Rep. Ro Khanna

Maddy summaryThe DEFIANCE Act of 2025 creates a new civil legal remedy for victims of non-consensual intimate digital forgeries (synthetic images or videos manipulating real people into sexual contexts without consent). It allows affected individuals to sue perpetrators in federal court for damages up to $250,000, injunctions to remove content, and privacy protections like pseudonyms. The bill specifically covers cases where forgeries are created or shared with intent to disclose, including scenarios involving sexual assault or harassment. It expands existing federal protections under 15 U.S.C. 6851 to address digital forgeries while ensuring state laws remain in effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education law to require K-12 schools to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in American history and civics education. It directs the Department of Education to update curriculum standards, teacher training programs, and national assessments to ensure AANHPI contributions and experiences are integrated into existing history lessons. The policy affects all public schools receiving federal education funding by mandating specific inclusion of AANHPI history alongside traditional American history content. This change aims to address historical gaps in curricula that have excluded these communities' diverse roles and experiences.

This bill prohibits the President from selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances.  Defense articles covered by the prohibition include BLU-109 bunker busting bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) assemblies, and 155mm artillery ammunition. Defense services directly related to such articles are also covered.  The President may sell, transfer, or export such defense articles or services to Israel if (1) a law is enacted specifying the purposes for which such articles or services may be used, and (2) Israel provides written assurances that the defense articles or services will be used for those specific statutory purposes and in a manner consistent with certain other laws, including international human rights laws.

Maddy summaryThe College for All Act of 2025 would eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students at public community colleges and 4-year institutions through a federal-state partnership. The federal government would cover 100% of costs in the first year (2026-2027), gradually decreasing to 80% by 2030-2031, while states would start with 0% and increase to 20% by 2030-2031. Eligible students would include those with family income below $150,000 for single parents or $300,000 for married parents, regardless of immigration status. The bill also includes requirements to maintain instruction funding, improve transfer pathways between community colleges and 4-year institutions, and provide additional support for students after tuition elimination.

Maddy summaryHR 3546, the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2025, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine if brand-name drug prices are "excessive" by comparing U.S. prices to median prices in Canada, the UK, Germany, France, and Japan, or by evaluating factors like patient population size, drug value, and R&D costs. If a price is deemed excessive, the bill automatically voids the manufacturer’s government-granted drug exclusivity (like patent protections) and allows any company to produce generic versions using the original drug data. New manufacturers must pay a reasonable royalty (capped at IRS average rates for pharma) and sell the drug at a price below the "excessive" level. The bill also requires drug manufacturers to submit detailed annual pricing reports with penalties for non-compliance and creates a public database tracking all excessive price determinations and licensing activity.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish 18-year fixed terms for all Supreme Court justices, replacing lifetime appointments. It requires the President to nominate one justice every two years (during first and third years after presidential elections), with Senate confirmation within 90 days, and prohibits reappointments after a single term. Current justices would be phased out in order of seniority as new justices are appointed under this schedule. The bill directly affects all sitting and future Supreme Court justices by mandating term limits and a structured appointment process.

Maddy summaryHR 3554, the Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025, prohibits former Members of Congress and congressional staff from lobbying for 6 years (extending the current 1-year rule) after leaving office and bans registered lobbyists from joining Congress within 6 years of substantial lobbying contact. It requires lobbying firms employing over 3 registered lobbyists to publicly report any former lawmakers or high-level congressional staff on their payroll, and mandates a new searchable website (lobbyists.gov) for transparency. The bill directly affects former legislators, congressional staff, and lobbying firms by restricting post-government employment transitions and increasing disclosure requirements. Key provisions include a lifetime lobbying ban for Members of Congress, enhanced reporting for "substantial lobbying entities," and a $100,000 funding allocation for the new database.

Maddy summaryHR 3493, the Global Fairness in Drug Pricing Act, requires the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary to establish price targets for pharmaceutical manufacturers, ensuring U.S. drug prices align with those in comparable developed countries. It directs the HHS Secretary to certify safe importation of drugs from low-cost countries and facilitate direct-to-consumer purchasing programs at the set prices. The bill also authorizes antitrust enforcement against drug companies for anticompetitive practices and mandates a study on whether manufacturers engage in unfair pricing that forces U.S. patients to subsidize global drug research. This legislation directly affects pharmaceutical manufacturers and American patients seeking affordable prescription drugs.

Maddy summaryHR 3501 would require Medicare providers to screen beneficiaries aged 65 and older for cognitive impairment during annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams, using tools approved by the National Institute on Aging. The screening must be documented in the patient’s medical record. This change applies to visits starting January 1, 2026, and aims to support early detection of conditions like Alzheimer’s through standard preventive care. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, providers, and caregivers by integrating cognitive screening into routine preventive services.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.