Rep. Dusty Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the agency that regulates ocean shipping in the United States, through fiscal year 2029 with increased funding from $49.2 million in 2026 to $57 million in 2029. It creates new complaint mechanisms for addressing anticompetitive practices by shipping exchanges and establishes three new advisory committees (for shippers, ports, and carriers) to provide input on ocean shipping policies. The bill also requires the FMC to develop rules for containerized freight price indexes and mandates annual reporting on foreign practices affecting ocean shipping competitiveness. These changes aim to improve oversight of the international ocean freight system while reducing regulatory duplication for industry participants.

Maddy summaryHR 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act, amends the Higher Education Act to clarify the definition of a "professional degree" for federal education purposes. It replaces the previous definition with a new section listing specific degrees that meet the criteria, including Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Law (J.D.), Medicine (M.D.), Dentistry (D.D.S.), Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), and others like Nursing (D.N.P.) and Business Administration (M.B.A.). This definition requires degrees to signify both completion of academic requirements for professional practice (often requiring licensure) and skills beyond a bachelor's level. The bill directly affects students pursuing these designated degrees by formally recognizing them under federal education law, without creating new programs or changing funding.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This act provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

ePermit Act This bill establishes requirements related to digitizing environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) must develop, publish, and iteratively update data standards for the collection and curation of certain data related to environmental reviews. CEQ must also design, test, and build prototype tools for environmental reviews. Additionally, CEQ must publish guidance to assist relevant agencies in implementing such standards as well as certain minimum functional requirements, such as data sharing that enables automated transfer of relevant data among federal agencies. Federal agencies responsible for environmental reviews or authorizations must implement the data standards and such minimum functional requirements. To the maximum extent practicable, CEQ and such agencies must iteratively develop and maintain a unified interagency data system consisting of interconnected federal agency systems and shared services for environmental reviews and authorizations, including a common interactive, digital, cloud-based authorization portal. Within a year, CEQ must oversee a pilot of shared services for environmental reviews and authorizations, including the portal. To the maximum extent practicable, CEQ must develop and implement the unified interagency data system by December 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHR 6093, the Agricultural Cooperative Energy Savings Act of 2025, expands eligibility for certain USDA programs to include agricultural cooperatives with fewer than 2,500 employees. This change directly affects smaller agricultural cooperatives that previously did not qualify under existing rules. The bill amends Section 9007(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to add these cooperatives to the list of eligible participants. The key mechanism is simply broadening the definition of qualifying entities for existing USDA program access. This is a procedural change to eligibility criteria, not a new program.

Maddy summaryHR 5551, the Balanced Agricultural Support and Efficiency Act, updates how the U.S. Department of Agriculture calculates "base acres" for farmers receiving federal crop support payments. It mandates a one-time adjustment for the 2025 crop year based on a 5-year average (2020-2024) of actual planted acreage for each covered crop, including acreage lost to natural disasters like drought or flood. This change ensures payments better reflect recent farming practices rather than historical averages. The bill also removes outdated references to "generic base acres" in related agricultural programs.

Maddy summaryHR 4802, the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025, bans the use of federal funds for certain foreign-made LiDAR technology in transportation projects. It prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from procuring, obtaining, or contracting for LiDAR technology from specified "covered foreign countries," "covered LiDAR companies," or "covered LiDAR technology" starting June 30, 2026. Contractors must certify they will not use banned technology, and the Secretary may grant limited waivers for national security reasons, requiring congressional notification. This directly affects transportation infrastructure projects funded by the Department of Transportation, including grants and contracts.

Maddy summaryHR 5954, the Beef Origin Labeling Accountability Act, requires the U.S. Trade Representative (in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture) to find a World Trade Organization (WTO)-compliant method to reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. The bill mandates regular reports to Congress every 180 days on progress and negotiations with Canada (to resolve WTO dispute DS384) and Mexico (to resolve WTO dispute DS386) regarding previous labeling rules. This directly affects beef producers, importers, and retailers who would need to label beef with its country of origin, and consumers who would see this information on packaging. The key mechanism is establishing a process to meet WTO obligations while restoring the labeling requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures SNAP (food stamp) benefits continue uninterrupted during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It directs the USDA to use existing Treasury funds to pay SNAP benefits if Congress fails to pass a full-year budget for the Department of Agriculture by September 30, 2025. The bill also covers retroactive payments for missed benefits starting September 30, 2025, through the bill's enactment date. Benefits funded this way stop once Congress enacts a full FY2026 budget for the USDA. It directly affects SNAP recipients who rely on these benefits during budget delays.

Maddy summaryThe Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that certain federal employees performing essential work during government funding gaps receive their regular pay. It applies directly to "excepted employees" (such as border security personnel, air traffic controllers, and military members on active duty) who must work when appropriations lapse. The bill appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover their standard pay, benefits, and allowances during these periods, without requiring new annual appropriations. These payments are later charged to the agency’s regular budget when funding is restored, ensuring no additional costs to Congress. The law takes effect retroactively from September 30, 2025.