Rep. Angie Craig

Maddy summaryHR 2678, "Ellie’s Law," authorizes $20 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to conduct new research on unruptured brain aneurysms. The funding specifically aims to study diverse patient populations by age, sex, and race, addressing gaps in current research. This bill directly affects the estimated 6.8 million Americans with unruptured brain aneurysms - particularly women and people of color, who face higher rupture risks - by advancing medical understanding of the condition. The law requires the funds to supplement, not replace, existing research budgets.

Maddy summaryThe Tax Fairness for Workers Act (HR 2671) would allow certain employees to deduct work-related expenses directly from their gross income. Specifically, it creates an above-the-line deduction for union dues (amending IRC Section 62(a)(1)) and reinstates a deduction for other out-of-pocket work costs like uniforms or tools (amending IRC Section 67(g)), effective for 2025 tax years. This directly affects union members and workers with significant job-related expenses who previously could not deduct these costs. The bill removes the prior limitation that barred these deductions, making them available without needing to itemize. The policy change simplifies tax filing for affected workers by treating these expenses as deductible business costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2253 (Puppy Protection Act of 2025), sets new federal standards for commercial dog dealers who sell puppies to the public. It requires specific housing sizes based on dog size (e.g., 12-30 square feet per dog), daily exercise in safe outdoor areas, clean water and nutritious food twice daily, and annual veterinary exams including dental checks. The bill also limits breeding frequency (max 2 litters in 25 months), sets age minimums for breeding (18 months for small dogs, 2 years for large dogs), and mandates health screenings to prevent genetic diseases. These requirements apply directly to commercial dealers, with final regulations to be issued within 18 months of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 2117, the "Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act," extends enhanced crop insurance support to beginning farmers and veteran farmers. It increases the definition of "beginning farmer" from 5 to 10 crop years and updates veteran farmer definitions similarly. The bill adds tiered premium reductions: for the first two years of participation, insurance costs are reduced by 15 percentage points each year, decreasing to 10 percentage points for years five through ten. This directly affects new and veteran farmers by lowering their insurance costs during early years of operation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases loan limits for farmers under the Farm Service Agency. It raises farm ownership loan caps from $600,000/$1.75 million to $850,000/$3.5 million (for direct/guaranteed loans) and operating loan caps from $400,000/$1.75 million to $750,000/$3 million, effective 2025. It also creates a refinancing program allowing distressed guaranteed loans to convert to direct loans if borrowers prove problems can be fixed and the farm can return to financial stability. Additionally, it doubles the microloan limit from $50,000 to $100,000 and updates inflation calculations for loan adjustments using USDA land value data instead of previous metrics.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private health insurance plans to cover insulin for people under age 26 without deductibles, capping out-of-pocket costs at $35 per 30-day supply or 25% of the negotiated price (whichever is lower). It mandates coverage of multiple insulin types and formulations (like rapid-acting, long-acting, and premixed) to ensure access to various treatment options. The rule applies to employer-sponsored plans, ACA marketplace plans, and similar coverage starting in 2026. It directly affects young adults (up to age 26) managing diabetes who rely on private insurance for insulin.

Federal Firearm Licensee Act This bill establishes new security requirements and expands recordkeeping and reporting requirements for federally licensed dealers, importers, and manufacturers of firearms (i.e., federal firearms licensees, or FFLs). The bill also broadens the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to administer federal firearms laws and enforce violations. Specifically, bill requires FFLs to implement and comply with a plan to secure their business premises, conduct quarterly physical checks of their business inventories, maintain video surveillance of the area where firearms are sold or transferred, and initiate firearms-related background checks for employees. Additionally, the bill requires FFLs to report to the ATF any inventory firearm that is lost, stolen, or unaccounted for and to notify the ATF about default-proceed transactions (i.e., allowable firearm transfers to an unlicensed person prior to the completion of a background check when the submitted background check remains incomplete after three business days). Finally, the bill removes limits on the ATF's authority to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. It enhances the ATF's inspection authority, including by removing the limit on the number of annual compliance inspections (currently, one), requiring inspections of high-risk FFLs, and authorizing an additional 650 investigators. Finally, the bill directs the ATF to deny an application for a federal firearms license if it would endanger public safety or if the applicant is unlikely to comply with the law.

Maddy summaryHR 2624, the HUMBLE Act, is a multi-provision bill targeting conduct by current and former congressional members. It prohibits former Senators and Representatives from lobbying Congress for one year after leaving office (Section 2), restricts official travel to coach-class airline seating for all congressional staff (Section 3), and bans House Members from owning individual corporate stocks (Section 5). The bill also eliminates benefits like access to House facilities for former Members (Section 4), ends automatic pay raises for Congress (Section 6), and forbids House Members from serving on for-profit boards (Section 7). These changes apply to current Members and take effect in 2026 or 2027, directly affecting congressional staff, former lawmakers, and current representatives.

Maddy summaryThe IDEA Full Funding Act (HR 2598) mandates specific annual federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), directly affecting schools and students with disabilities nationwide. It requires the federal government to appropriate either a fixed dollar amount or a specified percentage (increasing annually from 4.5% to 40%) of a calculated total - based on the number of eligible students and average per-pupil costs - starting in fiscal year 2026 through 2035. The bill sets clear, escalating funding targets, with the higher of two calculated amounts (dollar figure or percentage) becoming available for obligation each fiscal year. This establishes a binding financial commitment to address long-standing underfunding of special education services under IDEA.