Rep. Pete Sessions

Maddy summaryThis bill grants posthumous U.S. citizenship to noncitizens who served honorably in the U.S. military during World War II while enlisted in the Philippines and died between September 1, 1939, and December 31, 1946. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include these veterans under specific eligibility criteria: they must have died from service-related injuries or diseases, and met enlistment requirements during that historical period. The bill removes barriers by clarifying that the standard naturalization requirements (section 319(d)) and related provisions (section 1703 of the 2004 Defense Act) do not apply to this group. This allows descendants to petition for citizenship on behalf of qualifying deceased service members through a certification from the relevant military department.

Maddy summaryHR 5749, the Official Time Reporting Act, requires federal agencies to report annually on how they use "official time" - when union-represented employees perform union duties during work hours. Agencies must submit detailed data to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) by December 31 each year, including total official time granted, costs, explanations for year-over-year increases, and specific activities covered. OPM then compiles this information into a public report by March 31, showing agency-level breakdowns and comparing data across years. This bill directly affects all federal agencies with union-represented employees, mandating transparency about official time usage and associated costs. The reporting aims to provide clear, standardized data for public accountability without changing existing official time policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill suspends payment limits for agricultural subsidies for the 2025 crop year, removing caps on payments to farmers. It also establishes a new option for farmers to receive 50% of their expected 2025 crop payments as an advance by December 1, 2025, if they opt in. The remaining balance is paid later after the marketing year ends, with farmers required to repay any overpayment if the final amount exceeds the advance. The bill directly affects farmers growing covered commodities (like corn, soybeans) who choose to participate in the advance payment program.

Maddy summaryHR 3806, the New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a study on the nation's readiness to prevent and respond to New World screwworm (NWS) infestations. The study must assess current threats, sterile insect production capabilities, surveillance systems, emergency response plans, research needs, and international cooperation, with input from livestock producers, wildlife agencies, and scientists. The Secretary of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress within six months detailing findings and recommendations for improving preparedness. This bill directly affects agricultural stakeholders and wildlife management by mandating a review of existing capabilities, not by changing current policy.

Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 This bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority with respect to research on rare pediatric diseases, including by permitting the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to satisfy pediatric study requirements and by reauthorizing programs that support pediatric research.  Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations to permit research on new drugs in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved, provided certain conditions are met; permits the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to comply with pediatric study requirements, if such sponsors demonstrated a lack of due diligence in satisfying the requirement; renews the FDA’s authority to award priority review vouchers to sponsors of new products intended to treat rare pediatric diseases through September 30, 2029; and reauthorizes through FY2027 certain funding for the National Institutes of Health to support priority pediatric research.  The bill also provides statutory authority for the FDA’s interpretation of the orphan drug exclusivity period. The bill specifies, consistent with FDA regulations, that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drugs) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition. (In Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra , a court rejected the FDA’s interpretation and held that orphan drug exclusivity extends to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.)

Maddy summaryThe HUD Transparency Act of 2025 requires the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to testify annually before specific congressional committees. Each October 1, the IG must report on six key areas: fraud prevention efforts, audit capabilities, program improvements, efficiency recommendations, resource sufficiency for HUD’s mission, and ongoing oversight activities. This bill directly affects HUD’s Inspector General and Congress, mandating structured, annual accountability reporting. It creates a concrete mechanism for Congress to monitor HUD’s oversight effectiveness without altering HUD’s programs or funding. The law focuses on transparency in existing oversight processes, not new policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates securities laws to expand exemptions for retirement plans used by charities and educational institutions. It specifically modifies definitions in the Investment Company Act, Securities Act, and Securities Exchange Act to include 403(b) plans meeting certain conditions - such as being subject to ERISA, having employer fiduciary oversight, or being governmental plans. These changes reduce regulatory hurdles for organizations offering these plans, making it easier to administer retirement benefits for their employees. The bill directly affects charities, schools, and other non-profits that sponsor 403(b) retirement plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a strategy advocating for Taiwan's membership or observer status in Interpol and to formally request it on Taiwan's behalf. It requires the U.S. to work with Interpol member states to support Taiwan's participation, addressing Taiwan's current lack of access to Interpol's global communications system (I-24/7) for crime-fighting coordination. The bill mandates a 90-day report to Congress detailing this strategy and the U.S. efforts to secure Taiwan's inclusion in Interpol and other international organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 2119 of Title 18 (carjacking statute) to clarify the legal definition of the offense. It removes the phrase "with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm" from the main definition, replacing it with "knowingly," and refines the death penalty provision to specify that death must result from a carjacking taken with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. The change streamlines the statute by focusing on the act of taking a vehicle "knowingly" rather than requiring proof of intent to cause harm as a core element. This technical amendment affects how federal prosecutors define and prosecute carjacking cases under existing law.

Maddy summaryThe Biomanufacturing Excellence Act of 2025 establishes a National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Center of Excellence under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It authorizes $120 million in funding for fiscal year 2026 to competitively award a grant to eligible entities - such as public-private partnerships, universities, or consortia - to create this center. The center will advance biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology, strengthen U.S. supply chains for medicines, and develop workforce training programs, with a focus on products critical to national security, health, and economic security. It requires annual progress reports to Congress and mandates the center to collaborate with manufacturers, research institutions, and educational partners to scale innovative production methods.