Rep. Christopher H. Smith

Maddy summaryHRES 73 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Belarus' January 2025 fraudulent presidential election and President Lukashenka’s authoritarian rule. It calls for free and fair elections with international monitoring, demands the immediate release of over 1,200 political prisoners, and supports continued U.S. aid to Belarusian democratic opposition groups. The resolution also condemns Belarus’ support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including hosting Russian weapons and facilitating the abduction of Ukrainian children. As a statement of congressional position, it urges sanctions against regime officials but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, requires medical staff at abortion facilities to provide the same immediate care and hospital admission to any infant born alive during an abortion as they would for any newborn. It mandates reporting failures to provide this care to law enforcement and imposes penalties of up to 5 years in prison for violations, with harsher penalties for intentional killing. The bill also allows women who undergo abortions to sue for civil damages, including triple the abortion cost, and provides for attorney fees. It defines "abortion" to exclude procedures performed after viability to preserve a live birth. This law directly affects healthcare providers at abortion facilities and creates new federal legal obligations for them.

Maddy summaryHR 685, the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2025, prohibits the FDA from approving new abortion drugs or allowing investigational use of existing ones. It restricts existing abortion drugs to in-person administration by certified healthcare providers in clinics or hospitals (not pharmacies), limits use to pregnancies under 70 days gestation, and requires providers to certify they can handle complications like severe bleeding or ectopic pregnancies. The bill mandates reporting of adverse events (such as hospitalizations or infections) to the FDA without patient identifiers and defines "abortion drug" broadly as any drug intended to terminate pregnancy, excluding specific medical exceptions. This directly affects FDA approval processes, healthcare providers prescribing these drugs, and drug manufacturers.

Maddy summaryHR 682, the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2025, prohibits physicians from performing abortions without first checking for a detectable fetal heartbeat according to standard medical practice and informing the patient of the results. It directly affects physicians and clinics performing abortions, requiring them to document heartbeat checks and comply with strict exceptions for life-threatening conditions, rape (with 48-hour documentation of counseling/treatment), or incest involving minors (with proof of prior report to authorities). Violations could result in fines or up to five years in prison, though the bill explicitly states it does not create or recognize a right to abortion. The law adds detailed documentation requirements for exceptions and mandates retention of medical records per federal health privacy rules.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act of 2025 requires federal funding to provide training and containment devices for first responders, specifically to prevent exposure to fentanyl and other dangerous substances during emergencies. This bill directly affects police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who face accidental exposure risks while responding to drug-related incidents. The key provision amends existing federal law to mandate both training resources and the purchase of specialized containment equipment for first responder use. The policy change aims to reduce health risks from secondary exposure without altering drug enforcement or criminal law.

Maddy summaryHR 7 prohibits federal funds from being used for abortions or health insurance plans covering abortion, with exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape, incest, or when a woman's life is endangered. It blocks federal premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act for health plans covering abortion (except in specified cases) and requires clear disclosure of abortion coverage and related surcharges in plan materials. The bill allows individuals or employers to purchase separate abortion coverage using non-federal funds, such as out-of-pocket payments, without affecting federal subsidies. It directly affects federal health programs, ACA marketplace plans, and health insurance issuers offering coverage that includes abortion services.

This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.

Maddy summaryHR 430, the SALT Deductibility Act, repeals the $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes (SALT) for federal income tax filers who itemize deductions. This change directly affects taxpayers in high-tax states who currently face the $10,000 limit on deducting their state income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove the specific deduction limit (Section 164(b)(6)), allowing these taxpayers to deduct their full state and local tax payments. The repeal applies to tax returns filed for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 450, the FORCE Act, prevents the U.S. government from removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. It requires the President to make a specific determination under the 1996 LIBERTAD Act before Cuba can be removed. The bill directly affects Cuba's international designation status and U.S. foreign policy actions toward the country. It does not change existing law but blocks any removal until the specified determination is made. The provision applies to both the President and the Secretary of State.

Maddy summaryHR 436 prohibits U.S. federal funds from being used to support Russia's participation in the Group of Seven (G7) or to reconstitute a Group of Eight (G8) including Russia. The bill blocks any federal spending for actions facilitating Russia's involvement in G7 meetings or the return of Russia to a G8 format. This directly affects U.S. government agencies and programs that manage international funding or diplomatic engagement. The policy change requires the U.S. to stop providing financial support for Russia's role in these international forums, without altering the G7's own rules.