Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal energy conservation law to require federal agencies to consider mechanical insulation as a standard energy-saving measure during building evaluations. It defines "mechanical insulation property" as materials that reduce energy loss in mechanical systems while meeting ASHRAE 90.1 standards, including insulation placed in service with those systems. The law adds mechanical insulation to the list of measures agencies must evaluate for potential installation in federal buildings as part of their required energy and water assessments. This directly affects federal agencies managing buildings, ensuring they formally assess this specific efficiency measure during routine evaluations.

Maddy summaryHRES 1034 modifies House rules for "questions of privilege" resolutions during the 119th Congress. It requires that any privilege resolution offered by the Majority Leader or Minority Leader must have at least one-fifth of all House members as cosponsors when introduced. Additionally, Members must maintain this one-fifth cosponsorship threshold for at least one legislative day after a resolution's introduction before making an oral announcement about it. This procedural change affects how Members can formally raise conduct issues involving other Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Truth and Healing Commission to investigate the history and impacts of U.S. Indian Boarding School policies on Native American communities, including their cultural, emotional, and physical effects. The Commission will document these policies' history through research, public meetings across all 12 Bureau of Indian Affairs regions and Hawai'i, and consultation with survivors, tribes, and relevant Federal agencies. It will develop recommendations for federal action on memorialization, education, and addressing ongoing impacts, with a final report due six years after enactment. The Commission will include a Survivors Truth and Healing Subcommittee with 15 members representing boarding school survivors, their descendants, and tribal communities. The bill requires trauma-informed care at public meetings and mandates consultation with Native American communities throughout the process.

Maddy summaryThis bill would improve Medicare reimbursement for specific care services needed by people with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It creates a new payment system for eight key services including specialized physician support, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physical therapy, dietary support, respiratory support, registered nurse support, and coordination of medical equipment. The bill sets a base payment of $800 for these services in 2027, with annual increases based on a specific formula. This directly affects ALS patients who would have better access to these services and the medical facilities that provide them.

Maddy summaryThe TASA Act of 2025 amends federal airport funding rules to include U.S. territory airports that were eligible under the 1978 Federal Aviation Act. It changes the criteria for which airports qualify for the government's share of project costs by adding territory airports meeting specific historical eligibility standards. This directly affects airports in U.S. territories (like Puerto Rico and Guam) that were designated as eligible points under the 1978 law. The bill updates existing funding eligibility without creating new programs or altering essential air service compensation rules.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 71 is a symbolic resolution expressing U.S. congressional support for the U.S.-Japan alliance amid heightened tensions with China. It condemns China's "economic, military, and diplomatic coercion" against Japan, including actions like blocking cultural events, imposing travel advisories, and sending coast guard vessels near the Senkaku Islands. The resolution reaffirms U.S. commitment to Article V of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, explicitly stating the Senkaku Islands fall under this defense guarantee. It also commends Japan's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions while opposing China's unilateral attempts to change regional status quos. This resolution directly affects U.S. foreign policy alignment with Japan and serves as a public statement of solidarity with Japan's position.

Maddy summaryHR 7293, the Protecting Children in Surrogacy Act, prohibits individuals required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry (covered sex offenders) from obtaining a child through surrogacy or entering surrogacy contracts as intended parents. The bill makes it a federal crime punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison if the surrogacy arrangement involves interstate or foreign commerce (e.g., travel, payments, or communications across state lines). It also bans federal courts from enforcing surrogacy contracts where the intended parent is a covered sex offender. The law directly affects intended parents who are registered sex offenders and aims to prevent them from gaining legal custody of children via surrogacy arrangements.

Maddy summaryThe Prison Libraries Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to fund library services in state and territorial correctional facilities, directly benefiting incarcerated individuals. It requires grantees (states/territories) to submit plans demonstrating need, including demographic data on prison populations, and prohibits using funds for non-library purposes like food or facility maintenance. Grant funds must support library services such as digital access, educational programming (including job training and post-secondary curriculum), literacy initiatives, and partnerships with public libraries. The program authorizes $10 million annually from 2026-2031, prioritizes measurable outcomes like increased literacy and post-release employment opportunities, and mandates free access to all library resources for incarcerated people.

Maddy summaryHRES 375 is a symbolic resolution designating May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to recognize renewable fuels' role in reducing carbon emissions, lowering consumer fuel prices, supporting rural economies, and decreasing reliance on foreign energy sources. The resolution expresses the House's support for this designation without creating new laws or funding. It highlights renewable fuels' economic contributions (e.g., jobs, GDP impact) and environmental benefits as context for the recognition, but does not alter existing policies. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct legal effect on consumers, industries, or government programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax exclusion allowing eligible law enforcement officers to exclude up to $100,000 of their ordinary income from taxable income each year. To qualify, officers must have worked full-time as law enforcement for at least 5 cumulative years and earn up to $100,000 annually. It covers police, corrections officers, probation/parole officers, sheriffs, deputies, and school resource officers. The exclusion applies to the first $100,000 of ordinary income earned during a taxable year. The provision takes effect after the bill's enactment.