Maddy summaryHR 7109, the Equal Representation Act, requires the U.S. Census Bureau to add a citizenship status checkbox to the 2030 and future decennial censuses, asking respondents to identify if they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful residents, or unlawful residents. It then mandates excluding noncitizens (both lawful and unlawful residents) from the population count used to determine each state's number of congressional seats and electoral votes starting with the 2030 census. This bill directly affects how states are apportioned representation in Congress and presidential electoral votes, based solely on the citizen population. The key change is shifting the apportionment base from total population to citizen population alone, using the new census data.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill defines what constitutes "compensation" for student athletes, explicitly excluding standard benefits like tuition, health insurance, and academic stipends (capped at $5,980 annually). It shields colleges, athletic associations, and conferences from lawsuits when enforcing rules that limit or prohibit student athletes from earning money through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals or other commercial opportunities. The law clarifies that institutions cannot be held liable for restricting eligibility if athletes violate these compensation rules. It applies to all colleges and athletic conferences under the Higher Education Act, focusing on legal clarity around NIL policies.
Maddy summaryHR 8320, the Spend It At Home Act, would require the IRS to add a new option on federal income tax forms, allowing taxpayers to indicate whether their taxes should fund domestic or international government spending. This directly affects all individuals and households filing federal income tax returns. The bill mandates annual public reporting of how many taxpayers chose each option and the total tax amounts associated with each choice. It also includes a provision to rescind unobligated IRS funding from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, though this is a separate administrative change.
Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 8306, the SHUSH Act) changes federal law to treat firearm sound suppressors (often called "silencers") as firearms for regulatory purposes, removing them from specific federal restrictions. It preempts state laws that impose taxes, registration, or recordkeeping requirements on sound suppressors, meaning states cannot enforce such rules for suppressors used in interstate commerce. The bill also updates tax code and firearm definitions to align with this federal treatment, ensuring suppressor owners meeting federal requirements comply with existing National Firearms Act standards. It directly affects suppressor owners and state governments that previously regulated suppressors through taxes or registration.
Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 7971) requires the Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary to correct administrative errors that cause veterans to suffer financial loss. It changes the law to mandate that the VA "shall" provide equitable relief within 120 days of determining an error, replacing the previous "may" standard. The bill also directs the VA to immediately cancel debt collection agreements if an error in billing is confirmed, preventing veterans from being pursued for incorrect debts. This directly affects veterans who were wrongly charged due to VA mistakes, ensuring faster correction of billing errors.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1188) asks the President to issue an annual proclamation designating the month of May as "Fallen Heroes Memorial Month" to honor U.S. military members who died in service. It does not create new laws or benefits but requests the President to formally recognize this designation each year. The resolution urges Americans to reflect on the sacrifices of over 1.3 million fallen service members and their families, and to support veteran organizations. It is a symbolic gesture focused on commemoration, not policy change.
Maddy summaryHR 8208, the Stop the BIS Rule Act, blocks federal funding for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to finalize, implement, or enforce a proposed rule on firearms export controls. The rule, issued April 26, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 34680), aimed to enhance controls for firearms and related items. By prohibiting funds for this specific rule, the bill prevents the government from moving forward with the proposed regulations, which would have affected firearms exporters. The bill directly targets the BIS's ability to act on the rule, not the rule's content.
Maddy summaryHR 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters managed for hunting or fishing, except in specific cases. The bill allows exceptions only if a state wildlife department confirms lead use is harming local wildlife, and the federal action aligns with state law or state agency approval. It directly affects hunters and anglers using federal lands and waters, ensuring they can continue using lead products unless a state verifies a local wildlife issue requiring a ban. The law requires federal agencies to justify any exception with state data and policy compliance in official notices.
Maddy summaryHR 8147 repeals the Corporate Transparency Act, which required certain businesses (typically those with more than 20 employees) to report beneficial ownership details to the Treasury Department. This bill eliminates the requirement for companies to disclose who ultimately owns or controls them, directly affecting business owners and financial institutions that previously submitted this information. The bill also makes minor technical changes to Title 31 of the U.S. Code to remove references to the repealed provisions. The repeal would end the existing financial transparency reporting obligation for covered entities.
Maddy summaryHR 8060, the CALL Act, requires refugee resettlement agencies to notify specific elected officials before placing refugees in a community. It directly affects resettlement agencies and requires them to notify Senators from the state, the local House representative, and applicable state legislators prior to making a placement within a state. The key provision amends immigration law to mandate this pre-placement notification, replacing a previous requirement with a clearer, multi-tiered notification process. This change aims to ensure local elected officials are informed about refugee placements in their jurisdictions.