Rep. Elise M. Stefanik

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 adjusts Medicare Advantage (MA) payment calculations to address unexpected increases in hospital wage costs. It directly affects MA plans operating in geographic areas where hospital wage indexes rose more than 20% between years, which could lead to underfunded payments. The key mechanism adds a new adjustment requiring Medicare to increase national growth percentages for these areas based on actual wage index changes, calculated using hospital payment data. Related provisions ensure these adjustments don't alter overall payment benchmarks and require transparency by publishing detailed hospital payment data for each area starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies a "maximum pressure" policy toward Iran, requiring the U.S. to maintain all sanctions until Iran meets specific conditions related to its nuclear program, missile development, support for terrorism, and human rights violations. It expands sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and entities supporting Iran's ballistic missile program, while prohibiting waivers of sanctions on these entities. The bill mandates regular reports to Congress on Iran's nuclear activities, support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and human rights abuses within Iran. It also directs the use of frozen Iranian assets to support victims of state-sponsored terrorism and prevents the release of funds that could benefit Iran's terrorist proxies. The bill aims to maintain economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran until it changes its behavior across multiple fronts.

Maddy summaryHR 2581, the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, requires the U.S. government to designate 29 specific Iranian-backed militant groups as terrorist organizations within 90 days of the bill’s passage. The President must then decide within 60 days whether to impose sanctions on these groups, blocking their U.S. assets and transactions under existing law. The bill also mandates regular reports to Congress on these designations and sanctions, including for any new groups meeting the criteria. This law directly affects the 29 named groups (such as the Badr Organization and Houthis) and any entities controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Maddy summaryHR 2575 terminates specific financial authorizations related to Iran. It ends a 2023 waiver allowing funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar and all related licenses issued by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The bill also prohibits the President from reissuing similar waivers or licenses that would permit the Iranian government or Iranian individuals to access certain financial accounts. This directly affects Iran's ability to access designated funds previously authorized under prior legislation. The law creates a permanent restriction on these financial arrangements without requiring new congressional approval.

Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025   This bill imposes penalties on certain persons (individuals and entities) if the President determines that the Russian government or a person acting at Russia's direction is involved with (1) refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine; (2) violating a negotiated peace agreement; (3) initiating another invasion of Ukraine; or (4) overthrowing, dismantling, or seeking to subvert the Ukrainian government.   If the President makes such a determination, the bill requires certain actions including the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items to the Russian armed forces; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the Department of the Treasury must impose property-blocking sanctions on any financial institution organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia, and any financial institution that engages in transactions with those entities; and the Department of Commerce must prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product.

Maddy summaryHR 2551, the Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025, prohibits the U.S. Department of Defense from renewing, extending, or entering into long-term retail contracts with businesses controlled by "covered nations" (nations designated under existing law as security concerns) on military installations in the U.S. It requires retailers to disclose ownership ties to covered nations to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), which must assess national security risks within 180 days. The bill allows limited waivers only if essential services for troops' welfare are unavailable elsewhere and security risks are mitigated, with strict reporting requirements. Retailers failing to disclose ownership changes or misrepresenting control face immediate contract termination. This directly affects retailers operating on military bases with potential foreign ties.

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 2394, the DETERRENCE Act, amends federal criminal sentencing laws to increase penalties for certain offenses when committed "knowingly at the direction of or in coordination with a foreign government." It applies to existing crimes including kidnapping (up to 10 additional years), murder-for-hire (up to 10 years if injury occurs), stalking (up to 30 months), attacks on federal officials (up to 10 years), and threats against presidential staff (up to 10 years). The bill adds specific sentencing enhancements where foreign government involvement is proven, with higher penalties for offenses causing injury, using weapons, or resulting in death. It directly affects individuals convicted of these crimes under the specified circumstances.

Maddy summaryHRES 251 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of Morocco’s 1777 recognition of the United States, marking the oldest continuous diplomatic relationship in U.S. history. It highlights historical milestones like the 1787 Treaty of Marrakech and Morocco’s gift of the Tangier American Legation, while acknowledging current ties including the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement and security cooperation. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies; it solely expresses congressional recognition of this longstanding partnership. It affirms the relationship’s importance for mutual economic, security, and cultural interests without proposing any concrete action. This is a commemorative measure with no binding effect on government operations or constituents.