Rep. Austin Scott

Maddy summaryThis bill restores pension benefits for retirees affected by the termination of specific Delphi pension plans. It requires the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate monthly benefits to the "full vested plan benefit" (the amount retirees would have received without prior reductions) and pay lump-sum payments for past underpayments, including 6% annual interest. The law applies to retirees of six Delphi pension plans, including the Delphi Hourly-Rate Employees Pension Plan and Delphi Retirement Program for Salaried Employees, who are currently receiving benefits or eligible for future payments. Payments will be funded from existing PBGC resources without changing prior asset allocations.

Maddy summaryHRES 153 is a ceremonial resolution expressing condolences to the families and loved ones of the 67 victims who died in two aviation incidents: American Eagle Flight 5342 and U.S. Army flight PAT 25, which crashed near Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport on January 29, 2025. It specifically honors the victims - many connected to Wichita, Kansas (known as the "Air Capital of the World") - and extends sympathies to affected communities including Wichita, Kansas, and the National Capital Region. The resolution also commends first responders who aided in the recovery efforts. As a non-binding expression of sympathy with no policy changes, it does not affect laws or regulations.

Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2025 This bill modifies criminal penalties for an offense involving the theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, or from their business premises. Specifically, the bill does the following: increases from 10 to 20 years the maximum prison term, and creates a 3- or 5-year mandatory minimum prison term for an offense that occurs during the commission of a burglary or robbery. An attempt to commit an offense is subject to the same penalties as a substantive offense.

Maddy summaryHRES 166 is a non-binding House resolution expressing U.S. support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic. It condemns the Iranian regime's terrorism, regional proxy wars, internal suppression of ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights abuses - including executions and repression of women-led protests. The resolution calls for holding the regime accountable through sanctions, supports the Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s democratic transition, and urges protection for Iranian political refugees in Albania. It does not create new laws but affirms U.S. policy alignment with Iranian protesters' demands.

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion (known as the "Black Panthers"), the first predominantly Black armored unit in World War II's European Theater. It recognizes their combat service from 1944-1946, including key roles in the Battle of the Bulge and breaking the Siegfried Line, despite facing racial prejudice during and after the war. The medal will be displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The bill commemorates the battalion's 130,000 enemy casualties inflicted, 50% casualty rate, and their 1978 Presidential Unit Citation. It does not create new laws or affect current policies.

Maddy summaryHR 1494, the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act, requires online marketplaces (like Amazon or eBay) to collect the federal excise tax on sporting goods sold through their platforms, rather than leaving this responsibility to individual sellers. It specifically targets platforms that host third-party seller listings and facilitate transactions for goods imported from outside the U.S. The bill treats these marketplaces as the "importer" for tax purposes, making them liable for the tax on qualifying sporting goods sales. This change applies to sales after a 60-day grace period following the bill's enactment, with no impact on taxes already owed by other parties.

Maddy summaryHR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a ceremonial gold medal to honor former President Jimmy Carter, recognizing his service as the 39th U.S. President and his post-presidential work. It directs the Treasury to strike a gold medal bearing his name and image, to be presented posthumously to the Carter Center in Atlanta (where he and his wife Rosalynn founded the organization). Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. The bill does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is purely a commemorative gesture.

This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.

Maddy summaryHRES 133 is a symbolic House resolution supporting the designation of February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week." It recognizes the National FFA Organization’s role in developing student leadership through agricultural education and celebrates two milestones: the 90th anniversary of the New Farmers of America (which served Black students until merging with FFA in 1965) and the 75th anniversary of FFA’s federal charter (granted by Congress in 1950). The resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions - it simply expresses congressional support for these observances. It directly affects no individuals or entities, as it is a non-binding gesture honoring an educational organization.