Rep. Barry Loudermilk

Maddy summaryThe FairTax Act of 2025 would repeal federal income tax, payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and estate and gift taxes, replacing them with a national sales tax. It would impose a 23% tax on the final consumption of goods and services in 2027, with rates adjusting based on federal tax rates. The bill includes a monthly rebate for qualifying families based on the poverty level to offset the tax burden on lower-income households. It would establish a cooperative tax administration system between federal and state governments, with states collecting the tax under certain conditions. The tax would sunset if the 16th Amendment (which allows for income taxes) is not repealed within 7 years of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 163, the "Finish the Wall Act," mandates the immediate resumption of border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border within 24 hours of enactment. It requires the Department of Homeland Security to use all existing funds appropriated since 2016 for this purpose, prohibits canceling pre-January 2021 contracts, and sets a deadline of September 30, 2026, to complete the wall system. The bill directly affects the Department of Homeland Security, contractors with prior wall contracts, and border facilities, which must also comply with DNA collection requirements under federal law. It focuses on concrete policy actions - resuming construction, using existing funds, and meeting a specific timeline - without addressing broader policy impacts.

Maddy summaryHR 45 (FIND Act) requires federal government contractors to certify they do not discriminate against firearm businesses (including manufacturers, dealers, and trade associations) in their policies or practices. The bill mandates that contractors and subcontractors (for contracts over 10% of the prime contract value) certify they have no discriminatory policies and will not adopt them during the contract term. Violations could lead to contract termination and potential debarment. This applies to all federal procurement contracts awarded after the bill's enactment, excluding sole-source contracts. The law aims to ensure firearm businesses are treated equally in government contracting without restricting legitimate business criteria like creditworthiness or legal compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill names the U.S. Postal Service facility at 15 South Valdosta Road in Lakeland, Georgia, as the "Nell Patten Roquemore Post Office." It updates all official U.S. government references - such as maps, documents, and records - to use this new name for the location. The bill does not create new policies or affect services; it only changes the facility's official designation. The name honors Nell Patten Roquemore, though the bill itself does not detail her contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal financial regulators to coordinate with state insurance regulators before collecting data from insurance companies, ensuring they first check if the data is already available through state agencies or public sources. It strengthens confidentiality protections by preventing the sharing of nonpublic data with federal regulators from waiving existing privacy rights under federal or state law. Insurance companies and state regulators are directly affected, as the law governs how data is shared between federal financial regulators and state agencies. The bill modifies existing rules to streamline data collection while maintaining privacy safeguards.

Maddy summaryHR 3556, the "Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act," requires major financial regulatory agencies (FDIC, Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency, and National Credit Union Administration) to provide more detailed transparency about their regulatory activities. The bill mandates semi-annual reports to Congress containing specific data about financial institutions' conditions, supervisory actions, and enforcement measures, with additional confidential reports identifying institutions with less than satisfactory ratings. It also requires agencies to notify Congress before making certain regulatory decisions and establishes new experience requirements for the Federal Reserve's Vice Chairman for Supervision. The bill aims to enhance congressional oversight of financial regulation through increased transparency and more detailed reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the Architect of the Capitol - the official responsible for managing the U.S. Capitol complex - is appointed. It requires a congressional commission (including chamber leaders and key committee chairs) to appoint the Architect based solely on qualifications, not politics, for a 10-year term with possible reappointments. The bill also sets a 120-day deadline for appointing a Deputy Architect and gives the commission authority to fill vacancies in that role if needed. These changes replace previous rules that allowed the President to appoint the Architect directly.

Maddy summaryHR 9272, the Catastrophic Specialty Hospital Act of 2024, creates a new Medicare payment designation for specialized long-term care hospitals treating spinal cord injuries and acquired brain injuries. To qualify, hospitals must meet strict criteria over a 3-year period, including having at least 80% of discharges related to these conditions, offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care, meeting minimum discharge thresholds (175+ for each injury type), having 30% out-of-state patients, and demonstrating research or accreditation in neurorehabilitation. Qualified hospitals would receive Medicare payments under a separate system, exempt from standard long-term care hospital payment rules. This bill directly affects specialized rehabilitation hospitals meeting these criteria, not general Medicare beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic prior authorization systems by 2027 and publish detailed data on their approval and denial rates for medical services by 2026. It directly affects Medicare Advantage plans (private insurers offering Medicare coverage) and their enrollees (seniors 65+), mandating transparency about prior authorization decisions, processing times, and appeal outcomes. Key provisions include requiring plans to report annual statistics on request approvals/denials, average processing times, and use of technology, with this data published publicly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The bill also sets timelines for plan responses to prior authorization requests and mandates reports to Congress on implementation and impacts.

Maddy summaryThe Maximum Pressure Act (HR 6114) is a legislative proposal that would maintain and expand U.S. sanctions against Iran. The bill would codify existing sanctions, require Iran to meet 12 specific conditions before sanctions could be lifted (including ending support for terrorism, releasing hostages, and ending nuclear enrichment), and expand sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and missile programs. It also establishes new reporting requirements for the U.S. government to monitor Iran's activities and the impact of sanctions. The legislation would require congressional review before any sanctions could be lifted or modified, preventing the executive branch from unilaterally easing restrictions.