Rep. Keith Self

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Know Your American Customer Act, requires banks and credit unions to verify that all new and existing individual account holders are legally present in the United States. To open an account, individuals must present specific documents proving citizenship or lawful status, such as a passport, driver's license, or permanent resident card, with stricter rules applying to those with temporary visas. The law mandates that institutions freeze or close accounts for individuals who lose their legal status, though it provides a temporary grace period to allow for incoming deposits before restricting withdrawals. Additionally, the bill introduces criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who illegally open or maintain accounts, while explicitly exempting those who have recently lost status or are seeking asylum.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the ASSIMILATION Act, fundamentally restructures the U.S. immigration system by replacing family-based and lottery-based admissions with a merit-based approach that prioritizes economic self-sufficiency and national interest. It directly affects prospective immigrants, current visa holders, and employers by establishing new requirements for entry, employment, and naturalization. Key provisions eliminate the diversity visa lottery, restrict family-sponsored immigration to spouses and minor children, and mandate that all immigrants demonstrate the ability to support themselves without relying on government benefits. The legislation also introduces stricter enforcement measures, such as making visa overstays a criminal offense, expanding E-Verify to all employers, and requiring higher English proficiency and tax compliance for citizenship. Additionally, it tightens asylum rules by adding a transit bar for those passing through other countries and limits parole to specific humanitarian cases rather than broad programs.

Maddy summaryThe FORTIFY Act allows defense equipment and services to move freely between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania without needing special permission from the U.S. President. This change removes previous legal barriers that required U.S. approval whenever one Baltic nation shared military supplies with another. Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Defense to set up a shared digital system so these countries can easily coordinate and share ammunition for training and operations. The legislation aims to strengthen regional security by making it easier for Baltic allies to support each other militarily.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs within the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as the main point of contact between the department and Congress. The office will be led by an Assistant Secretary appointed by the President and will be split into two roles: one focusing on developing legislative positions and another managing the logistics of responding to congressional requests. The bill establishes specific timelines for answering congressional information requests, requiring acknowledgment within two days, a production plan within five days, and full responses within 45 days. It also mandates that at least 65 percent of the office's staff be career civil servants rather than political appointees to ensure operational stability. Additionally, the legislation includes penalties for missing response deadlines, such as restrictions on spending office funds and a mandatory review by the department's Inspector General.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Board of Veterans Appeals to annually report on factors causing delays in resolving veterans' appeals and cases sent back for more review (remands). Specifically, it mandates the Board's Chairman to identify, for both new and legacy appeal systems, the specific causes of untimely case resolutions and remands, including the number and percentage of cases affected by each factor. The report must cover cases pending under the new appeals system (since 2017) and all cases remanded during the year. This transparency measure directly affects veterans with pending appeals by making the reasons for delays and remands publicly documented.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to review and eventually ban contracts with retailers that use payment processing systems from specific countries deemed a national security risk, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Effective January 1, 2027, the Defense Department will be prohibited from entering into agreements for payment equipment or services if those tools rely on technology developed, owned, or controlled by entities in these nations. The law defines covered systems broadly to include hardware, software, and firmware linked to these countries, aiming to prevent potential foreign access to sensitive military financial data. Retailers wishing to continue working with the Department of Defense must replace their payment processing infrastructure with systems that do not involve these restricted technologies.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals or modifies numerous existing laws that require the State Department and other federal agencies to submit specific recurring reports to Congress. By removing or extending the deadlines for these reports, the legislation reduces the frequency of submissions for many foreign policy and security-related topics, such as sanctions compliance, defense trade, and international treaties. The changes primarily affect government agencies responsible for drafting and filing these documents, while also altering the reporting schedules for various legislative acts that have been in place for years. Overall, the bill streamlines congressional oversight by eliminating some mandatory reporting requirements and extending the duration of others.

Maddy summaryThe Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026 updates federal laws to clarify the roles, protections, and appointment requirements for Army, Navy, and Air Force chaplains, including those serving the Space Force. The bill establishes specific duties for chaplains to advise commanders on religious freedom, provide spiritual care, and manage religious accommodations while ensuring their work aligns with their sincerely held religious beliefs. It also creates new protections that prevent military members from forcing chaplains to perform rites or tasks contrary to their faith and prohibits retaliation against chaplains who refuse such orders. Additionally, the legislation defines the qualifications for chaplains and sets grade levels for deputy chief positions within each service branch.

Maddy summaryThe CHARGE Act prohibits the sale, import, or distribution of electric vehicles and related equipment manufactured by foreign entities of concern, specifically targeting Chinese companies. To enforce this, the bill adds new definitions to U.S. law that classify vehicles using specific Chinese-made power control components as noncompliant. The legislation aims to protect the national electrical grid from potential disruptions caused by unregulated remote software updates and coordinated attacks from adversarial manufacturers. By restricting these imports, the bill seeks to prevent vulnerabilities that could lead to power outages or damage to connected devices.

Maddy summaryThe PICTURE Act requires the Bureau of Prisons to maintain a photographic directory for all federal prisoners. This directory must include a clear, unobstructed photo of each prisoner's face. The bill amends existing federal law to establish this requirement for record-keeping purposes.