Rep. Addison P. McDowell

Maddy summaryHR 4463 amends the 1993 Catawba Indian Tribe settlement law to remove specific requirements for future tribal membership. Currently, the law requires new members to be direct lineal descendants of the original tribal roll and maintain ongoing political ties with the tribe. This bill deletes those restrictions, allowing the Catawba Tribe of South Carolina to establish its own membership criteria without those constraints. The change directly affects the tribe’s authority to define who qualifies for enrollment under the settlement agreement.

Maddy summaryHR 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from automatically sending veterans' personal information to the national background check system (NICS) solely because a court has appointed a fiduciary (like a guardian) to manage their benefits. This directly affects veterans who have a fiduciary appointed due to mental health or cognitive challenges but are not deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires a court order finding the veteran poses a danger before any such information can be shared with the NICS. It changes VA procedures to block unnecessary barriers to firearm ownership for veterans who qualify for fiduciary support without a judicial determination of danger.

Maddy summaryThe Pregnancy Loss Mental Health Research Act of 2026 directs the National Institutes of Health to expand research on mental health issues following pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. This legislation authorizes $4.5 million for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to fund studies on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions, as well as a long-term national study to track their prevalence and duration. Additionally, the bill modifies existing public health grants to allow funding for mental health services specifically for individuals who have experienced pregnancy loss, while prohibiting the use of these funds by entities that perform abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening medical emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act, modifies how the United States evaluates foreign countries' efforts to combat human trafficking. It requires these nations to demonstrate serious and sustained actions, such as banning the purchase of commercial sex acts, educating buyers about exploitation, and reducing international sex tourism. These new criteria will be used in future annual reports to determine whether a country meets the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking. Consequently, the bill directly affects how the U.S. government assesses and categorizes the anti-trafficking progress of other nations.

Maddy summaryThe American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Treasury to create two new accounts: a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for Bitcoin acquired through government forfeiture and a Digital Asset Stockpile for other digital assets. The bill mandates that all Bitcoin held in the reserve be kept for at least 20 years, with strict rules against selling or disposing of these assets during that time. It also establishes a transparency system requiring quarterly public reports and third-party audits to verify the government's holdings and management of these digital assets.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative $5 gold and $1 silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins must feature designs honoring victims and first responders (including the inscription "Never Forget") and will be sold only during 2027-2028. All surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin) collected from sales will fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, with no net cost to the federal government. The coins are legal tender but primarily intended for collectors, not circulation.

Maddy summaryThe Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.

Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act or the GEO Act This bill expands the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for the Department of the Interior to process applications related to geothermal leases. Specifically, Interior must process each application for a geothermal drilling permit or other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease within 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable federal laws and regulations (including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act) unless a U.S. federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the underlying lease.

Maddy summaryHR 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, requires the Attorney General to publish and regularly update a public list of all states and local governments that allow cashless bail (release without requiring money bonds). This list must be available within 30 days of the bill's enactment and updated quarterly. The bill does not change existing bail laws but increases transparency by making it easier for the public to see where cashless bail is used. It directly affects individuals seeking information about bail practices in different jurisdictions. The key mechanism is a mandatory, publicly accessible database maintained by the federal government.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Cable Security Fleet Expansion Act, aims to increase the number of U.S. Coast Guard cutters dedicated to maritime security. It directly affects the Coast Guard by amending federal law to require a minimum fleet of six vessels instead of the previous two. The legislation also raises the funding cap for these ships from $5 million to $7 million and authorizes $56 million annually for the program between 2027 and 2040. These changes are designed to provide more resources for maritime safety and security operations over the next decade.