Rep. Stephanie I. Bice

Maddy summaryHJRES 90 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rule about carbon credit derivatives. It targets the CFTC’s October 2024 guidance allowing voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts to be listed on exchanges. The resolution uses a specific legal process (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code) to formally disapprove this guidance, meaning the rule would be canceled and have no legal effect. This directly affects how carbon credit derivatives could be traded in financial markets, preventing the CFTC’s guidance from taking effect.

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

Maddy summaryThe National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 establishes a coordinated federal strategy for biotechnology across 14 participating departments and agencies, including Agriculture, Defense, and Health and Human Services. It creates a National Biotechnology Coordination Office and an Interagency Committee to oversee activities related to research, regulatory streamlining, workforce development, and international partnerships. The bill authorizes $22 million in fiscal year 2026, increasing to $35 million by 2027, and requires annual reports and a national strategy every five years. Key provisions include developing a centralized website for biotechnology information, standardizing regulatory pathways for biotechnology products, and improving workforce development programs. This legislation aims to reduce duplication, improve coordination across government departments, and enhance U.S. competitiveness in biotechnology.

Maddy summaryHR 2806 prohibits the Secretary of Energy from selling petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to entities under Chinese Communist Party control or if the products could be exported to China. It directly affects U.S. energy sales to Chinese-linked companies and the Department of Energy’s management of the reserve. Key provisions require the Secretary to block such sales and mandate that any sale not result in exports to China. This policy change restricts access to U.S. strategic oil reserves for China-related entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to evaluate existing and ongoing research on menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life health for women in the military and as veterans. It directs them to identify gaps in knowledge about treatments, the impact of military service (including combat roles and exposure to toxins like burn pits), mental health effects, and healthcare provider training needs. Within 180 days of enactment, the departments must submit a report with findings and a strategic plan to address identified gaps and prioritize future research. The bill ensures this work supplements, rather than duplicates, existing efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryHR 2687, the End Kidney Deaths Act, creates a federal tax credit for living kidney donors who give non-directed donations (meaning they don't know the recipient's identity). It provides a $10,000 annual credit for five years ($50,000 total) to donors whose kidney is removed after December 31, 2026, with special rules if the donor dies during this period. The credit applies only to living, non-directed kidney donations and explicitly states it does not count as "valuable consideration" under laws prohibiting organ sales. This bill directly affects living kidney donors who choose to donate anonymously, aiming to incentivize such donations by offsetting related costs through tax relief. The credit expires after December 31, 2036.

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 replaces hardbound versions of the Constitution Annotated and its supplements with digital versions. It requires the Librarian of Congress to publish digital decennial editions after each tenth Supreme Court term (starting 2031) and digital pocket-part supplements after each odd-numbered year Supreme Court term (starting 2025), instead of physical copies. All digital versions must be available on a Library of Congress public website, and the bill repeals all requirements for printing physical copies after the October 2025 Supreme Court term. This affects how Congress and the public access these legal reference documents, shifting from physical books to online resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to fund mental health crisis response training for law enforcement and corrections officers. It provides up to $10 million annually for state, local, and tribal agencies to cover training costs, including travel and lodging, for officers responding to mental health crises. The training must be evidence-based, developed with healthcare professionals and people with lived mental health experience, and cover de-escalation, empathy, community resources, and safety protocols. Agencies applying must demonstrate current training gaps, officer safety records, and how the training will reduce injuries to officers and the public during mental health emergencies. The grants are supplemental to existing funding and require annual reporting on training participation and outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act (HR 2395) redefines federal firearm definitions to exclude antique and collector firearms from being classified as firearms, and removes distinctions between short-barreled rifles and shotguns in federal regulations. It prevents state laws from imposing taxes or registration requirements on short-barreled rifles and shotguns, requiring state rules to align with federal compliance instead. The bill also mandates the federal government to destroy specific records related to these firearms within one year of enactment.