Rep. Ralph Norman

Maddy summaryHR 991, the Cost Estimates Improvement Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to include debt servicing costs (interest payments on the national debt) in their budget estimates "to the extent practicable." This change directly affects how Congress evaluates the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, as these estimates determine whether bills qualify for budget reconciliation and influence funding decisions. The key mechanism amends the 1974 Congressional Budget Act to mandate this inclusion within existing cost estimation processes. The bill does not alter spending or tax policy but aims to make budget scoring more comprehensive by accounting for ongoing interest costs.

Maddy summaryHR 1029 would end the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by prohibiting all federal funding for its operations starting upon the bill's enactment. It requires the rescission of all unobligated funds held by USAID as of the day before enactment and transfers the agency's remaining assets and liabilities to the Secretary of State. This bill directly affects USAID, eliminating its legal authority and funding under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and other laws. The measure would effectively dissolve USAID as a functioning federal agency.

Fair Access to Banking Act This bill places restrictions on certain banks, credit unions, and payment card networks if they refuse to do business with a person who complies with the law. Restrictions include prohibiting the use of electronic funds transfer systems and lending programs, termination of an institution's depository insurance, and specified civil penalties. Banks and other specified financial institutions are allowed to deny financial services to a person only if the denial is justified by a documented failure of that person to meet quantitative, impartial, risk-based standards established in advance by the institution. This justification may not be based upon reputational risks to the institution. The bill establishes the right for a person to bring a civil action for a violation of this bill.

Maddy summaryHR 908, the "Stop the Censorship Act," would amend Section 230 of the Communications Act to change how online platforms can moderate user content without losing legal immunity. It specifically revises the definition from removing "objectionable" material to only removing "unlawful" material, and adds a new provision stating platforms cannot be shielded for allowing users to restrict access to other content. This bill directly affects online platforms hosting user-generated content, such as social media sites and forums. The key change shifts the standard for immunity from subjective "objectionable" content to legally prohibited "unlawful" content.

Maddy summaryHR 934, the Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act, requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The report must analyze the national security effects of surveillance conducted by China via the high-altitude balloon shot down in U.S. airspace in February 2023, specifically covering impacts on military installations and the technology recovered from the balloon, including its country of origin. This bill directly affects the Department of Defense and Congress by mandating a formal assessment of a specific security incident. It does not create new policies or funding but establishes a procedural requirement for transparency regarding the balloon incident. The report must be unclassified but may include a classified annex.

Maddy summaryHR 925, the "Dismantle DEI Act of 2025," would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal government operations. The bill requires federal agencies to close DEI offices, rescind related executive orders, and prohibit the use of federal funds for DEI training, offices, or initiatives. It defines "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice" as any activity that discriminates based on race, ethnicity, religion, biological sex, or national origin, or requires employees to complete training asserting that certain groups are inherently superior or inferior. The legislation also prohibits requiring employees to sign statements about race, ethnicity, or gender, and establishes private lawsuits for violations with potential damages of $1,000 per violation per day. This bill would directly affect federal agencies, contractors, grantees, and advisory committees receiving federal funding.

Maddy summaryHR 899 would end the U.S. Department of Education by December 31, 2026, terminating its federal agency status. This bill directly affects all federal education programs and operations currently managed by the Department, such as student aid and school funding. The key mechanism is a fixed termination date, requiring the transfer of the Department's responsibilities to other federal agencies without specifying new administrative structures. The bill focuses solely on ending the agency's existence, not altering education policy or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funds from being used to cover gender transition procedures for individuals under 18, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies (at higher-than-normal doses), and surgeries like hysterectomies or mastectomies. It defines "sex" biologically as male or female and exempts certain medical treatments, such as puberty suppression for precocious puberty or care for genetic disorders of sex development. The policy directly affects minors receiving federally funded healthcare (e.g., Medicaid), restricting coverage for most gender-affirming care. Key mechanisms include funding restrictions and specific medical exceptions, though it does not ban private insurance or out-of-pocket payments.

Maddy summaryHR 778, the Safeguarding American Workers’ Benefits Act, modifies Social Security Number (SSN) requirements for claiming the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It requires taxpayers to provide SSNs issued to U.S. citizens or under specific legal provisions (as defined in the bill) before the tax return deadline, replacing previous allowances for certain alternative numbers. This directly affects individuals filing taxes who seek these credits, as they must now use only eligible SSNs to qualify. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill does not alter the credit amounts but tightens verification rules for eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to publicly publish the models, data, and detailed methodology it uses to estimate the costs and effects of legislation. Specifically, it mandates that the CBO make available all fiscal models, data routines, and the underlying assumptions behind its cost estimates, allowing independent verification. This applies to all CBO analyses of proposed bills, including the specific data and computational details needed for others to replicate the results. The requirement applies to all users of CBO reports - lawmakers, researchers, and the public - except for data legally restricted from disclosure, which would still require a public list of variables and descriptive statistics.