Rep. Ro Khanna

Maddy summaryHR 5309, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, authorizes a posthumous Congressional gold medal for Constance Baker Motley, a pioneering civil rights attorney and judge. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal with her image and name, to be presented to her son, Joel W. Motley III, and her niece, Constance Royster. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover expenses, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, honoring Motley’s legacy as the first African-American woman appointed to a federal judgeship.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a corporate tax penalty on large companies where CEO pay exceeds 50 times the average worker's pay. Specifically, corporations with a pay ratio above 50:1 face a tax rate increase of 0.5% to 5% (depending on how high the ratio is), effective for taxable years starting after 2025. It applies only to corporations with average annual revenue of at least $100 million over the prior three years, exempting smaller businesses. The penalty is calculated using a 5-year average of compensation data from SEC filings, and the Treasury will issue rules to prevent avoidance tactics like shifting to contractor workforces.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. President to identify Pakistani officials responsible for undermining democracy and human rights within 180 days of enactment, then impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on them. It targets senior government, military, or security officials found to have committed gross human rights violations or interfered with democratic processes, such as during Pakistan’s 2024 elections or through constitutional changes. Sanctions would include asset freezes and travel bans, with exceptions for humanitarian aid, UN obligations, and national security activities. The bill expires on September 30, 2030, and aims to pressure Pakistan to uphold democratic norms, human rights, and judicial independence.

Maddy summaryHR 5205, the Aircraft Noise Reduction Act, gives general aviation airports (smaller, noncommercial airports) new authority to adjust flight paths and training patterns to reduce noise for nearby communities. Airport operators can request these changes from the FAA, which must consult with them and consider community input, without risking loss of federal funding. The bill requires the FAA to update its regulations to support these noise-reduction measures at such airports. It does not create new noise standards but provides a mechanism for airports to implement existing noise limitations through operational adjustments. This directly affects residents near general aviation airports and the airports themselves.

Maddy summaryHR 5187 establishes a Defense Department program to fund private companies expanding domestic manufacturing of defense-critical products made using biological systems (like medicines or materials). It provides competitive grants to upgrade or retool U.S. manufacturing facilities, prioritizing projects that strengthen supply chains, support military needs, and enable geographic diversity. Recipients must report progress annually to Congress on facility upgrades, production timelines, and defense product agreements. The program requires detailed annual reports to Congress on funded projects, funding use, and alignment with national security priorities, and expires after 10 years unless extended by the President.

Maddy summaryHR 5191 requires the Defense Department to create clear guidelines within one year for private companies to prove their biobased products (made using living organisms, like biofuels or biodegradable materials) meet military requirements. This directly affects companies developing such products seeking to sell to the Department of Defense. The bill also mandates a government review to assess whether current DoD processes unintentionally exclude biobased products. If exclusion is found, the review will recommend changes to address it. The core policy change is standardizing how companies demonstrate product compliance, not altering existing military standards.

Maddy summaryHR 5189 requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct biennial assessments of nutrition standards across all military departments, reviewing food options available to service members at installations. The results must be reported to Congress and published online. It also mandates a plan (within 180 days of enactment) to increase access to nutritious food at military installations, specifically targeting non-appropriated fund food venues, based on a 2024 GAO report. This bill directly affects service members by establishing regular accountability for military food nutrition standards without changing current food requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 5188 requires the Secretary of Defense to create blast safety officer positions in all five military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force) by September 30, 2026. These officers will directly monitor and manage blast exposure risks for service members during live-fire and explosive exercises. Key duties include setting safe thresholds, halting exercises if risks exceed limits, briefing troops on blast hazards, overseeing protective equipment and sensors, investigating incidents, maintaining exposure records, and coordinating with range safety teams. The bill mandates specific training and certification for these officers to ensure consistent safety protocols across all military units conducting explosive training.

Maddy summaryHR 5193 directs the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct a feasibility study on incorporating militarily relevant biotechnology applications into existing wargaming exercises. The study must examine biotech enhancements for warfighter performance, battlefield materials, adversaries' biotech uses, and other relevant applications, while consulting with combatant commands and Defense stakeholders. The Joint Chiefs must submit a report within 180 days of enactment, detailing recommended exercise modifications and a plan for updating exercises as biotechnology advances. This bill does not enact new policy but mandates a review to assess how emerging biotech could be integrated into military training simulations.

Maddy summaryHR 5192 amends a reporting requirement for the Navy Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program. It requires the annual report to now include details about digital infrastructure, such as hardware, software, and cloud storage systems, alongside existing physical infrastructure. This change directly affects Navy officials responsible for preparing and submitting the report. The bill modifies the existing reporting structure without creating new funding or policy changes.