Rep. Russ Fulcher

Maddy summaryHR 1383 extends the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides payments to counties and states with federal land (like national forests) to support local schools and services. It reauthorizes these payments through fiscal year 2026, adding specific rules to ensure counties don’t receive duplicate payments for 2024 and 2025. The bill also extends related authorities for special projects on federal land and county fund expenditures through 2028-2029. This directly affects rural communities adjacent to federal lands that rely on these payments for education and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHR 598, the Forest Information Reform Act (FIR Act), modifies federal land management rules to eliminate a requirement for reinitiating consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It applies directly to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), preventing them from needing to restart ESA consultations when managing land plans if: (1) a new species is listed as endangered or critical habitat is designated, or (2) new information reveals impacts on listed species not previously considered. The bill removes a specific procedural step that would otherwise trigger federal agencies to reassess their land management plans in response to new ESA-related developments. This changes how agencies handle species conservation updates within their planning processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to require that individuals purchasing handguns from licensed dealers be at least 21 years old, removing previous exceptions that allowed sales to those under 21 for certain firearms. It directly affects anyone seeking to buy handguns from federally licensed gun sellers, raising the minimum age from 18 to 21 for these transactions. The bill also removes an existing age verification statement (requiring buyers to confirm they are 21 or older) for handgun purchases, aligning the requirement with the new age standard. Rifles and shotguns remain unaffected by this provision, as the amendment specifically targets handguns only. The bill's title referencing "voter" is unrelated to its actual provisions on firearm sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds two new federal district judgeships for Colorado and one for Idaho, increasing judicial capacity in those districts. It directs the President to appoint these judges with Senate confirmation, directly affecting the federal court systems in Colorado and Idaho. The bill also updates technical references in U.S. law to reflect the new judge count (Colorado: 9 total, Idaho: 3 total) and corrects a location reference in Colorado's court structure. These changes are administrative adjustments to court staffing and legal references, not new policy.

Maddy summaryThe PAST Act of 2025 amends the Horse Protection Act to ban harmful practices known as "soring," which deliberately cause pain to horses to exaggerate their gait for shows. It specifically prohibits devices like action devices (e.g., boots causing friction) and weighted shoes on Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses at events. The bill increases penalties, including escalating disqualifications for repeat offenses (180 days → 1 year → 3 years) and raises fines for violations to $5,000 per offense. It also requires stricter licensing for inspectors and mandates public posting of violation records to help event organizers enforce rules.

Maddy summaryHRES 166 is a non-binding House resolution expressing U.S. support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic. It condemns the Iranian regime's terrorism, regional proxy wars, internal suppression of ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights abuses - including executions and repression of women-led protests. The resolution calls for holding the regime accountable through sanctions, supports the Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s democratic transition, and urges protection for Iranian political refugees in Albania. It does not create new laws but affirms U.S. policy alignment with Iranian protesters' demands.

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion (known as the "Black Panthers"), the first predominantly Black armored unit in World War II's European Theater. It recognizes their combat service from 1944-1946, including key roles in the Battle of the Bulge and breaking the Siegfried Line, despite facing racial prejudice during and after the war. The medal will be displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The bill commemorates the battalion's 130,000 enemy casualties inflicted, 50% casualty rate, and their 1978 Presidential Unit Citation. It does not create new laws or affect current policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill freezes the minimum wage rate for H-2A agricultural workers at the level effective in each state on December 31, 2023, through December 31, 2026. It directly affects farms hiring H-2A visa workers and the workers themselves by maintaining current wage requirements. The bill clarifies that wage determination for these workers will use a "primary duties evaluation" to assess their main job tasks, rather than all duties performed. This provides stability in wage calculations for agricultural employers and workers during the specified period.

Maddy summaryHR 1579, the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, would exempt the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. This means federal agencies administering the program - funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - would not have to disclose documents like grant applications or project details to the public through FOIA. The bill amends Section 60102(o)(2) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to add this exemption. It directly affects transparency around federal broadband funding by limiting public access to program-related information.

Maddy summaryHR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.