Rep. Jimmy Panetta

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) Congress should adopt a fiscal target to reduce the federal budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product or less as soon as possible and no later than the end of FY2030; and (2) after the target is achieved, Congress should continue to pursue further deficit reduction with the goal of achieving a balanced federal budget.

Maddy summaryHR 6587, the Veterans Earned Transportation Act (Vets ETA), clarifies the Department of Veterans Affairs' authority to provide transportation for veterans attending job training programs. It amends existing law to remove outdated language, allowing the VA Secretary to permanently cover transportation costs to and from VA facilities for vocational rehabilitation or counseling services. This directly affects veterans enrolled in VA job training programs who need transportation to access these services. The bill streamlines the legal framework without creating new benefits or changing eligibility, ensuring existing transportation support remains accessible under clear authority.

Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act This act requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to treat the postponement of the federal tax return deadline due to a federally declared disaster or certain other events as an extension of such deadline for purposes of calculating the limit on a tax refund. The act also provides that the IRS’s deadline for sending certain notices includes such postponement. Under current law, a tax refund claim must be filed within three years of the date that the federal tax return is filed. (Some exceptions apply.) The tax refund amount generally is limited to federal taxes paid within the three years preceding the tax refund claim plus any extension of the federal tax return deadline (known as the lookback period). Under the law in effect prior to this act, the postponement of the federal tax return deadline is not an extension for purposes of the lookback period. Thus, under prior law, certain tax payments (e.g., amounts withheld from a paycheck for federal taxes) made before the federal tax return is filed may be outside the lookback period and non-refundable. Under the act, a federal tax return deadline postponed due to a federally declared disaster or certain other events must be treated as an extension of such deadline for purposes of the lookback period. Further, under current law, the IRS is required to mail a notice and demand for tax payment within 60 days of an assessment but not before the tax payment due date.  The act provides that the tax payment due date includes the postponement of the tax payment deadline due to a federally declared disaster or certain other events.

Modernizing Access to our Public Waters Act or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 or the MAPWaters Act of 2025 This act directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data relating to the public's access to federal waterways for recreational use. (Sec. 3) The Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for data collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational access of federal waterways and federal fishing restrictions. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to collection and dissemination of such data. (Sec. 4) Within five years, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. They must also update the data about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information at least twice per year. Data about fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes go into effect. The Forest Service and Interior must also develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the data regarding waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation information. The requirements under this section do not apply to irrigation canals and flowage easements. (Sec. 5) To carry out the act, the Forest Service and Interior may (1) coordinate and partner with nonfederal agencies, private entities, and nonprofit partners; and (2) enter into agreements with third parties. The Forest Service and Interior may work with the U.S. Geological Survey to collect, aggregate, digitize, standardize, and publish data on their behalf. (Sec. 6) The Forest Service and Interior must annually report to specified congressional committees on their progress in meeting the requirements of this act.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a federal crime to steal packages from private or commercial carriers (like FedEx or UPS) before the recipient takes physical possession. It directly affects thieves who target delivery vehicles or curbside packages and carriers who report such thefts. The key provision amends federal law to explicitly include "any package... delivered by any private or commercial interstate carrier" under existing protections against embezzlement or theft. This expands current law, which previously covered packages in transit, to cover packages left for pickup by carriers. The law does not change delivery practices but creates new federal penalties for stealing packages during this specific handoff period.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 969) expresses support for designating the week beginning September 8, 2025, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes colleges and universities with at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment (known as Hispanic-Serving Institutions or HSIs) and their role in serving diverse, low-income students. The resolution does not create new policies or funding but encourages public observance through ceremonies and activities to honor HSIs’ contributions to higher education access and economic mobility. It applies symbolically to all 615+ HSIs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds for any military action against Venezuela from its enactment date through December 31, 2026, unless Congress either declares war or passes new specific authorization meeting War Powers Resolution standards. It directly affects all federal agencies and military operations that would require funding for actions targeting Venezuela. The key mechanism blocks funding for military force unless Congress explicitly authorizes it through one of two specific pathways. A narrow exception allows actions already compliant with existing War Powers Resolution rules. This is a funding restriction, not a ban on military action itself.

Maddy summary# Summary of the "Inspired to Serve Act of 2025" This comprehensive legislation focuses on modernizing and strengthening the federal workforce through several key initiatives: ## Public Service Workforce Development - Establishes a **Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center** to coordinate all federal fellowship and scholarship programs - Creates a **Public Service Corps** program to prepare students for federal careers through scholarships and service commitments - Authorizes **Public Service Academy grants** to support leadership development programs at institutions of higher education - Develops a **Public Service Cadet Program** at military service academies for non-military public service careers ## Recruitment and Hiring Reforms - Creates the **Pathways Program** to provide internship and recent graduate opportunities - Sets **targets for hiring recent college graduates and post-secondary students** (30,000 by 2029, 50,000 by 2034) - Establishes **noncompetitive eligibility** for participants in fellowship, scholarship, and internship programs - Authorizes **demonstration projects** to test new approaches to hiring for critical skills ## Critical Skills and Cybersecurity Initiatives - Creates a **Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve** pilot project to leverage cybersecurity expertise from former federal employees and military personnel - Expands the **Cyber Talent Management System** across federal agencies - Requires the Department of Defense to maintain an **annual list of critical skills** needed for national security - Establishes an **Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills** within military reserve components ## Selective Service Modernization - Modernizes the Selective Service System to ensure readiness for potential mobilization - Requires registration of all U.S. citizens and residents - Includes due process protections for those who fail to register - Establishes a **lead national mobilization official** and **Executive Agent for National Mobilization** ## Other Key Provisions - Requires **compensation for federal interns** (at minimum wage rate) - Creates **portability of health care licensure** for federal health care professionals - Establishes **Federal reskilling programs** to help employees transition to new roles - Requires **evaluation of improvements to the Federal civil service personnel system** This legislation represents a comprehensive approach to addressing workforce challenges in the federal government, with a particular focus on attracting and retaining talent in critical skill areas while modernizing recruitment, training, and personnel management systems.

Maddy summaryHR 4611 (EACH Act of 2025) requires all federally funded health programs - including Medicaid, Medicare, military health plans, and the Indian Health Service - to cover abortion services without restrictions, repealing the Hyde Amendment's long-standing ban on federal funding for most abortions. This directly affects millions of people enrolled in these programs, particularly low-income women, women of color (including 25% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women on Medicaid), and young people. The bill mandates coverage in all federally administered health plans and prohibits state or private insurers from restricting abortion coverage in health insurance. It aims to eliminate current federal and state barriers that deny abortion access to people who rely on government health programs.

Maddy summaryHRES 963 is a non-binding House resolution condemning antisemitism amplified by AI platforms and urging tech companies to implement safeguards. It directly affects AI developers and social media companies by requiring them to adopt transparent safety measures, prevent algorithmic amplification of antisemitic content, and publicly report on antisemitic content prevalence and removal efforts. Key provisions include promoting "safety-by-design" standards, enabling researcher access to study antisemitic content dynamics, and supporting digital literacy programs to counter AI-generated hate. The resolution emphasizes aligning these efforts with constitutional protections while recognizing stakeholders working to combat antisemitism online.