Rep. Tim Burchett

Maddy summaryThe Millstone Act amends federal criminal laws to increase penalties for specific sexual offenses involving violence, exploitation, or minors. Directly affecting individuals charged with these crimes, the bill mandates that they face the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment alongside fines. Key provisions include expanding the death penalty for acts such as female genital mutilation, civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct, sex trafficking of children, and the production or distribution of child pornography. By removing previous caps on sentencing, the legislation ensures that these serious violations can result in the most severe punishments allowed under federal law.

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 summaryThe Merit Restoration Act prohibits federal research agencies and grant recipients from using specific diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in their work. This law targets requirements that mandate employees or researchers sign statements or complete training asserting that certain races, sexes, or national origins are inherently superior or inferior. If a recipient is found to have violated these rules, the agency must freeze their funding and may require them to repay any money used during the violation. The restrictions apply to grants awarded on or after the bill becomes law, affecting scientific and medical research funded by the federal government.

Maddy summaryThe Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2026 creates a new grant program to help small businesses purchase technical assistance and services from universities and nonprofit research labs. Under this competitive program, the Small Business Administration will award grants ranging from $15,000 to $75,000 to cover between 50% and 75% of the cost for projects aimed at developing new products or services. To receive funding, small businesses must submit an application detailing their project, and selected recipients are required to report on their results and how the project impacted their business after completion. The legislation authorizes $10 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to fund these grants and covers administrative expenses with up to 5% of the total appropriation.

Maddy summaryThe Local Beef Marketing Incentive Act of 2026 establishes a subsidy program for farmers and ranchers who sell beef directly to consumers or local businesses without using large-scale distributors. Under this bill, the Secretary of Agriculture would identify "subsidy years" where direct-to-market beef sales drop by 25 percent or more compared to a five-year average. Eligible producers who use local slaughter facilities within their state or 200 miles during these low-sales years could receive payments based on the difference between historical and current cattle prices, with individual payments capped at $500 per head and total annual payments capped at $100,000. The legislation authorizes funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support these payments and requires the creation of rules to verify eligibility and prevent fraud.

Maddy summaryThe Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.

Maddy summaryThe DROP Act of 2026 modifies federal death penalty procedures to allow executions by either lethal injection or hanging. It requires the United States Marshals Service and the Attorney General to create specific written protocols for these methods within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The legislation also updates relevant federal regulations and defines the roles of qualified medical and correctional officials involved in the process. This change directly affects the Department of Justice and federal inmates sentenced to death by expanding the permissible methods of execution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Government Accountability Office to analyze new federal legislation for potential duplication with existing programs, offices, or initiatives. When the GAO identifies such overlaps, it must report the findings to the Congressional Budget Office Director and the committee that introduced the bill, and publish the information on its website. The bill aims to improve government efficiency by flagging redundant spending before new programs are fully implemented, affecting the GAO, budget officials, and legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Deporting Illegal Poachers Act, would make non-citizens who break hunting or fishing laws subject to deportation. It directly affects foreign nationals who have been convicted of, admitted to, or whose actions constitute violations of state or federal rules regarding licenses, seasons, bag limits, or protected species. Under the new provisions, these individuals would be considered inadmissible to the United States and deportable if found guilty of such offenses, regardless of whether the crime is classified as a misdemeanor or felony. The law applies to violations occurring in any jurisdiction, including Tribal and local areas, without requiring the offense to be labeled as a serious crime under federal standards.