Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett

Maddy summaryHR 485, the Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a gold medal in recognition of Muhammad Ali's lifetime contributions to sports, civil rights, and humanitarian causes. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal and present it to Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, following his death in 2016. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure with no policy impact, solely honoring Ali's legacy through a symbolic medal.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates special tax rules for certain Taiwanese residents with income from U.S. sources, primarily addressing double taxation concerns. It reduces withholding tax rates on interest, dividends, and royalties from 30% to 10% (or 15% for certain dividends) for qualified Taiwanese residents, and eliminates tax on certain wages paid to Taiwanese workers in the U.S. It also sets a $30,000 annual limit on tax-free income from entertainment or athletic activities. To qualify, individuals must meet specific residency and ownership criteria, and the bill requires reciprocal tax benefits from Taiwan before taking effect. This legislation is designed to facilitate economic activity between the U.S. and Taiwan without requiring a formal tax treaty.

Maddy summaryThe Prevent Tariff Abuse Act amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to prohibit the President from using emergency powers to impose tariffs or import quotas on goods entering the U.S. It adds a specific provision stating the President cannot impose duties, tariffs, or quotas under this law. This directly limits the executive branch's authority during emergencies, preventing the use of emergency powers for trade restrictions. The bill does not affect other trade policies or the President's other emergency authorities.

Maddy summaryHR 153 requires federal agencies providing disaster assistance (like FEMA, SBA, and HUD) to publish detailed, quarterly spending data online. Covered agencies must report the total funds disbursed, amounts spent on specific projects, and full project details - including location, status, and funding IDs - on a new government transparency subpage. This makes disaster spending data publicly accessible and machine-readable, improving accountability for how federal funds are used after events like hurricanes or wildfires. The law applies to all major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act and other specified natural disasters.

Maddy summaryHR 380, the Affordable Shipping for All Act, prevents shipping companies (including the USPS) from charging higher fees to ship products to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S. territories than to locations within the contiguous 48 states and DC. It requires shipping services to include all noncontiguous areas in their standard shipping policies and prohibits excluding these areas. The bill exempts high-value items over $10,000 from these requirements. This directly affects consumers and businesses in noncontiguous areas by ensuring they pay the same shipping rates as mainland customers for standard products.

Maddy summaryHR 307, the ARC Act of 2025, aims to reduce avoidable amputations by expanding access to peripheral artery disease (PAD) screening and prevention. It requires Medicare and Medicaid to cover PAD screening tests (like ankle-brachial index tests) without cost-sharing for at-risk beneficiaries, including seniors, diabetics, and those with other vascular risk factors. The bill also establishes a federal education program to raise awareness about PAD and creates quality measures to incentivize hospitals to prioritize non-amputation treatments through early detection. These provisions directly affect millions of Americans, particularly minorities disproportionately impacted by PAD-related amputations, by making preventive care more accessible and integrated into routine care.

Maddy summaryHR 152, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act, requires FEMA to study and streamline how disaster assistance applicants and agencies collect and share information. It directs FEMA to develop plans within two years to simplify paperwork for applicants, reduce duplication in damage assessments, and explore technologies like drones for faster assessments. The bill mandates a public report detailing these plans and findings, including recommendations for agencies like the Small Business Administration and HUD. It directly affects disaster applicants and federal agencies managing relief, aiming to make the process less burdensome and more efficient without creating new funding or benefits. The focus is strictly on procedural improvements to information handling.

Maddy summaryHRES 35 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 112th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. It honors the sorority's founding on January 13, 1913, at Howard University and its century of service through community programs. The resolution acknowledges the sorority’s global network of over 350,000 members across 1,050 chapters worldwide and its focus on education, economic development, and community support. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies. The House formally recognizes the sorority’s anniversary and applauds its service to communities in the U.S. and internationally.

Maddy summaryHR 368, the Territorial Tax Parity and Fairness Act, amends the Internal Revenue Code to change how income from Virgin Islands corporations is taxed for certain residents. It specifically excludes bona fide Virgin Islands residents from being treated as non-residents for tax purposes when receiving dividends from Virgin Islands corporations, ensuring such dividends are taxed as if sourced within the territory. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, for both individuals and related corporate tax years. The bill directly affects Virgin Islands residents who receive dividends from local corporations, adjusting their tax treatment under existing IRS rules.

Maddy summaryThe Territorial Tax Parity Act of 2025 modifies U.S. tax rules for income earned in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. It requires that income from territories must be tied to a U.S. office or business to qualify for different tax treatment under current rules. Specifically, it adds a requirement that such income must be attributable to a U.S. office (determined under existing tax rules) before it can be taxed differently. This change applies to taxable years starting after December 31, 2024, affecting businesses operating in territories that earn income from U.S. sources.