Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Maddy summaryHR 6565, the Reuniting Families Act, would significantly reform family-based immigration by reclassifying spouses, permanent partners, and minor children of legal permanent residents as "immediate relatives," eliminating current visa backlogs for these family members. The bill creates a new legal definition of "permanent partner" to provide equal treatment for same-sex partners in immigration processes, expanding eligibility for family-based visas. It increases the worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrant visas and adjusts allocation numbers to reduce processing delays, while also providing specific relief for orphans, widows, widowers, and certain Filipino veterans. The bill also expands refugee family reunification provisions and increases diversity visa numbers from 55,000 to 80,000. These changes would directly affect family members seeking to reunite with U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents through family-based immigration pathways.

Maddy summaryHR 6597, the LET’S Protect Workers Act, increases civil penalties for employers violating key labor laws to strengthen worker protections. It raises fines for child labor violations to up to $700,000 per incident causing death or serious injury, and doubles penalties for repeated wage/hour violations (up to $50,000 per violation). The bill also significantly boosts OSHA penalties (e.g., up to $800,000 for serious violations), adds new retaliation penalties for mine safety violations (up to $200,000 for repeat offenses), and clarifies that recordkeeping violations continue until corrected. These changes apply to employers across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and mining, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and Mine Safety Act.

Maddy summaryHR 6576, the SAFE LiDAR Act, prohibits U.S. businesses and critical infrastructure operators (like utilities, transportation systems, and government entities) from using LiDAR technology developed or controlled by countries designated as "foreign adversaries" (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) after specific deadlines. It bans new transactions involving such technology starting three years after enactment and requires existing systems to transition within five years, with limited waivers available for national security or critical infrastructure needs. Key exemptions include research, testing, legacy systems in use before enactment, and products exported outside the U.S. The bill establishes a process for waivers, a national security task force, and annual reporting to Congress on enforcement actions and emerging threats.

Maddy summaryHR 6567 creates a new Federal Food Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee food safety and regulation, replacing the Food and Drug Administration's food-related responsibilities. It transfers all FDA functions related to food (including inspections, labeling, and enforcement under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) to this new agency, headed by a presidentially appointed Commissioner of Foods. The bill establishes risk-based inspection schedules: high-risk facilities (like meat processors) must be inspected annually, intermediate-risk facilities every two years, and low-risk facilities (such as warehouses) every three years, with infant formula facilities inspected every six months. This reorganization directly affects food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers by shifting oversight from the FDA to a dedicated agency focused solely on food safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the placement of a memorial honoring women who supported the U.S. war effort during World War II (including those working as pilots, engineers, and in factories) on federal land in Washington, D.C. It specifies two locations: Area I on the National Mall map or the National Mall Reserve, as defined in existing law. The memorial was previously authorized by Section 702 of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 117-328), and this bill clarifies its permitted locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report within 180 days of enactment detailing China's purchases of Iranian oil and financial transactions supporting Iran's ballistic missile program since 2020, including how China uses shell companies and transshipment points to avoid sanctions. The report must cover assessments of these activities and be sent to Congress and the Treasury Department. Six months after the report is submitted, the Treasury Secretary must determine whether China is engaging in sanctionable activities and report that finding to Congress. The bill directly affects U.S. government agencies (National Intelligence Director, Treasury, and Congress) and targets China's circumvention of sanctions on Iran.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from arresting or detaining immigrants at immigration court facilities during hearings or while arriving/departing for hearings, except with a judicial warrant. It applies to all pending immigration cases, appeals, and motions to reopen, covering anyone whose removal order isn't final. Exceptions allow arrests only to prevent imminent threats to life, safety, or national security. The bill also requires DHS to report scheduled check-in arrests to the Inspector General and mandates annual oversight reports to Congress on compliance.

Maddy summaryThe Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act requires the President to submit detailed justification to Congress before the military provides support to civilian law enforcement, including specific budget, timeline, and funding details, with a 30-day limit on such support unless Congress approves a longer period through a specific joint resolution process. It prohibits Department of Defense personnel (including military members) from holding civilian law enforcement positions concurrently, with limited exceptions for reserve members who must recuse during active duty. The bill also removes the military's authorization to deploy for "civil disturbances" without the new approval process and establishes a private right for individuals or governments to sue the federal government for violations. This directly affects the Department of Defense, military support to local police agencies, and DoD personnel's dual employment policies.

Maddy summaryHR 6497, the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act, establishes specific rules for appointing temporary immigration judges to handle cases while permanent judges are being hired. It limits temporary judges to 6-month terms (renewable up to four times for a maximum of 24 months), requires them to have at least 10 years of immigration law experience (e.g., former judges, DOJ attorneys, or experienced administrative law judges), and mandates 8 weeks of initial training plus weekly training unless they recently served as permanent judges. The bill also requires the Attorney General to oversee caseloads and performance, ensuring temporary judges have the same authority as permanent judges but emphasizing they should not replace permanent positions. This directly affects immigration courts and the temporary judges appointed under these new standards.

Maddy summaryHRES 930 is a symbolic resolution designating December 8, 2025, as "Jimmy Lai Day" to honor Jimmy Lai's advocacy for free press, religious freedom, and democracy in Hong Kong. It calls on the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai and other Hong Kong prodemocracy advocates detained under Hong Kong's National Security Law. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but expresses congressional support for Lai's work and condemns the imprisonment of those advocating for Hong Kong's freedoms. It directly affects U.S. diplomatic messaging toward China, not Hong Kong's legal system or residents.