Rep. Sarah McBride

Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a provision of the 2023 federal law governing SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to ensure victims of EBT skimming receive full replacement of stolen benefits. It requires that replaced benefits equal the exact amount stolen from a household, directly affecting SNAP recipients who have been victims of benefit theft. The key change replaces the previous wording to specify the replacement amount must match the stolen value, removing ambiguity. This policy change ensures affected households receive the full benefit amount they lost due to criminal activity, without requiring them to prove additional hardship.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal standards for state laws that automatically remove certain criminal records from public access without requiring individuals to pay fees or take action. It defines "covered expungement laws" as state programs that automatically seal records (with limited exceptions) and mandates states receiving federal grants to annually report expungement data broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender. The law requires states to track how many eligible individuals have their records cleared, are pending, or remain ineligible. It directly affects states that implement automatic expungement systems and the individuals whose records qualify for removal under these laws.

Maddy summaryThe Clean Slate Act of 2025 automatically seals federal criminal records for individuals convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses (under 21 U.S.C. 844) or arrested without conviction, after they complete all sentence requirements. It also creates a petition process for individuals convicted of other nonviolent federal offenses who have completed their sentences, requiring courts to balance public safety concerns against the individual's rehabilitation when deciding whether to seal records. Sealed records cannot be accessed for most background checks, employment, or housing applications, with limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security positions, or firearm-related employment. The bill directly affects individuals with certain nonviolent federal convictions or arrests who have completed their sentences, excluding those with violent offenses, sex offenses, or national security convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to cover children of male Vietnam veterans with birth defects related to Agent Orange exposure, currently only covering spina bifida. It would establish health assessment programs and treatment centers for Vietnamese Americans affected by Agent Orange and their descendants. The bill also requires research into intergenerational health effects and mandates implementation within 18 months of enactment. It would extend recognition to include Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian people affected by Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (HR 15) amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and jury service. It expands existing protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under sex discrimination prohibitions. The bill clarifies that discrimination against LGBTQ people is a form of sex discrimination, consistent with the Supreme Court's Bostock decision, and adds specific definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation. This legislation directly affects businesses, employers, housing providers, financial institutions, and government entities that serve the public. The bill creates a more comprehensive legal framework to address discrimination that LGBTQ people face in multiple aspects of daily life.

Maddy summaryHR 3067, the Arctic Refuge Protection Act, repeals the existing oil and gas program for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and designates approximately 1.56 million acres of the refuge's Coastal Plain as wilderness. This directly affects federal management of the ANWR, halting potential oil drilling in the designated area. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer the newly designated wilderness area under the Wilderness Act, treating it as part of the existing wilderness within ANWR. The change prevents future oil and gas development on this specific portion of the refuge.

Maddy summaryThe RESEARCHER Act (HR 3054) requires federal research agencies to develop policies addressing financial instability for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at federally funded universities. It mandates the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create guidelines within six months covering stipend increases (including location-based indexing), healthcare access, housing, food security, and family care support. The bill also adds new data collection requirements to track stipends and financial challenges by demographics, and directs the National Academies to study these issues with a report due within two years. Federal agencies must implement these guidelines within six months and report progress annually to Congress.

Maddy summaryHR 3045, the West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025, imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for violence, displacement, or property destruction in the West Bank. It targets those directly involved in attacks on civilians, forced displacement, or property seizures, including settler leaders or officials of groups engaged in such activities. Key provisions require freezing assets of sanctioned individuals within U.S. jurisdiction and blocking their entry into the United States via visa restrictions. The law applies to foreign nationals meeting specific criteria outlined in the bill, not U.S. citizens or entities.

Maddy summaryThe Victims of Agent Orange Act of 2025 provides U.S. government assistance to Vietnamese residents affected by Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War (1961-1975), their children, and Vietnamese Americans with exposure-related health issues. It directs USAID to fund medical care, caregiver support, home repairs, and environmental cleanup of contaminated sites in Vietnam, prioritizing military bases and heavily sprayed areas. The Department of Health and Human Services must also conduct health assessments and establish treatment centers for Vietnamese Americans in the U.S. affected by Agent Orange. The bill requires implementation within 18 months of enactment and mandates quarterly progress reports to Congress.