Rep. Emanuel Cleaver

Saving the Civil Service Act This bill generally prohibits changes to the classification of positions in the competitive service and excepted service unless certain conditions are met. (Competitive service positions are subject to competitive examination while excepted service positions are appointed under one of five schedules. Competitive service positions have notice and appeal requirements for adverse actions that are not applicable to most excepted positions, including those of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character under Schedule C.) On October 21, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that placed executive agency positions that are of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, and that are not normally subject to change as a result of a presidential transition, under a new Schedule F in the excepted service. The order was subsequently revoked by President Joe Biden. The bill prohibits executive agency positions in the competitive service from being placed in the excepted service, unless such positions are placed in a schedule in the excepted service as in effect on September 30, 2020. The bill also prohibits positions in the excepted service from being placed in any schedule other than the aforementioned schedules. Additionally, agencies may not (1) transfer occupied positions from the competitive or excepted service into Schedule C without the consent of the Office of Personnel Management, or (2) transfer employees in the excepted service to another schedule or transfer employees in the competitive service to the excepted service without employee consent.

Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act or the FAIR Act This bill modifies pay rates for federal employees in 2026. Specifically, the bill increases rates under the statutory pay systems and for prevailing rate employees by 3.3% and increases locality pay by 1%.

Maddy summaryThe George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 would establish a National Police Misconduct Registry to track officer complaints, disciplinary actions, and misconduct records across all law enforcement agencies. It would require law enforcement agencies to implement body-worn camera programs with specific recording and retention policies, ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases, and reform qualified immunity to make it easier to hold officers accountable for misconduct. The bill mandates comprehensive data collection on use of force incidents, requiring agencies to report detailed information about stops, searches, and force used, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and other demographics. These provisions would directly affect all Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal grant funding, with requirements for policy changes, training, and data reporting.

Maddy summaryThe National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 would establish a government-owned bank to finance infrastructure projects across the United States, aiming to address a $3.69 trillion financing gap identified by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The bank would provide loans up to $5 trillion for transportation, energy, environmental, and community development projects, with specific criteria focused on economic growth, environmental benefits, and serving disadvantaged communities. It would be governed by a 25-member Board of Directors with diverse regional and expertise qualifications, and would operate with tax exemptions and capital requirements to ensure financial stability. The bill also establishes regional economic accelerator planning groups to coordinate infrastructure development and create a pipeline of projects for the bank to finance.

Maddy summaryThe FAIR Act of 2025 would prohibit companies from requiring pre-dispute arbitration agreements or waivers that prevent individuals from joining class or collective lawsuits in employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights cases. This directly affects workers, consumers, and small businesses who currently face forced arbitration for issues like workplace discrimination, product defects, or unfair business practices. The bill makes such agreements unenforceable while allowing voluntary arbitration after disputes arise and leaving collective bargaining agreements unaffected. It applies to all disputes occurring after the law takes effect, without changing how voluntary arbitration works post-dispute.

Maddy summaryHJRES 121 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Congress and states to set reasonable limits on money raised or spent to influence elections. It would permit regulations distinguishing between natural persons (individuals) and corporations or other artificial entities, potentially restricting corporate spending in elections. The amendment explicitly states that such regulations cannot abridge press freedom. This is a proposed constitutional change requiring ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures, not yet law.

Maddy summaryHRES 699 is a symbolic resolution designating September 2025 as "National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Month" to raise public awareness about polycystic kidney disease (PKD). It directly affects the approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. living with PKD, a genetic condition causing kidney damage and other organ complications. The resolution expresses congressional support for this designation and encourages public efforts to increase understanding of PKD’s impact on patients and families. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to foster greater recognition of PKD as a leading cause of kidney failure. The resolution aligns with the PKD Foundation’s goals of promoting research, education, and awareness.

Maddy summaryHR 5309, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, authorizes a posthumous Congressional gold medal for Constance Baker Motley, a pioneering civil rights attorney and judge. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal with her image and name, to be presented to her son, Joel W. Motley III, and her niece, Constance Royster. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover expenses, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, honoring Motley’s legacy as the first African-American woman appointed to a federal judgeship.

Maddy summaryThe FLAME Act requires the U.S. Fire Administration to provide Congress 60 days' notice before canceling 25% or more of the National Academy’s annual courses, including details on affected departments and justifications. It mandates notifying enrolled firefighters and fire chiefs at least 45 days before cancellations, with reimbursement for fire departments’ travel and staffing costs (like overtime) unless cancellations are due to "good cause" (e.g., facility closures or national emergencies). The bill also directs a GAO study by March 2026 to analyze how large-scale cancellations impact fire department readiness, interoperability, and the Academy’s role in training. This directly affects fire departments nationwide that send personnel to the Academy for in-person or virtual training.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) primary authority to set federal safety and construction standards for manufactured homes. Federal agencies seeking to establish new standards must first submit proposals to HUD for approval and cannot implement them without that approval. HUD may reject proposed standards if they would significantly raise production costs, conflict with existing HUD standards, or for other reasons deemed appropriate. The bill directly affects manufactured home manufacturers (due to potential cost impacts) and federal agencies (requiring pre-approval for new standards).