Rep. Richard McCormick

Maddy summaryHR 5934, the Major Thomas D. Howie Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Major Thomas D. Howie for his bravery and service during the Battle of Normandy in World War II. The medal, to be struck by the U.S. Mint, will be presented to his nephew, Tom Howie, or his next of kin, and then displayed at The Citadel Museum. This bill is purely commemorative and does not create new legal requirements or funding obligations. It honors Major Howie’s leadership in capturing St. Lo, France - a pivotal moment in liberating Western Europe from Nazi occupation - based on his documented sacrifice during the 1944 campaign.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (HRES 860), not a bill with legislative effect. It expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for former President Trump's 2020 decision to redesignate Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) under religious freedom laws. The resolution commends this action due to documented religious persecution in Nigeria, including violence against Christians and minority religious groups. It does not create new policy or alter U.S. assistance; it solely states congressional support for holding Nigeria accountable for religious freedom violations.

Maddy summaryHRES 855 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for National Adoption Day (November 22, 2025) and National Adoption Month (November). It promotes awareness about children in foster care awaiting adoption - highlighting that 49,994 U.S. children were waiting for adoptive families in 2023 - and encourages the public to consider adoption. The resolution recognizes that every child deserves a permanent, loving family and urges Americans to support this goal throughout November and the year. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that critical firearm-related government operations continue during federal shutdowns. It designates background checks (via the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives enforcement, and firearm export licensing (handled by Commerce and State Departments) as essential services that must remain operational. These functions would be treated as "excepted" under federal law, meaning their employees would continue working even if other government services halt. The bill affects how background checks and firearm export licenses are processed during shutdowns but does not change gun ownership laws or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHR 5819, the Balancing Incentives Act of 2025, requires patent owners to explicitly consent before a petition for inter-partes review or post-grant review of their patent can be filed. This bill amends sections 312(a) and 322(a) of U.S. patent law to add a new requirement that the patent owner must consent to the filing of such petitions. The change directly affects patent owners by giving them control over whether their patents face these administrative reviews. The bill makes no other policy changes and focuses solely on modifying the procedural requirement for initiating these patent reviews.

Maddy summaryHRES 824 is a ceremonial House resolution recognizing the religious and historical significance of Diwali, the festival of lights. It acknowledges Diwali’s meaning across Hindu, Sikh, and Jain traditions - symbolizing light over darkness, good over evil, and marking spiritual milestones like Guru Hargobind’s release and Lord Mahavira’s Nirvana. The resolution expresses respect for Indian-Americans and the global Indian diaspora, highlighting Diwali’s role in U.S. religious diversity. As a non-binding recognition, it does not create new laws, policies, or funding, but formally honors the cultural observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures Medicare covers and pays for skin substitute products (used in wound care) by creating a new payment system starting in 2026. It establishes a payment rate based on a volume-weighted average of past payment data, adjusted annually for inflation, and requires a new billing code for these products by January 2026. The bill also adds program integrity measures: identifying the top 3% of providers by payment volume (outliers) for extra review, and requiring prior authorization for their claims starting in 2027. Additionally, it mandates coverage for these products in 2026 unless unsafe, and prohibits denying coverage solely based on clinical evidence analysis.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require all states to recognize valid concealed carry permits issued by other states, allowing permit holders to carry concealed handguns (excluding machine guns) in any state that either issues such permits or doesn't prohibit concealed carry. It directly affects law-abiding gun owners with valid permits from their home state, ensuring they can carry in states with similar permit systems or no prohibitions. Key provisions include treating valid permit documents as proof of legal carry (reducing officer stops), shifting the burden of proof to prosecutors if challenged, and allowing civil lawsuits for violations with attorney's fee awards. The bill does not override state laws restricting firearms on private property or government land, nor does it affect federal gun restrictions like those in section 922(q).

Maddy summaryHR 5623, the SEIZE Act of 2025, allows the U.S. President to classify weapons seized from Iran (while en route to Yemen's Houthi rebels) as U.S. government property. It then authorizes using these seized weapons to supply foreign partners through existing defense programs, amending the Foreign Assistance Act. The bill requires the President to submit annual reports to Congress detailing how many times the authority was used, the inventory of seized weapons held, and weapons transferred to allies. This directly affects U.S. military asset management and foreign aid distribution processes.

Maddy summaryHR 5586, the TRICARE Transition Transparency Act of 2025, requires the Department of Defense to provide advance written notices to military health care beneficiaries about upcoming changes to their TRICARE coverage. Beneficiaries affected by required plan changes (such as due to age) will receive three electronic notices: one year, 180 days, and 30 days before the transition. The bill also mandates an annual outreach campaign via website, social media, and family groups, plus yearly reports to Congress on implementation progress. This law aims to improve beneficiary awareness of coverage transitions without altering TRICARE plan options or costs.