Rep. Mark Alford

Maddy summaryHR 915, the Small Business Technological Act of 2025, expands the use of Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans to cover business software, cloud computing services, and AI-powered tools that handle payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. It directly affects small businesses seeking loans for operational technology upgrades, allowing them to use SBA funds for these specific tech services without changing existing loan purposes. The bill amends the Small Business Act to explicitly permit these uses under Section 7(a), clarifying that existing loans for similar purposes before the law's enactment remain valid. It does not expand loan use for research, development, or working capital beyond current definitions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors John Wathan for his induction into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame. It recognizes his 47-year career with the team, which included playing on the 1985 World Series championship squad and managing the franchise from 1987 to 1991. The text also highlights his record as a catcher for most stolen bases in a single season and his long-term contributions as a coach, broadcaster, and mentor.

Maddy summaryThe Online Accessibility Act amends the Americans with Disabilities Act to require private owners of commercial websites and mobile applications to make their digital platforms accessible to individuals with disabilities. Compliance is defined by meeting specific Web Content Accessibility Guidelines standards, with an alternative access option provided for those who cannot meet these technical requirements. The bill establishes a regulatory process where the Access Board sets detailed rules within a year, while the Department of Justice handles complaints and can impose fines of up to $50,000 for repeat violations. Individuals must first attempt to resolve issues directly with the website operator before filing a formal complaint or seeking legal action in court.

Maddy summaryHR 4398, the Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act, requires Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians or nurse practitioners to certify the death of a veteran who dies of natural causes within 48 hours of learning of the death. This directly affects veterans' families, who previously faced delays of up to eight weeks in burial and access to survivor benefits due to slow death certifications. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on VA compliance with the 48-hour rule, including statistics on delays and their causes. The key change is establishing a strict timeline for death certification to prevent unnecessary delays in honoring veterans' final arrangements.

Maddy summaryThe SMOOTH Payments Act modifies federal tax rules to allow health insurance plans that offer a specific payment option to qualify for subsidies, whereas currently only catastrophic plans are excluded. Under this proposal, eligible plans would let enrollees choose between paying zero cost-sharing at the time of service or paying monthly, capped amounts instead. This change directly affects individuals enrolled in qualified health plans by expanding the range of plans that can receive financial assistance starting in 2027. The bill aims to simplify out-of-pocket expenses by enabling a new payment structure similar to existing capitated models.

Maddy summaryThis bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Northern Border Security Review Act to update deadlines and requirements for border security assessments. It requires the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to submit a northern border threat analysis by September 2, 2026, and every two years after, with strategy updates due 90 days after each analysis. The bill also mandates classified briefings to congressional committees 30 days after each threat analysis and directs the development of performance measures for Air and Marine Operations within six months of enactment. These changes directly affect the DHS Secretary, congressional committees, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's operations along the northern border.

Maddy summaryThe JROTC POWER Act requires the Department of Defense to update its guidance on the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program within 270 days of enactment. This update must include a plan to evaluate how the current instructor pay scale affects recruiting and retention, using specific metrics like vacancy rates, time-to-hire, and retention across different geographic areas. Additionally, the act mandates that the Secretary of Defense submit regular reports to Congress detailing these metrics and assessing the pay system's impact over the following years. The legislation directly affects the management of the JROTC program by establishing a data-driven approach to understanding instructor workforce stability.

Maddy summaryThe VA Emergency Transportation Act expands the types of care the Department of Veterans Affairs can reimburse for veterans by formally including emergency transportation alongside emergency treatment. Specifically, the bill allows the VA to pay for ambulance or air ambulance rides provided by non-VA providers that transport a veteran to a facility for emergency care or from a non-VA facility to a VA or other federal facility. This change updates existing laws to ensure that transportation costs are covered when they are part of the necessary emergency services furnished to a veteran.

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.