Rep. Byron Donalds

Maddy summaryHR 5563, the DRIVE-SAFE Act, creates a structured apprenticeship program for commercial drivers under age 21. It requires employers to provide a two-phase training program: a 120-hour probationary period focused on basic driving skills (like traffic navigation and safety awareness), followed by a 280-hour period covering advanced tasks (such as pre-trip inspections and load management). During both phases, apprentices must operate vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, collision mitigation systems, and video capture, and must be accompanied by an experienced driver (26+ years old with no recent accidents or violations). The bill does not change existing commercial driver’s license requirements and mandates employers to maintain records and provide remediation for preventable accidents or violations during training.

Maddy summaryHR 6211, the Medical Professional Access Act, allows health care professionals working under federal contracts to provide services across state lines during federally declared emergencies without needing separate state licenses. It directly affects doctors, nurses, and other licensed health care workers who serve under federal agreements in response to crises like natural disasters or pandemics. The key provision overrides state licensing laws when services are provided during emergencies certified by the President, HHS Secretary, or other federal authorities, as long as the care stays within the scope of the federal contract. This streamlines access to medical help in urgent situations without requiring professionals to navigate varying state licensing rules. The bill does not change routine practice or apply outside of federally declared emergency contexts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funds from being used to cover any abortion-related expenses for individuals classified as "illegal aliens" under immigration law. It specifically blocks taxpayer money from paying for travel, lodging, meals, childcare, translation, doula care, or patient education services connected to abortion access. The law directly affects non-citizens who are inadmissible or deportable under specific immigration statutes (as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act). It applies to all federal programs and funds, restricting assistance for abortion services beyond the procedure itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill would pause most visa issuances and immigration status approvals until specific conditions are met under immigration law. It prohibits access to public schools for unauthorized immigrants, restricts citizenship eligibility to children born in the U.S. with at least one U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent, and bars certain benefits like Medicare, food assistance, and student loans for most non-citizens. The bill also imposes a $100,000 fee on H-1B work visa applications starting in 2026, terminates the Optional Practical Training program for international students, and repeals the Diversity Visa lottery program. These provisions directly affect immigrants seeking visas, students, and applicants for specific immigration pathways.

Maddy summaryHR 5107, the Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC Act (CLEAN DC Act), repeals D.C. Law 24-345 (the 2022 Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act). This bill directly affects Washington, D.C.'s policing and justice systems by reversing all changes made under that 2022 law. The key mechanism is a straightforward repeal, restoring all prior District laws as if the 2022 reform had never been enacted. The bill does not introduce new provisions but undoes existing reforms to the District’s law enforcement framework.

Maddy summaryThe Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025 amends the Magnuson-Stevens Act to expand the definition of "fishery resource disaster" to include "economic cause." This means U.S. fisheries affected by foreign activities - such as illegal fishing, predatory pricing, or harmful subsidies that distort markets or disrupt sustainable harvests - can now qualify for disaster assistance. The bill requires documentation of how foreign actors' actions specifically harm U.S. fishing communities' operational or economic viability. It directly affects U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries facing market disruptions from foreign entities, enabling them to access federal aid previously limited to natural or anthropogenic disasters.

Maddy summaryHR 1109, the Litigation Transparency Act of 2025, requires parties and their lawyers in civil lawsuits to disclose to the court and other parties the identity of any person or group that could receive payment if the case succeeds (like investors or lenders), and to provide copies of related agreements. Exceptions apply for simple loan repayments (with interest limits) or attorney fee reimbursements. Disclosures must be made within 10 days of signing such agreements or when filing the case, and must be updated if inaccurate. This applies to all civil cases filed after the law takes effect, aiming to increase transparency in litigation funding arrangements.

Maddy summaryHRES 888 is a proposed resolution to formally censure and condemn Delegate Stacey Plaskett for coordinating with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, during a February 2019 congressional hearing. The resolution claims Plaskett received real-time text messages from Epstein with instructions on her questioning during the hearing. If passed, the resolution would remove Plaskett from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and direct the Committee on Ethics to investigate her ties to Epstein. This action directly affects Plaskett, the Delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and addresses alleged misconduct during official congressional proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 6068, the PROTECT Florida Act, extends the existing moratorium on oil and gas leasing and exploration in the Gulf of Mexico through 2032 and adds a new, permanent ban on these activities off Florida’s Atlantic coast. It directly affects federal agencies (like the Department of the Interior), which cannot issue permits for oil/gas exploration, seismic testing, or related activities in two specific zones: the Straits of Florida and the South Atlantic Planning Area south of Florida’s coastline. The bill blocks all leasing, preleasing, and exploration permits in these areas from enactment until June 30, 2032. This policy change prevents new offshore drilling and seismic surveys in Florida’s coastal waters, aiming to protect marine environments and coastal communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to add new grounds for deporting non-citizens. It makes any non-citizen deportable if they have been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors (under either state or federal law) after entering the United States. The key provision expands deportation eligibility beyond previous standards by explicitly including state misdemeanor convictions alongside federal offenses. This change directly affects non-citizens with specific criminal records, potentially increasing deportation risks for those with certain convictions. The policy alters the legal standard for removal but does not change sentencing or enforcement procedures.