Rep. Andy Barr

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the FDIC Board is appointed and governed. It requires two new directors to have specific banking experience (one with oversight of small banks and one with experience at institutions under $10 billion in assets) and limits total board service to 12 years. The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection will serve as a non-voting observer on the board, replacing previous references to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These changes directly affect FDIC Board members and the CFPB Director's role in board proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. sanctions law to target Chinese entities and officials involved in fentanyl trafficking. It redefines "foreign opioid trafficker" to include Chinese chemical companies or government officials (like those in the National Narcotics Control Commission) that fail to prevent fentanyl precursor trafficking or cooperate with U.S. efforts. Key mechanisms include requiring China to implement stricter chemical shipment labeling and "know-your-customer" procedures, extending sanctions periods from 5 to 10 years, and mandating annual presidential reports to Congress on drug trafficking emergencies. The bill explicitly excludes importation of goods from sanctions coverage.

Maddy summaryHJRES 116 is a ceremonial resolution honoring 13 U.S. service members who died in the August 26, 2021, Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul's airport. It designates a National Day of Remembrance for those who perished during the Afghanistan withdrawal, expresses condolences to their families, and commemorates their service. The resolution does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes their sacrifice and the role they played in saving lives during the evacuation. It directly affects the Gold Star families of the named service members and the broader public through this national acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryHR 5031, the *Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act*, requires Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage (MA-PD) to pay long-term care pharmacies an additional supply fee for each specified prescription dispensed to eligible beneficiaries during 2026 ($30) and 2027 (adjusted for inflation). This fee must be paid alongside existing reimbursements for drug costs and dispensing, with a $10,000 penalty for non-payment. The bill also directs the GAO to study long-term care pharmacy payment sustainability under Medicare, analyzing historical payments for brand/generic drugs and dispensing fees. It aims to ensure uninterrupted pharmacy access for Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care settings, particularly in rural areas.

Maddy summaryHR 5014 would make Executive Order 14331 (titled "Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans") legally binding by codifying it into law. This order, published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2025, directs federal agencies to implement fair banking practices. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for banking regulations, requiring them to follow the order's requirements. It converts an existing executive directive into a permanent legal standard without creating new rules or altering existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new pathway for coal ash storage facilities to transition from waste storage to beneficial use. Owners of coal ash units (like landfills or impoundments) can apply to be designated as "beneficial use staging units" if they meet environmental standards, submit a removal plan, and commit to removing at least 25% of stored ash for reuse (e.g., in construction materials) within 5-12 years, depending on facility size. Once designated, facilities cannot accept new ash and must comply with groundwater monitoring, but cannot be forced to close by states for failing to meet removal deadlines. The EPA will track progress through annual reports, and states cannot override these federal provisions. It directly affects coal ash facility operators seeking to repurpose stored ash instead of maintaining long-term storage.

Maddy summaryThe CREATE Act increases tax credit limits for film and television productions, raising the annual spending cap from $15 million to $30 million for qualified productions and adjusting related thresholds from $20 million to $40 million. It adds an annual inflation adjustment mechanism to these limits starting in 2026, automatically increasing them based on the cost-of-living index. The bill extends the program's expiration date from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2030. This directly affects producers of eligible entertainment projects by expanding available tax credits and providing long-term stability for the industry. The changes apply to productions starting in taxable years ending after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 4835, the Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act, amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to prevent discrimination against fossil fuel industries in financial support decisions. It prohibits the President from denying financial support (under sections 301, 302, or 303) for fossil fuel exploration, development, production, or sale, except when the denial is specifically for environmental protection purposes. This directly affects energy companies seeking federal financial assistance under the Defense Production Act and federal agencies administering those programs. The bill’s key provision ensures fossil fuel-related activities cannot be excluded from support solely based on their energy source, with environmental protection being the sole permitted exception.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to change how gambling losses are deducted for tax purposes. It allows taxpayers to deduct gambling losses against all income (not just gambling winnings) in the same tax year, directly affecting individuals who itemize deductions and have losses exceeding their gambling winnings. The key provision removes a prior restriction that limited loss deductions to winnings, making the deduction more broadly applicable. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 4735, the Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2025, clarifies that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) cannot enforce federal consumer financial laws over companies already regulated by state insurance departments for their insurance activities. The bill amends Section 1027(f) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act to explicitly state that the CFPB lacks authority to regulate insurance products or services when a company is subject to state insurance regulation. It also requires the CFPB to broadly interpret its authority in favor of state insurance regulators for such entities. This directly affects insurance companies operating under state oversight, preventing overlapping federal enforcement. The change focuses on defining regulatory boundaries, not altering insurance product rules.