Rep. Christopher H. Smith

Maddy summaryHR 1410 expands access to mental health care for 9/11 responders and survivors by allowing licensed mental health providers (not just physicians) to conduct initial health evaluations and certifications under the World Trade Center Health Program. It adjusts the program’s funding formula to account for changing enrollment numbers by linking annual funding to the previous year’s enrollment ratio, and clarifies that deceased individuals are excluded from enrollment counts. The bill also extends the timeframe for adding new health conditions to the program’s list and requires a 2028 report assessing long-term funding needs through 2090. These changes aim to streamline eligibility, improve care access, and ensure sustainable funding for the program.

Goldie's Act This bill expands enforcement provisions under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to document and record detailed descriptions of violations of the act observed during inspections and investigations. USDA must provide a copy of all records documenting violations to state, local, and municipal animal control or law enforcement officials within 24 hours of such inspections or investigations. Inspections must be held at least once a year of each research facility, the premises of each animal dealer, and each exhibitor of animals. If violations are found during inspections, then USDA must conduct any necessary follow-up inspections until all the violations are corrected. Inspectors must confiscate or destroy in a humane manner animals found to be suffering physical or psychological harm as a result of failure to comply with the AWA. Violators are subject to civil penalties as outlined in the bill.

This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.

More Homes on the Market Act This bill increases the amount of gain from the sale of a principal residence that an individual may exclude from gross income (for federal tax purposes). Under the bill, an individual may exclude from gross income gain from the sale of a principal residence of up to $500,000 (currently $250,000), and taxpayers who are married and file a joint federal income tax return may exclude up to $1 million (currently $500.000). The bill also requires these amounts to be adjusted annually for inflation.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program through 2032, extending funding for watershed restoration projects. It adds Maryland as a fifth Basin state (previously a 4-State program) and requires the program to prioritize projects benefiting small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. The bill also updates definitions and administrative provisions from the original 2016 program under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. This affects restoration efforts across the Delaware River Basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland).

United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 This bill requires or authorizes certain actions to increase defense-related cooperation between the United States and Israel. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a cooperative program, with the concurrence of Israel's Ministry of Defense (MOD), to develop and deploy advanced technologies for countering unmanned systems that threaten the United States and Israel; establish in Israel an office of the Defense Innovation Unit (an organization that focuses on rapidly fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military); and seek to engage Israel's MOD on the ascension of Israel into the national technology and industrial base (currently defined in law as the persons and organizations engaged in research, development, production, integration, services, or information technology activities conducted within the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada). The bill authorizes DOD, upon request of Israel's MOD, to jointly conduct research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics to meet defense challenges. Additionally, the bill extends the authority for DOD to (1) carry out RDT&E on a joint basis with Israel to establish anti-tunnel and counter unmanned aerial systems capabilities through 2028, and (2) transfer defense articles intended for use as reserve stocks for Israel through January 1, 2029.

Maddy summaryHR 1269, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025, expands benefits for public safety officers (like police and firefighters) who develop certain cancers linked to their work. It adds 22 specific cancers - including lung, mesothelioma, and breast cancer - to the list of conditions presumed to be "exposure-related" and sustained in the line of duty. This presumption applies if the officer served at least 5 years, was diagnosed with the cancer within 15 years after last active duty, and the cancer directly caused death or permanent disability. The bill also establishes a process for adding new cancers every 3 years based on medical evidence from agencies like NIOSH, and allows claims to be filed within 3 years of the law's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 1268 updates the legal definition of U.S. customs waters in two key laws (the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Anti-Smuggling Act) to align with current international maritime standards. It replaces the outdated "four leagues from the coast" language with specific references to the U.S. territorial sea (per Presidential Proclamation 5928, 1988) and contiguous zone (per Presidential Proclamation 7219, 1999). This change directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement activities in coastal waters. The bill makes no new policy or tax changes - it only clarifies existing legal boundaries for customs jurisdiction. The update takes effect upon the bill's enactment.

Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act This bill expands the definition of major food allergen to include galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (commonly known as alpha-gal ). Under current law, food labels generally must identify each major food allergen found in labeled food products.  (Certain tick bites cause an allergic condition known as alpha-gal syndrome that can result in an allergy to the alpha-gal molecule, which is found in red meat and other products made from mammals.)

Maddy summaryHR 1138, the Payment Choice Act of 2025, requires most retail businesses to accept cash for in-person purchases up to $500 per transaction and prohibits charging higher prices for cash payments compared to other methods. Businesses may temporarily refuse cash only due to system failures, insufficient change, or if they offer a prepaid card conversion device meeting strict conditions (no fees, no minimum deposit, no expiration). The bill allows businesses a 5-year period to phase in accepting $50 bills or larger, after which the Treasury Secretary must mandate acceptance of $1-$20 bills. Consumers can send a 45-day notice to businesses for violations before pursuing legal action, with potential damages of at least $250 per violation. The law does not override stricter state cash acceptance protections.