Rep. Tim Burchett

Maddy summaryHR 3598, the Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025, establishes a federal pilot program to test nonlethal drones for law enforcement during active shooter events. The program, managed by the FAA, will review nonlethal devices (like sound emitters or cameras) for drones, develop training and safety protocols, and assess effectiveness in indoor scenarios to increase officer safety. It requires drones to be manufactured in the U.S. and mandates a report to Congress within 3 months of the pilot's conclusion, followed by rulemaking to create a formal approval process for law enforcement use. The bill directly affects Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies responding to active shooter events as defined by the legislation.

Maddy summaryHRES 447 is a non-binding House resolution condemning antisemitism and honoring Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two Israeli Embassy employees killed during a peace-focused panel discussion in 2023. The resolution specifically condemns all forms of antisemitism - including violence, vandalism, and online harassment - and remembers the victims, who were killed by a far-left activist affiliated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It calls for enforcing existing hate crime laws and protecting religious freedom, without creating new legislation. This resolution symbolically supports Jewish communities and victims of antisemitic violence but does not alter legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3583 requires funeral honors details presenting a folded U.S. flag to military members or veterans at funerals to recite the 13 specific "Folds of Honor" with their symbolic meanings (e.g., "The 1st fold is a symbol of life"). This applies to flag presentations under federal law for deceased service members or veterans, directly affecting military funeral honors teams. Families may opt out of the recitation if they choose, per the bill's exception clause. The bill adds this requirement to U.S. Code without changing existing funeral procedures.

Maddy summaryHR 3507, the Legislative Accountability Act, requires committee chairs to submit the names of Members of Congress who submitted adopted amendments to bills or resolutions within 3 legislative days after committee reports or passage. These names must appear as footnotes in all versions of the bill (including reported, engrossed, enrolled, or enacted copies), indicating which amendment or provision each Member contributed. The bill applies specifically to amendments adopted by committees (including Appropriations, Ways and Means, and Finance committees) and to bills passed by either chamber. It directly affects Members of Congress who submit amendments that become part of legislation. The requirement is procedural, focusing on transparency in legislative authorship rather than substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 513, the Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025, reverses multiple existing presidential protections that blocked oil and gas leasing on offshore federal lands. It nullifies 8 specific presidential withdrawals (including areas in the Arctic, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific) and restricts future presidential actions by limiting withdrawals to 150,000 acres per action, capping them at 20 years, and requiring Congressional approval for cumulative withdrawals exceeding 500,000 acres. The bill mandates that before any withdrawal, the Secretary must complete four assessments covering mineral resources, economic/energy value, revenue impacts, and national security. It also establishes a fast-track process for Congress to disapprove withdrawals within 20 days, with limited debate (10 hours) on the resolution.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new option for states affected by major disasters: instead of receiving traditional federal disaster aid, states can choose to receive a lump-sum block grant. The grant amount is calculated by assessing the state's total eligible recovery costs (after subtracting the state's required non-Federal share) and validated through consultation with the state. States using this grant must submit detailed reports on fund usage, impacts, and effectiveness, and can use leftover funds for future disaster preparedness. It directly affects states managing disaster recovery under the Stafford Act, offering flexibility in how they allocate federal funds for rebuilding.

Maddy summaryThe American Privacy Restoration Act (HR 3245) would repeal the USA PATRIOT Act and restore federal privacy and surveillance laws to their state on October 25, 2001 - the day before the PATRIOT Act took effect. This means provisions expanded under the PATRIOT Act, such as enhanced surveillance powers for law enforcement, would revert to their pre-2001 legal framework. The bill directly affects federal law enforcement agencies, which would lose expanded surveillance authorities, and individuals whose privacy rights were modified by the PATRIOT Act's provisions. Its key mechanism is the repeal of the PATRIOT Act and the restoration of pre-2001 legal standards for data collection and privacy protections.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Housing Flexibility Act of 2025 creates a new program allowing states to receive block grants instead of individuals applying directly for temporary housing assistance after a major disaster. Under this bill, states that choose to participate would manage housing funds through a block grant from FEMA, replacing the current process where individuals apply for aid under Section 408(c) of the Stafford Act. FEMA must assess housing costs with state input, and the grant amount must cover equivalent assistance to what would have been provided under the existing program. States must report on fund usage and can redirect unused funds to disaster preparedness, directly affecting participating states and residents who would have accessed direct aid under the current system.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new system for recognizing and regulating individuals who help veterans file benefit claims. It requires the VA to provide veterans with information about free assistance options and maintain a public list of accredited representatives. The bill sets a maximum fee limit of $12,500 or 5 times the monthly benefit increase for representatives, and establishes penalties for unaccredited representatives who charge improper fees. The law aims to protect veterans from unscrupulous representatives while ensuring they have access to quality assistance with their benefit claims.

Maddy summaryHJRES 94 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit how many terms U.S. Congress members can serve. It would prevent anyone from being elected to the House of Representatives after three terms (including time filling vacancies lasting over a year) or to the Senate after two terms (including time filling vacancies lasting over three years). The amendment would not affect current members serving in Congress when it is ratified. If approved by enough states, this would change the eligibility rules for future congressional elections.