Rep. Brad Finstad

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal employees who telework at least one day weekly (or 20% of their time under alternative schedules) to be paid at the "Rest of U.S." locality pay rate without future adjustments. It excludes employees who telework daily, those with disabilities receiving accommodations, Foreign Service members, law enforcement officers, and military personnel on active duty. Covered employees will no longer receive annual pay adjustments under standard federal pay schedules. The policy takes effect at the start of the first full fiscal year after the bill becomes law. It directly affects federal workers meeting the telework threshold, altering their pay structure based on location.

Maddy summaryHR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, repeals two provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for certain government workers. It eliminates the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which cuts spousal or survivor benefits for people with pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security (like federal or state government roles), and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which lowers retirement benefits for those with similar pensions. The law takes effect for benefits paid after December 2023, requiring the Social Security Administration to adjust benefit calculations to remove these reductions. This change directly affects public-sector employees who previously had their Social Security benefits reduced due to their government pensions.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames a United States Postal Service facility at 114 Center Street East in Roseau, Minnesota, as the "Floyd B. Olson Post Office." It directly affects the physical post office location and all official references to it in government documents. The key provision updates all federal records, maps, and communications to use the new name, ensuring consistency in official correspondence and signage. This is a ceremonial designation with no changes to postal services, funding, or policy.

Maddy summary# Summary of Proposed Legislation This comprehensive legislative proposal contains multiple sections addressing election integrity, campaign finance reform, cybersecurity, census operations, and related government functions. Key provisions include: 1. **Campaign Finance Reforms**: - Increased thresholds for political committee reporting requirements - Repeal of requirements for political committees to report donor identification - Exemption of uncompensated internet communications from contribution/expenditure treatment - Protection of donor privacy for tax-exempt organizations through the "Speech Privacy Act of 2023" 2. **Election Security**: - Establishment of a process for testing and monitoring cybersecurity vulnerabilities in election equipment - Requirements for the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify state officials about election cybersecurity incidents - Exclusive authority for the Election Assistance Commission regarding guidelines for voting system certification 3. **Census and Redistricting**: - Establishment of a permanent Census Monitoring Board with bipartisan composition to review census operations - Clarification of state authority over congressional redistricting maps - Provisions regarding the Speaker of the House's authority to join civil actions related to apportionment 4. **Other Key Provisions**: - Termination of the Disinformation Governance Board and prohibition on funding similar entities - Amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to increase reporting thresholds and exempt certain communications - Various technical corrections to existing campaign finance law The legislation appears to focus on enhancing election security, reducing regulatory burdens on political organizations, protecting donor privacy, and strengthening oversight of census operations while maintaining constitutional boundaries between federal and state authority.

Maddy summaryHR 24, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2025, mandates a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve banks by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) within 12 months of enactment. The bill requires the GAO to submit a detailed report to Congress within 90 days of completing the audit, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative or administrative action. This audit replaces current limitations on reviewing Federal Reserve operations, particularly regarding entities like special purpose vehicles not previously subject to standard audits. The bill directly affects the Federal Reserve System by increasing congressional oversight of its financial activities and reporting mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHR 137, the TCJA Permanency Act, makes permanent many tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It permanently increases the standard deduction for individual taxpayers, modifies income tax brackets, and makes permanent the child tax credit increase. The bill also permanently limits deductions for state and local taxes, mortgage interest, and miscellaneous itemized deductions. These changes affect most individual taxpayers who file federal income tax returns.

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 requires Congress to approve major federal regulations before they take effect. It would mandate that agencies submit detailed reports including cost-benefit analyses, economic impact assessments, and other information to Congress before implementing significant regulations. Major rules - defined as those with at least $100 million annual economic impact or significant effects on costs, competition, or employment - would need a joint resolution of approval from Congress within 70 session days. Nonmajor rules would follow a less stringent disapproval process. The bill aims to increase legislative oversight of the regulatory process, requiring Congress to formally review and approve rules that significantly impact the economy or public regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 196, the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, rescinds unobligated funds previously allocated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Specifically, it directs the cancellation of unused balances from six specific funding categories within the IRS's budget as of the bill's enactment date. This action reduces the IRS's available funding without creating new tax policies or altering taxpayer obligations. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on redirecting existing, unspent government funds rather than changing tax laws or affecting individual taxpayers directly.

Maddy summaryThe Education and Workforce Freedom Act would expand the use of 529 college savings accounts to cover more education and training costs. It allows these accounts to pay for K-12 tuition at public, private, or religious schools, homeschooling, and related expenses like curriculum materials, tutoring, and educational therapies. The bill also adds coverage for recognized job training programs and professional certifications, including test fees and course costs for credentials listed by states or the Department of Veterans Affairs. These changes would directly affect families using 529 accounts for K-12 education and individuals pursuing career-focused training through approved programs.