Rep. David Schweikert

Maddy summaryHR 3946, the FIGHT Act of 2025, amends the Animal Welfare Act to specifically prohibit gambling on animal fighting events and restrict the interstate transport of roosters used in such ventures. It defines "rooster" as male chickens over six months old and makes it unlawful to sponsor, exhibit, attend (for those under 16), or gamble on animal fighting events - whether in-person or broadcast. The bill creates a civil enforcement mechanism allowing any person to file a lawsuit to stop violations after providing 60 days' notice to authorities, with potential fines up to $5,000 per violation. It also establishes seizure of property used to facilitate violations and clarifies that state laws on animal fighting remain in effect unless directly conflicting with federal provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act establishes a two-year pilot program (starting January 1, 2026) to test predictive risk-scoring algorithms that identify potentially fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment and clinical lab tests under Medicare. It applies only to Medicare beneficiaries who voluntarily opt in to electronic Medicare Summary Notices and participate in the pilot. The program would score transactions (1-99 risk level) using factors like billing patterns or provider ownership changes, triggering human reviews for high-risk cases before suspending payments. Beneficiaries would receive notifications and opportunities to correct errors, with safeguards requiring algorithm testing per federal guidelines and prohibiting automatic suspensions without human oversight.

Maddy summaryThe STOP CSAM Act of 2025 would strengthen protections for child victims and witnesses in federal court by creating a new definition of "covered person" to include minors under 18 who are victims or witnesses of abuse, exploitation, or kidnapping. The bill requires internet service providers to report apparent child sexual exploitation to the CyberTipline within 60 days, with civil penalties of $50,000-$250,000 per violation and criminal fines up to $1 million for non-compliance. It also creates new civil remedies allowing victims to sue platforms that host or promote child sexual exploitation, with minimum $300,000 in damages. Additionally, large platforms would be required to submit annual reports to the Attorney General and FTC detailing their safety measures and child exploitation on their platforms.

Maddy summaryThe Forgotten Funds Act permanently rescinds unobligated discretionary funds from fiscal years 2021 and prior, directing these amounts to the Treasury's general fund specifically for deficit reduction. This affects federal agencies that held unused budget allocations, requiring them to return the unspent money rather than carry it forward. The bill makes no new program changes but redirects existing, uncommitted funds toward reducing the federal deficit.

Maddy summaryThe SMART Act eliminates the Diversity Visa Program and establishes a points-based immigration system that prioritizes applicants with higher education, English proficiency, and job offers. It sets an annual cap of 50,000 refugee admissions and redefines family-sponsored immigration to focus on spouses and children rather than parents of U.S. citizens. The bill creates a new visa category for parents of adult U.S. citizens (ages 21+), with restrictions on employment and public benefits. The points-based system requires applicants to accumulate 30 points across categories including education, age, English proficiency, and job offers.

Maddy summaryHR 3467 reforms Medicare Advantage (MA) by requiring most plans to use fixed payments per member (capitated payments) starting in 2028, with exceptions for existing plans and special needs plans. It modifies payments by reducing blended benchmarks, changing how health status risk adjustments are calculated (using only face-to-face/telehealth diagnoses), and eliminating quality-based payment increases. The bill mandates automatic enrollment into the lowest-premium MA plan for eligible beneficiaries starting in 2028, with a 3-year enrollment lock-in period unless a hardship event occurs. Additionally, it requires MA plans to include hospice care coverage (with a 2028 transition exception) and adds an exception for durable medical equipment and Part D drugs under the Stark Law.

Maddy summaryHR 3598, the Deescalation Drone Pilot Program Act of 2025, establishes a federal pilot program to test nonlethal drones for law enforcement during active shooter events. The program, managed by the FAA, will review nonlethal devices (like sound emitters or cameras) for drones, develop training and safety protocols, and assess effectiveness in indoor scenarios to increase officer safety. It requires drones to be manufactured in the U.S. and mandates a report to Congress within 3 months of the pilot's conclusion, followed by rulemaking to create a formal approval process for law enforcement use. The bill directly affects Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies responding to active shooter events as defined by the legislation.

Maddy summaryThe Fiscal Commission Act establishes a 16-member commission to address the federal government's fiscal challenges, including reducing debt and deficit while aiming for a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100% by 2039. The commission must educate the public about fiscal issues, identify policy recommendations, and submit a detailed report with legislative language by November 2026 (with possible extension to April 2027). This report requires bipartisan approval, needing at least two Republican and two Democratic members for majority support. If approved, the recommended legislation would become an "implementing bill" considered under expedited procedures in both congressional chambers. The commission's work directly affects federal budget decisions and public awareness of fiscal policy, with hearings required to gather input from experts and government officials.

Maddy summaryHR 3158, the Help Hoover Dam Act, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use recovered non-reimbursable funds (including those in account XXXR5656P1) for Hoover Dam operations, maintenance, cleanup, and capital improvements within the Boulder Canyon Project. It directly affects the dam's management and contractors identified under the 2011 Hoover Power Allocation Act. The bill amends the 1928 Boulder Canyon Project Act to streamline spending of existing recovered funds without creating new policy or public impact. (This is a procedural funding amendment, not a substantive policy change.)

Maddy summaryHR 3112, the Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025, strengthens enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act by requiring dealers and exhibitors to hold valid licenses for animal sales or transport (Section 4). It expands enforcement authority by allowing the Attorney General to sue violators for up to $10,000 per day, seize animals, and seek injunctions (Section 20), while clarifying that courts can address violations of related rules and regulations. The bill directly affects animal dealers, exhibitors, the USDA, and the Department of Justice, creating clearer pathways for holding violators accountable. Key provisions include updating definitions, broadening inspection powers to cover all regulations, and directing penalty funds toward temporary animal care costs during legal proceedings.