findings, historical case studies, and policy options. This bill does not change federal policy but aims to provide data for future decisions about RIFs' fiscal effects.

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.