Rep. Marcy Kaptur

Maddy summaryHR 1505, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, establishes federal standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) in states that do not meet minimum requirements. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will determine after 180 days whether a state law "substantially provides" key rights, such as forming unions, negotiating wages/hours, and using binding arbitration to resolve disputes. If a state fails this assessment, federal bargaining rules apply within two years, but existing state laws with stronger protections remain valid. The bill explicitly respects state laws that exceed its standards and exempts small jurisdictions (under 5,000 population or 25 full-time employees).

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.

Maddy summaryHRES 135 is a symbolic resolution affirming the U.S. commitment to NATO and its Article 5 mutual defense principle. It expresses support for NATO as a security alliance, reiterates the U.S. dedication to defending allies under Article 5, and encourages NATO members to meet the 2% defense spending target. The resolution also highlights NATO's support for Ukraine and promotes collaboration on defense technologies and cybersecurity. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any group, but formally states the House's position on existing alliance commitments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate monthly pension benefits for retirees in six specific Delphi-related pension plans to reflect the full vested amount they would have received without prior benefit limits. It mandates lump-sum payments for past underpayments, including 6% annual interest, to eligible retirees and beneficiaries who received lower benefits than guaranteed under ERISA. The PBGC must fund these payments through a new Delphi Full Vested Plan Benefit Trust Fund established in the Treasury. This directly affects retirees in the Delphi Hourly-Rate, Delphi Retirement Program for Salaried Employees, PHI Non-Bargaining, ASEC Manufacturing, PHI Bargaining, and Delphi Mechatronic Systems pension plans. The law does not alter existing PBGC rules for other plans or change how the agency administers benefits generally.

Maddy summaryHR 1321, the "Ending DOGE Conflicts Act," requires special government employees (like officials overseeing federal contracts) who own, control, or lead companies doing business with the government to file financial disclosure reports with the Office of Government Ethics. These employees must now comply with the same financial disclosure rules as other government officials under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. Until their initial report is certified as compliant by the Office of Government Ethics, these employees are prohibited from performing any official duties related to federal contracting. The bill directly affects high-level government officials with direct financial ties to federal contractors.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment stating that only "natural persons" (living humans) have rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, explicitly denying constitutional rights to corporations, LLCs, and other artificial entities. It would require governments to regulate campaign contributions and spending to prevent money from influencing elections, banning the view that spending to influence elections constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment. The amendment would not affect the constitutional right to a free press. This change would directly impact how corporations and other non-human entities can legally challenge laws or regulations in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts access to Treasury payment systems (including the Bureau of the Fiscal Service) to only Treasury employees with a "fully successful" performance rating and at least one year of civil service, or contractors/outsiders with security clearances, required privacy/cybersecurity training, ethics agreements, and no conflicts of interest. It treats non-government users accessing these systems as government employees for ethics rules and defines specific actions (like stopping payments) as "personal and substantial participation" in government matters. The Treasury Inspector General must investigate any unauthorized access within 30 days and report to Congress, detailing the breach, security risks, and any halted payments. The bill directly affects Treasury staff, contractors, and any external entities accessing federal payment systems.

Maddy summaryThe Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025 creates a coordinated network of sites across the Great Lakes region to conserve, restore, and interpret natural, historical, and cultural resources. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (with EPA collaboration) to provide technical and financial assistance for linking these sites - such as parks, historic ports, and cultural landmarks - with trails, water routes, and educational connections. The bill establishes a grants program offering up to 50% federal funding for conservation projects, requiring non-federal matching funds (including in-kind contributions) and capping administrative costs at 10% of project totals. The program is funded at $6 million annually from 2026 through 2031 for state/local governments, nonprofits, and private groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill funds a long-term health study on the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released chemicals through venting and burning. It directs the Health Secretary to award grants to university consortia with community ties to study residents' health impacts over time. The study must report progress within two years and final results within a year of publication, with Congress receiving both updates. Funding is authorized for fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to support this research.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.