Rep. James R. Baird

Maddy summaryThe Air America Act of 2025 authorizes one-time payments of $40,000 to individuals who worked for Air America or its affiliated companies for at least five years during 1950-1976, or to their surviving spouses, children, or dependents. Additional payments of $8,000 per full year beyond five years are allowed. The program is capped at $60 million total funding, with claims required within two years of final regulations. Payments are a single lump sum with no ongoing benefits, and the bill explicitly states it does not create new entitlements beyond this one-time award.

Maddy summaryHR 2222, the "Lowering Egg Prices Act of 2025," modifies federal egg regulations to allow surplus broiler hatching eggs (used to hatch chicks for meat production) to be sold to egg breakers (facilities that process whole eggs into liquid products). The bill directs the FDA and USDA to create new rules within 180 days permitting these eggs to be stored under conditions compatible with hatching while also being sold for processing into liquid egg products. This change aims to increase the supply of eggs available for processing by making it easier to redirect surplus hatching eggs to egg breakers. The bill directly affects broiler hatcheries, egg breakers, and the broader egg processing industry by altering how certain surplus eggs can be handled and sold.

Maddy summaryHR 1116, the REAL Meat Act of 2025, prohibits federal funding for cell-cultured meat (lab-produced meat) by banning government support for its research, production, promotion, or inclusion in USDA programs. It directly affects federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture and research programs by blocking funds for any activity related to cell-cultured meat, except for NASA's space-related use. The bill defines cell-cultured meat as meat grown from animal cells in a lab, ensuring the funding restriction applies specifically to this method. The sole exception allows NASA to fund cell-cultured meat intended for consumption off-planet. This policy change restricts government financial support but does not ban the sale or consumption of cell-cultured meat products.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, citing ongoing violence against religious minorities. It specifically calls for Nigeria to protect religious minorities, prosecute perpetrators of attacks, and address displacement of millions caused by religiously motivated violence. The resolution also recommends increased U.S. diplomatic engagement with Nigeria and targeted sanctions against those responsible for religious freedom violations. This follows the State Department's omission of Nigeria from its CPC list in 2021-2023 and its 2024 failure to release an annual report.

Maddy summaryHR 2052 requires the President to submit annual reports to Congress assessing the Houthis' military capabilities, their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and violations of the UN arms embargo against Yemen. These reports must detail Houthi funding sources (including Iran), weapons systems, economic impacts, and Iran's role in supporting attacks. The bill also authorizes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that support Houthi attacks on shipping or provide military aid, including asset blocking and visa denials. The sanctions apply to those responsible for or complicit in such attacks, with limited waiver options for national security. The bill's reporting and sanction requirements expire five years after enactment.

Farm Credit Administration Independent Authority Act This bill specifies that the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) is the sole regulator of the Farm Credit System (FCS) and establishes reporting requirements for FCS institutions (i.e., lenders). Specifically, the bill states that the FCA is the sole and independent regulator of the FCS and exempts entities that are supervised by the FCA from the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). As background, the bill addresses a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that implements provisions of the ECOA by requiring covered financial institutions, including FCS institutions, to collect and report to the CFPB data on credit applications for small businesses, including the principal owner's race, sex, and ethnicity. This 2023 rule has been challenged in court. The bill also requires FCS institutions to (1) request that loan applicants and borrowers that are small farmers disclose information identifying their race, sex, and ethnicity; and (2) annually report the collected information to the FCA. The FCA must make the collected information available to the public on annual basis. If an FCS institution customer does not voluntarily report the requested information, the FCA may not require the institution to use other means to deduce the information. In addition, the bill specifies that FCS institutions shall not be required to comply with the bill's requirements if financial institutions are not required to comply with the CFPB rule due to a court invalidating the rule or a repeal of the rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clean Air Act to update the definition of fossil fuel, explicitly including "fuel for ocean-going vessels" alongside home heating oil and jet fuel. It directly affects the shipping industry by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue regulations within one year of enactment to implement this updated definition. The key mechanism is changing the statutory definition to ensure ocean vessel fuels are covered under existing fossil fuel regulations, potentially influencing future clean fuel standards for ships. The EPA must also submit a report to Congress on implementation within one year of finalizing these regulations.

Maddy summaryHRES 153 is a ceremonial resolution expressing condolences to the families and loved ones of the 67 victims who died in two aviation incidents: American Eagle Flight 5342 and U.S. Army flight PAT 25, which crashed near Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport on January 29, 2025. It specifically honors the victims - many connected to Wichita, Kansas (known as the "Air Capital of the World") - and extends sympathies to affected communities including Wichita, Kansas, and the National Capital Region. The resolution also commends first responders who aided in the recovery efforts. As a non-binding expression of sympathy with no policy changes, it does not affect laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 575, the Increased TSP Access Act of 2025, amends conservation program rules to expand access to third-party providers (TSPs) like agricultural retailers, engineers, and certified crop advisors. It creates new pathways for state agencies and professional organizations to certify TSPs (within 180 days of enactment), requires the USDA to review certifications within 10 business days, and sets payment rates equivalent to direct government services. The bill directly affects agricultural producers who use conservation programs and TSPs seeking certification, while mandating annual transparency reports on certification numbers, funding, and program effectiveness. Key changes include streamlined certification for existing specialists (e.g., certified crop advisors) and rules preventing double-counting of payments from other federal programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1690, the SCREEN Act, requires U.S. film companies receiving technical support or funding from the State Department to disclose any past submissions of film content to Chinese authorities for screening approval. Companies must list affected films (titles and submission dates) and agree in writing not to alter content in response to Chinese requests. The bill prohibits federal funding for films co-produced with Chinese entities under content conditions or for films where content was changed due to Chinese input. The State Department must submit annual reports to Congress detailing these disclosures and any content alterations related to Chinese requests.