Rep. Chuck Edwards

Maddy summaryThis bill increases criminal penalties for individuals who re-enter the U.S. after being deported, removed, or excluded. It sets a maximum 5-year prison sentence for most cases, but adds up to 10 years for those with prior drug/crime convictions or multiple prior removals. For serious cases - such as aggravated felonies or two prior reentry convictions - it mandates a 5-20 year prison term. The law directly affects people who return without authorization after formal immigration removal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 808, the "Fairness for the Trades Act," would allow individuals using 529 college savings accounts to cover certain trade-related business expenses as qualified higher education costs. Specifically, it expands the definition of "qualified expenses" to include tools and equipment (like hand tools or specialized machinery) used in designated skilled trades, such as construction, plumbing, electrical work, and maintenance, as listed by specific industry codes. This change directly affects people saving for trade careers through 529 plans, enabling them to use account funds for equipment purchases instead of just tuition or books. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new funding but modifies existing 529 account rules to support trade training costs.

Maddy summaryHR 645, the National Constitutional Carry Act, would prevent all U.S. states and localities from requiring permits or imposing penalties for carrying firearms in public. It directly affects eligible U.S. citizens (including non-residents) who legally possess firearms under state and federal law, removing current permit requirements for public carry. The bill’s key provision amends federal law to invalidate any state or local law that criminalizes or discourages public firearm carry, except where private property owners clearly prohibit firearms or security screening occurs. This would override existing state permit laws, making permitless carry legal across all states and territories for qualified individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 703, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes a key tax deduction permanent for small business owners. It removes the temporary sunset provision (subsection (i)) from Section 199A of the tax code, ensuring the qualified business income deduction remains available for eligible small businesses. This change directly affects pass-through business owners (like S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) who currently qualify for this deduction. The permanent change takes effect for tax years starting after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJRES 28 proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently fix the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court at nine. This would require ratification by 38 state legislatures (three-fourths of states) within seven years to become part of the Constitution. The amendment directly affects the structure of the Supreme Court, which has had nine justices since 1869 but could otherwise be altered by future congressional action. It does not change current court operations or create new laws, but instead seeks to make the nine-justice composition a permanent constitutional requirement.

Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025 This bill provides a private right of action against state and local jurisdictions with certain policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and contains additional provisions related to such jurisdictions. Currently, such cooperation is generally not required. An individual (or certain relatives of such an individual) who is the victim of any felony for which an alien has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced to a prison term of at least one year may sue a state or local jurisdiction if the jurisdiction failed to comply with (1) certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests related to arresting and detaining aliens, and (2) a DHS request to detain the alien in question or provide a notification about the release of the alien. A jurisdiction that accepts certain federal grants may not assert immunity in such a civil action. A jurisdiction (or employee of a jurisdiction) that complies with certain DHS detainer requests shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of DHS. A complying jurisdiction or employee of the jurisdiction shall not be liable in any lawsuit relating to compliance with such requests. In a lawsuit against an employee of the jurisdiction, the United States shall be substituted in as the defendant, and remedies shall be limited to provisions for bringing tort claims against the federal government.

Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025 This bill limits birthright citizenship by redefining what it means to be subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Currently, a person born in the United States and subject to U.S. jurisdiction is entitled to citizenship. Under the bill, a person is subject to U.S. jurisdiction if he or she is born to a parent who is (1) a U.S. citizen or national, (2) a lawful permanent resident residing in the United States, or (3) a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) with a lawful immigration status who is performing active service in the Armed Forces. The bill does not affect the citizenship or nationality status of any person born before the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 578, "Sarah’s Law," requires mandatory detention for certain non-citizens (aliens) charged with crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. It directly affects non-citizens facing such charges and their victims' families. Key provisions mandate that the Department of Homeland Security detain these individuals immediately and notify victims or their closest living relatives (like parents or spouses) about the alien’s identity, immigration status, custody details, and removal efforts. The bill adds specific categories of non-citizens to the mandatory detention list, including those whose visas were revoked or who are deportable for prior immigration violations. This creates a formal process for victim notification while expanding detention requirements under immigration law.

Maddy summaryHRES 50 is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with policy changes. It declares that states bordering Mexico have the constitutional right under Article I, Section 10 to defend against "paramilitary, narco-terrorist cartels" and criminal actors at the southern border. The resolution states that states like Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California were "invaded" or faced "imminent danger" from these groups from 2021-2024, and that the federal government failed to protect them. It makes no new laws or allocate funds - only asserts a constitutional interpretation for states to act unilaterally. (Note: This is a procedural resolution; no concrete policy change is enacted.)

Maddy summaryHR 473, the SHOW UP Act of 2025, requires federal executive agencies to return to pre-pandemic telework policies within 30 days of enactment, limiting work-from-home options to those in place on December 31, 2019. Agencies must then conduct a 6-month study analyzing pandemic-era telework impacts - including effects on mission performance, costs from underused office space, and employee productivity tools - and submit a plan to Congress if they seek to expand telework beyond these baseline levels. The plan requires certification from the Office of Personnel Management confirming it will improve mission performance, reduce real estate costs, lower locality pay expenses, and ensure secure remote work capabilities without increasing agency costs. This bill directly affects all federal executive agencies (excluding the Government Accountability Office) and their employees by restricting telework flexibility and imposing strict requirements for any future expansion.