Rep. Paul A. Gosar

Maddy summaryThe FLASH Act authorizes construction of navigable roads along federal border lands to improve U.S. Customs and Border Protection access and operational control. It requires federal agencies to develop protocols for reducing trash accumulation and environmental degradation from unauthorized border crossings, while targeting illegal cannabis cultivation sites with environmental response initiatives. The bill prohibits using federal funds to provide housing for undocumented immigrants on federal lands and establishes criminal penalties for illegal pesticide use. The legislation affects how federal land management agencies (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc.) operate along the southern border, with specific reporting requirements for environmental impacts and trash collection.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act to require the Department of Homeland Security to submit annual reports on counter-illicit tunnel operations, replacing a one-time reporting requirement with ongoing updates. It directly affects DHS officials responsible for border security operations and Congress, which receives these reports for oversight. The key mechanism is the annual reporting mandate, ensuring continuous assessment of tunnel threats rather than a single strategic plan development.

Maddy summaryHR 1953, the Deportation Compliance Act, prohibits U.S. foreign aid to countries that repeatedly refuse or delay accepting their own citizens being deported from the United States. Specifically, it blocks federal funds if a country continues denying or unreasonably delaying the return of its citizens for 180 days after the Secretary of State has listed it under Section 243(d) of immigration law. This directly affects foreign governments that fail to cooperate with U.S. deportation requests for their nationals. The key mechanism is a mandatory cutoff of all foreign assistance funds to such non-compliant countries, using aid as leverage to enforce deportation cooperation.

Maddy summaryHR 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, establishes a new system for identifying and managing high-risk wildfire areas called "firesheds" and creates a centralized Fireshed Center to coordinate wildfire risk management across federal agencies. The bill streamlines environmental reviews for wildfire risk reduction projects, allowing for faster implementation of hazardous fuels management activities in designated areas. It includes provisions for community wildfire risk reduction programs, water source protection, and specific initiatives for restoring white oak forests. The legislation also includes litigation reforms to expedite forest management projects and reduce delays from legal challenges. These provisions aim to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health through more coordinated, data-driven management approaches.

Maddy summaryHR 1862, the English Language Unity Act of 2025, designates English as the official language of the U.S. federal government. It requires all official government functions - such as laws, regulations, and public proceedings - to be conducted in English, with key exceptions including language teaching, disability education, national security, public health, census activities, and victim rights. The bill also mandates that naturalization applicants demonstrate English reading comprehension of foundational U.S. documents like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, with ceremonies conducted in English. These provisions apply to federal operations, not state governments or private sector policies, and explicitly preserve existing protections for Native American languages and the right to learn other languages.

Maddy summaryHR 1866, the GUARD Act, prevents federal funding under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act from being awarded to any state that discriminates against parents or guardians who oppose gender-affirming medical, social, or legal changes for minors. The bill requires states to avoid adverse actions against such parents if they believe a minor's gender identity claims conflict with their biological sex at birth, regardless of medical diagnoses. States violating this provision could face legal action by affected parents to halt funding and recover funds. The law directly affects parents opposing gender-affirming care for minors and alters federal grant enforcement for child welfare programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1879, the "No Tax Breaks for Sanctuary Cities Act," denies tax-exempt status for bonds issued by jurisdictions classified as "sanctuary jurisdictions." A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as a city or state that either restricts sharing immigration status information with federal authorities or fails to comply with federal detainer requests under immigration law. The bill requires the Treasury Secretary to publish an annual list of such jurisdictions within 180 days of enactment. This policy directly affects local governments meeting the definition by removing a key funding tool - tax-exempt municipal bonds - used for public projects like schools or infrastructure. The law applies to bonds issued after enactment and does not alter existing sanctuary policies themselves.

Maddy summaryHR 1772 designates English as the official language of the United States federal government, requiring all official government functions (like laws, regulations, and public proceedings) to be conducted in English. It directly affects federal agencies, naturalization processes (mandating English ceremonies and language standards for new citizens), and government communications. Key exceptions include language teaching, disability education, national security needs, census activities, and protections for Native American languages under existing law. The bill does not restrict the use of other languages in private settings or ban bilingual services for essential government functions. It amends U.S. Code to establish these requirements, with implementation set for 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill nullifies specific Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules and notices related to "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing," including the 2015 final rule, 2021 interim rule, and 2023 proposed rule, as well as a 2015 notice about housing disparity assessments. It prohibits federal funding for a geospatial database tracking racial disparities in housing access or community housing inequities. The bill requires HUD to consult with state, local, and public housing agency officials to develop recommendations for fair housing implementation, mandating consensus-based reporting and public comment periods. This directly affects local governments, state housing officials, and public housing agencies by limiting federal oversight of local zoning decisions and housing policy enforcement.

Maddy summaryHR 1792 prohibits U.S. federal funds from being provided to three United Nations agencies: the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study identifying all U.S. funding to these agencies from 2021-2025, including amounts and restrictions, and to assess any funds owed to the U.S. government. It also mandates an audit of the State Department’s Refugee Travel Loan Program. The GAO must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment detailing these findings. This bill directly affects federal funding mechanisms for international refugee and migration programs.