Rep. Tom Cole

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress the power to pass laws banning the physical desecration of the U.S. flag (such as burning, trampling, or defacing it). If ratified, it would directly affect individuals who engage in such acts by making them subject to federal criminal penalties under new laws Congress could create. The amendment would add a specific clause to the Constitution stating: "Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." Ratification would require approval by 3/4 of state legislatures within seven years of submission.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to allow federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations to directly manage the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) through self-determination contracts or self-governance agreements. It requires tribes to purchase domestically produced food that maintains similar nutritional value and package size to current FDPIR offerings, while respecting foods of Tribal significance. The Secretary must consult tribes on participation processes and submit annual reports to Congress on program activities. The bill also terminates a prior demonstration program and ensures tribal agreements follow the Indian Self-Determination Act’s rules, with interpretations favoring tribal interests. This directly affects tribal communities managing their own food distribution systems on reservations.

Maddy summaryHR 3773 (PROTECT Act of 2025) amends federal law to recognize tribal courts as having authority equivalent to state courts for certain electronic evidence cases. It requires that warrants for electronic communications stored 180 days or less must follow procedures from the Indian Civil Rights Act (25 U.S.C. 1302(a)(2)) when issued by tribal courts. The bill also expands tribal jurisdiction over controlled substance offenses (like drug trafficking or possession) and firearms offenses (such as possession by domestic violence offenders) by defining these terms for tribal courts. This directly affects tribal courts and tribal law enforcement by standardizing legal procedures for evidence handling and broadening their authority under federal law. The changes align tribal court processes with federal and state standards for digital evidence and criminal jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHR 3485 repeals a specific requirement in the Small Business Act (section 8(a)(11)) that previously mandated small businesses receiving federal construction contracts through the 8(a) program must award subcontracts within the same county or state where the main project is performed. This change eliminates the geographic restriction on subcontracting for these federal construction contracts. The bill directly affects small businesses participating in the 8(a) program that secure federal construction work, allowing them more flexibility in selecting subcontractors nationwide. The key mechanism is the removal of this specific statutory provision from the Small Business Act.

Maddy summaryThe Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 replaces the 2020 Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act with a new framework for horse racing safety and medication control. The bill establishes a Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO) to coordinate safety rules across states, with breed-specific committees for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter Horses to develop medication control and safety protocols. It creates new rules prohibiting certain medications, mandates track safety standards, and establishes procedures for handling violations, including administrative sanctions and disciplinary processes. The law requires states to join an interstate compact to participate in the new system, with states that don't join prohibited from allowing interstate wagering on races. This legislation directly affects all entities involved in horse racing, including owners, trainers, veterinarians, racetracks, and breed associations across the country.

Maddy summaryHRES 381 designates May 5, 2025, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls," calling for public commemoration of victims and solidarity with their families. The resolution urges the public and groups to honor both documented and undocumented cases while recommending the Department of Justice commission a new study on the crisis, citing that the last major study was published in 2016. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness about ongoing issues, referencing recent data showing 5,614 Indigenous women and girls reported missing in 2024. This symbolic resolution directly affects Indigenous communities, families, and the public, aligning with prior federal efforts like Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act.

Transportation Freedom Act This bill reduces taxes on auto companies and repeals specified environmental regulations on cars and trucks. The bill establishes a new tax deduction equal to 200% of eligible wages paid or incurred by domestic producers of automobiles or automobile components, subject to limitations. It also allows an entity to reduce (and adjust) its financial statement income (for purposes of calculating liability for the alternative minimum tax) by the amount of eligible wages it elects to deduct. The bill nullifies the 2024 rules of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding (1) the finalization of specified greenhouse gas (GHG) programs and the reduction of emissions from certain light-duty and medium-duty vehicles (e.g., cars and trucks that are under a certain weight) starting with model year 2027, and (2) phase three of GHG emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., school buses and tractor-trailer trucks). It also repeals the 2024 rules of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for certain cars, trucks, and vans.  Additionally, the bill eliminates (1) the option given to California to set standards for car emissions that are more stringent than those set under the Clean Air Act, and (2) the option for other states to adopt California's standards.  NHTSA and the EPA must establish new CAFE and GHG standards, respectively, for vehicles that are economically practicable and technologically feasible. The GHG standards may not require the production or sale of electric vehicles.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 would reform the Low-Income Housing Credit program, which provides tax credits to developers of affordable housing. It would increase state allocations based on population with annual cost-of-living adjustments, modify tenant eligibility rules to allow higher income limits for some residents, and add protections for domestic violence victims in housing. The bill would simplify rules for rural and Native American housing projects, clarify credit eligibility requirements, and require greater transparency in program administration. These changes would directly affect developers, property owners, and low-income tenants in housing projects that receive LIHC tax credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.

Maddy summaryHRES 262 establishes a House Select Committee focused solely on investigating Mexican drug cartels and their international networks, including U.S. and Mexican government efforts to address them. The committee has no legislative authority but may hold public hearings, conduct investigations, and issue policy recommendations by December 2025, with final reports due by December 2026. This procedural resolution affects only House committee structure and processes, not direct policy changes for the public or government agencies.