Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill directs U.S. agencies to support Iranian people's access to uncensored information and hold Iranian officials accountable for human rights abuses. It requires the State Department and FCC to report on technologies (like satellite networks and mesh systems) that could bypass internet restrictions in Iran, and authorizes $2 million annually to develop such tools. The bill also establishes a new "Iran Kleptocracy Initiative" at FinCEN to track corruption, freeze assets of Iranian regime officials and state-owned businesses, and coordinate with international partners. These measures apply to U.S. policy toward Iran but do not alter Iran's domestic laws; they focus on U.S. sanctions, technology development, and anti-corruption efforts targeting the Iranian regime.

Maddy summaryHR 7602, the State of Men’s Health Act, requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study U.S. men’s health disparities and submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment. It also mandates the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an Office of Men’s Health within 18 months to coordinate existing federal programs focused on preventive care for men, including screenings for prostate cancer, mental health, and cardiovascular issues. The bill does not authorize new funding; all activities must use existing appropriations. This legislation directly affects all men in the United States by aiming to improve health outcomes through better coordination of current federal health initiatives.

Maddy summaryHR 7612 (End Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026) prohibits state and local government officials from interfering with federal immigration enforcement by blocking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests for "reasonable advance notice" (at least 48 hours) about releasing criminal aliens. It directly affects local leaders who establish policies restricting such notice, imposing criminal penalties: up to 25 years in prison for failures leading to the release of individuals convicted of murder, rape, or sex offenses against minors. Penalties decrease to 5-10 years for serious violent felonies and 30 days-6 months for other criminal offenses. The law creates new federal criminal charges under Title 18, Section 1925, targeting officials who obstruct DHS compliance with immigration laws.

Maddy summaryHR 1320, the Modern Worker Security Act, changes how federal law determines if a worker is an employee or independent contractor. It prohibits considering whether a worker has access to "portable benefits" (like health insurance, retirement savings, or paid leave that they can keep after leaving a job) when making this classification. This directly affects workers who might currently be misclassified as independent contractors, denying them employee benefits. The key mechanism is removing portable benefits from the employee status determination process, aiming to ensure workers who perform regular work for an employer qualify for standard employee protections.

This bill specifies a legal standard for determining whether an individual is considered an independent contractor rather than an employee for the purposes of federal labor laws that address issues such as the federal minimum wage, overtime compensation, and collective bargaining. The rights and protections provided by these laws exclusively apply to employees. Under the bill, an individual is considered an independent contractor if (1) another individual or entity does not exercise significant control over the details of how the individual's work is performed, without regard to any control the other individual or entity may exercise over the final result of the work performed; and (2) while performing such work, the individual has opportunities and risks inherent with entrepreneurship (for example, the discretion to exercise professional judgment). The bill also sets forth factors that may not be used to determine whether an individual is an employee. Specifically, factors such as whether another individual or entity requires the individual to meet certain legal, health and safety, insurance, or performance requirements may not be used to make such a determination.

Maddy summaryHR 7528, the GAP Supply Act, extends a compliance deadline for pharmaceutical outsourcing facilities. It amends Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require these facilities to compound and distribute drugs during shortages within 180 calendar days, instead of immediately. This change directly affects facilities that handle compounded drugs, providing them additional time to meet requirements during supply shortages. The bill focuses on improving drug supply chain stability by adjusting the timeline for facility compliance, without altering the core regulatory standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce two types of commemorative $2.50 coins for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: a circulating coin for everyday use and a numismatic (collector) coin. Both would feature designs based on the 1926 Sesquicentennial coin - showing allegorical liberty holding the Declaration on one side and Independence Hall on the other - with "1776-2026" inscriptions. The bill requires the Mint to issue these coins by July 4, 2026, if technically and economically feasible, but does not mandate their production or affect any specific groups beyond the public who may purchase them.

Maddy summaryThe Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the National Marine Sanctuaries Act from requiring additional authorizations for undersea fiber optic cables that already have federal or state permits. It directly affects cable operators who have obtained licenses, leases, or permits from any federal or state agency for cable installation or maintenance in national marine sanctuaries. The bill prevents the Secretary from blocking or demanding new permits for these cables once they have valid existing authorization. This simplifies regulatory processes by eliminating redundant federal oversight for cables already approved by other agencies.

Maddy summaryThe SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 establishes federal safety standards for vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS), requiring manufacturers to develop detailed "safety cases" demonstrating their systems won't present unreasonable risks to road users. It creates a National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository to collect crash data from ADS-equipped vehicles, including information about vulnerable road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) and crash circumstances. The bill preempts state laws that conflict with these federal standards while allowing states to enforce identical requirements, and defines key terms related to automation levels (Level 3-5) and operational design domains. Manufacturers must demonstrate ADS capabilities for handling various driving scenarios, including detecting vulnerable road users and achieving minimal risk conditions during emergencies. The bill also establishes requirements for cybersecurity protections and reporting of crash data to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Maddy summaryThe PART Act requires new vehicles to have catalytic converters marked with a unique identification number that links directly to the vehicle's identification number, stored in a law enforcement-accessible database. It establishes a $7 million grant program to help repair shops, dealers, law enforcement, and fleet owners purchase equipment for marking converters with visible, durable identifiers (using die or pin stamping and high-visibility paint). The bill also mandates that businesses buying catalytic converters keep detailed seller records (including vehicle information) for two years and use traceable payments, banning cash or cryptocurrency transactions. Additionally, it creates new federal criminal penalties for stealing or trafficking in catalytic converters, with potential sentences of up to five years in prison.