Rep. André Carson

Maddy summaryHR 7543, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, prohibits plastic pellets and pre-production plastic materials from being discharged into waterways through wastewater, spills, or runoff from specific facilities. It directly affects plastic manufacturing, molding, packaging, and transportation facilities regulated under existing environmental rules. Within 60 days of enactment, the EPA must issue a rule banning these discharges and update all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and performance standards in permits. The law requires all permits and standards for these facilities to reflect the new ban, ensuring plastic pellets cannot enter water systems. This is a concrete regulatory change to prevent plastic pollution at its source.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Skies Act of 2026 requires the Transportation Secretary to extend existing flightcrew rest and duty rules - currently applied to passenger flights - to all-cargo air carrier operations within 30 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects flight crews and cargo airlines, ensuring they follow the same rest and duty time limits as those serving passengers. The bill modifies a 2012 FAA rule (77 Fed. Reg. 330) to apply universally, bypassing standard rulemaking procedures (5 U.S.C. § 553) for this specific adjustment. It makes no new policy changes beyond applying current passenger flight rules to cargo operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove longstanding U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba by repealing key laws including the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the LIBERTAD Act of 1996. It would allow U.S. businesses to trade with Cuba without restrictions, enable telecommunications services between the U.S. and Cuba, and eliminate limits on U.S. citizens sending remittances to Cuba. The bill also extends normal trade relations to Cuban goods, meaning Cuban products would enter the U.S. market without special tariffs. This would directly affect U.S. businesses, travelers, and Cuban citizens who receive remittances. The changes would take effect 60 days after enactment, with some provisions applying to goods entering the U.S. market 15 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to certify within 30 days of enactment that sufficient food assistance is being provided to Gaza civilians, ensuring all children receive at least three nutritious meals daily and all other civilians receive at least two. It mandates detailed reporting to Congress on food distribution amounts, beneficiaries, donors, and distribution methods, along with coordination protocols with UN agencies, other donors, and the Government of Israel. The bill also requires immediate notification to Congress if food aid is denied entry, diverted, or misused in Gaza, including specific details about the incident and response. The policy directly affects Palestinian civilians in Gaza by setting concrete nutritional standards for aid delivery, while the U.S. government (through the State Department) is the primary entity responsible for implementation and reporting.

Maddy summaryThe Pensions for All Act requires most private sector employers and self-employed individuals to either provide a retirement plan comparable to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or enroll in FERS. It establishes reduced contribution requirements for smaller employers (with revenue under $100 million) and lower-income self-employed individuals (with income under $125,000), with specific calculation methods based on business size and income. The bill imposes a $10-per-day penalty for failure to provide an adequate retirement plan, with inflation adjustments after 2026, and creates tax credits for eligible retirement contributions through the Internal Revenue Code. The law specifically applies to non-federal workers, as federal employees are already covered by FERS.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 12-member National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council, appointed by the President with Senate approval, will include experts in African American history and culture who are not federal employees, with balanced representation (6 Democrats, 6 Republicans) and attention to diversity. Its duties include evaluating NEH programs related to African American history, preparing annual reports, and making recommendations to improve preservation and celebration efforts. The Council will operate for 10 years, with members serving five-year terms and receiving partial compensation for their service.

Maddy summaryHR 7545 prohibits U.S. security assistance funds from being used to support Israeli military actions that violate international law, specifically targeting the detention of Palestinian minors, destruction of Palestinian property, and unilateral annexation of occupied land. It requires annual certifications from the State Department confirming U.S. funds aren't supporting these activities and mandates detailed reports on Israeli detention practices, property seizures, and settlement compliance. The bill directly affects U.S. security aid to Israel, including Foreign Military Financing and offshore procurement funds for defense articles. Key mechanisms include funding restrictions, annual reporting requirements, and a GAO report analyzing how offshore procurement funds impact Israel’s military budget and settlement activities.

Maddy summaryThe SCAM Act requires online platforms that display paid advertisements (like social media sites) to verify advertiser identities, implement scam detection systems, and remove fraudulent ads within 24 hours of confirmation. It directly affects platforms that accept payment for ads, targeting scams such as fake giveaways, romance scams, and AI impersonations that cost consumers $195 billion in 2024 (per FTC data). Key mechanisms include mandatory identity checks for advertisers, active monitoring systems, and a 72-hour investigation window for reported scams. The law aims to reduce fraud by shifting responsibility to platforms, with enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce two types of commemorative $2.50 coins for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: a circulating coin for everyday use and a numismatic (collector) coin. Both would feature designs based on the 1926 Sesquicentennial coin - showing allegorical liberty holding the Declaration on one side and Independence Hall on the other - with "1776-2026" inscriptions. The bill requires the Mint to issue these coins by July 4, 2026, if technically and economically feasible, but does not mandate their production or affect any specific groups beyond the public who may purchase them.