Rep. Harriet M. Hageman

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Administrative Procedure Act to allow federal courts to exclude evidence they deem unreliable during judicial reviews of agency actions. It directly affects government agencies and the plaintiffs or defendants involved in administrative law cases by changing how scientific data is treated in court. The key provision requires courts to strike out any evidence that does not meet their standards for being based on reliable scientific principles or methods. Consequently, this change could influence how courts evaluate scientific arguments in disputes over federal regulations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating the week of May 31 through June 6, 2026, as "Our Roads, Our Safety Week." It directly affects all road users, including drivers of cars, trucks, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians, by highlighting shared responsibilities for road safety. The bill recognizes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's campaign aimed at reducing crashes involving large commercial vehicles through increased public awareness. It encourages government agencies to continue their outreach efforts and urges the public to learn specific safety rules for sharing the road with large trucks and buses.

Maddy summaryThis resolution proposes to officially designate June as "Family Month" to highlight the importance of the traditional nuclear family. It also calls for the House of Representatives to stop recognizing Pride Month, which it argues has replaced the celebration of family values. The bill is sponsored by a group of representatives who believe that strengthening traditional marriage is essential for societal stability and population growth.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act, aims to stop foreign nationals from using U.S. surrogate mothers for commercial surrogacy arrangements. It would make any surrogacy contract void and unenforceable if the intended parents are foreign citizens or permanent residents, with a specific exception for married couples where at least one partner is a U.S. citizen or resident. Additionally, the law prohibits surrogacy brokers from facilitating these agreements and imposes criminal penalties, including fines and up to 10 years in prison, for those who knowingly or recklessly assist in such contracts. Children born through these invalid agreements would have their custody determined by the state where the surrogate lives, focusing on the child's best interests rather than the contract. Finally, the bill prevents foreign parents from using their U.S.-born children to gain immigration benefits or rights under U.S. immigration laws.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Kids from Creeps Act prohibits surrogacy agencies, their employees, and sex offenders from participating in surrogacy agreements, directly affecting fertility clinics, staff, and individuals required to register as sex offenders. The bill mandates severe criminal penalties, including fines and prison sentences of at least 10 to 20 years, for knowingly or recklessly facilitating such agreements, while also stripping convicted agencies of their tax-exempt status and eligibility for federal grants. Any surrogacy agreement formed in violation of these rules is declared legally void and unenforceable, meaning it cannot be used to establish parental rights. In cases where a child is born from an illegal agreement, custody decisions will be made solely based on the best interests of the child under the laws of the state where the surrogate lives, ignoring any prior contracts. Additionally, the Attorney General can pursue civil penalties equal to the compensation received or offered for prohibited conduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new grounds for deporting non-citizens who are members of or associated with criminal gangs. It defines a "criminal gang" as a group of five or more people whose primary purpose is committing serious crimes like drug offenses, violence, trafficking, or weapons violations. The Secretary of Homeland Security can designate groups as criminal gangs after consultation with the Attorney General, and these designations make gang members ineligible for asylum, temporary protected status, parole, and other immigration benefits. The bill also establishes procedures for reviewing and revoking these designations, with limited judicial review options.

Maddy summaryHR 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from automatically sending veterans' personal information to the national background check system (NICS) solely because a court has appointed a fiduciary (like a guardian) to manage their benefits. This directly affects veterans who have a fiduciary appointed due to mental health or cognitive challenges but are not deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires a court order finding the veteran poses a danger before any such information can be shared with the NICS. It changes VA procedures to block unnecessary barriers to firearm ownership for veterans who qualify for fiduciary support without a judicial determination of danger.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to create a new content descriptor for video programming that depicts or discusses gender identity, transgender identity, or non-binary identity. The primary goal is to ensure this descriptor is displayed on children's programming, such as shows rated TV-Y, TV-Y7, or TV-G, so parents can use it with existing parental control tools like the V-chip. The legislation requires the FCC to first check if the voluntary TV Parental Guidelines have already added this descriptor; if they have not, the Commission must establish and enforce the new rating system. A key provision clarifies that the bill does not ban or censor any video content, focusing instead on labeling and parental guidance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would cancel a 2001 federal rule that restricted road building on National Forest System lands and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to construct new roads on those lands. The legislation specifically nullifies the Roadless Area Conservation rule and prohibits the Agriculture Department from creating any similar restrictions in the future. Under the bill, the Forest Service must build permanent and temporary roads to support forest restoration, reduce wildfire risks in at-risk communities and municipal watersheds, replace roads harming forest health, and fulfill the intent of the 1897 Forest Management Act. The changes directly affect federal land management decisions and would impact communities and organizations that rely on forest access and wildfire prevention efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 6802, the CLEAR Act of 2025, blocks the Forest Service from enforcing a specific rule (89 Fed. Reg. 92808, November 25, 2024) related to law enforcement and criminal prohibitions. The bill directly prevents the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service from implementing or administering this regulation. It does not create new policy but halts enforcement of an existing rule, affecting how the Forest Service operates under that specific provision. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on stopping the rule’s application without altering broader law enforcement authority.