Rep. Jefferson Shreve

Maddy summaryHR 3523 requires the Treasury Secretary to designate foreign organizations engaged in fraud against U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents as "Foreign Financial Threat Organizations" (FFTOS). This directly affects foreign entities that deceive U.S. residents into sending money or assets through fraudulent schemes. Key mechanisms include freezing the assets of designated FFTOS, blocking their communication with U.S. residents, and subjecting them to penalties similar to terrorist designations. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing designations, assets seized, and funds returned to victims.

Maddy summaryHR 513, the Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025, reverses multiple existing presidential protections that blocked oil and gas leasing on offshore federal lands. It nullifies 8 specific presidential withdrawals (including areas in the Arctic, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific) and restricts future presidential actions by limiting withdrawals to 150,000 acres per action, capping them at 20 years, and requiring Congressional approval for cumulative withdrawals exceeding 500,000 acres. The bill mandates that before any withdrawal, the Secretary must complete four assessments covering mineral resources, economic/energy value, revenue impacts, and national security. It also establishes a fast-track process for Congress to disapprove withdrawals within 20 days, with limited debate (10 hours) on the resolution.

Maddy summaryThe SECURE American Telecommunications Act establishes new licensing requirements for submarine and terrestrial telecommunications cables connecting the United States to foreign countries. It prohibits issuing licenses for cables connecting to "foreign adversaries" or using equipment on a specific FCC list, and shifts licensing authority from the President to the Federal Communications Commission. The bill requires cable operators to report cybersecurity incidents within 24 hours and follow minimum physical and cybersecurity standards for cables and landing stations. It also creates a study on establishing submarine cable protection zones and increases penalties for damaging submarine cables, with violations potentially resulting in up to 25 years in prison.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores a tax deduction for personal losses caused by disasters, crimes, or scams (like stolen property or damage from hurricanes). It directly affects taxpayers who filed returns before 2025 but couldn’t claim this deduction due to a prior suspension. The bill reinstates the deduction and extends the deadline to file refund claims for these losses until the tax filing deadline for the year the bill becomes law. This allows eligible individuals to claim refunds they were previously barred from receiving.

Maddy summaryThe SERVICE Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to fund local veteran response teams within law enforcement agencies. These teams, composed of veteran officers and community partners, will provide 24/7 crisis response for at-risk veterans, coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and offer mental health training focused on military-related issues like PTSD. The program directly affects veterans in crisis and law enforcement agencies that receive grants to establish these teams. It requires teams to track outcomes and share best practices, with funding tied to existing crime control grants for fiscal years 2026-2030.

Maddy summaryHR 3184, the PFAS Alternatives Act, funds research to develop turnout gear (firefighter safety clothing) without harmful PFAS chemicals, directly affecting firefighters who wear this gear. It authorizes $25 million annually (2025-2029) for grants to eligible organizations to research and test PFAS-free gear, requiring partnerships with firefighting groups to translate findings into practice. The bill also allocates $2 million yearly (2027-2031) for training programs on safe gear use and decontamination. Its goal is to reduce firefighters' exposure to chemicals linked to occupational illnesses during operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 3-year transition period for newly insured banks to meet federal capital requirements, easing compliance for institutions that recently became federally insured. It allows these banks to request temporary deviations from approved business plans, with regulators required to respond within 30 days (or the request is automatically approved). Small rural banks with less than $10 billion in assets located in rural areas receive a lower 8% leverage ratio requirement during this transition. Additionally, the bill expands lending authority for certain banks to include agricultural loans and requires a federal study on increasing new bank formations in underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to employee ownership by modifying the Small Business Act to allow S corporations owned by employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) to retain small business status, even when an ESOP owns over 49% of the company. It creates a new Treasury Department office to provide education and technical assistance for S corporations establishing ESOPs, and establishes a Labor Department Advocate for Employee Ownership to coordinate outreach and resolve disputes. These changes directly affect S corporations transitioning to ESOP ownership and their employees, who gain retirement benefits through ESOP accounts. The bill aims to increase employee ownership by removing eligibility barriers and improving support for businesses adopting this model.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 358) calls on North Korea to release all abducted Japanese citizens, return remains and information about deceased victims, provide restitution, and issue a formal apology for abductions that began in the 1970s. It directly addresses the families of Japanese citizens held by North Korea and seeks to hold North Korea accountable for violating human rights. The resolution, introduced by Representatives Kiggans and Tokuda, is a symbolic House action with no new legal requirements or funding. It emphasizes the U.S. position that such abductions conflict with fundamental freedoms and human rights principles.

Maddy summaryHR 3043 prohibits U.S. federal funding for biomedical research involving vertebrate animals conducted in or by entities located in China (including Hong Kong), Iran, North Korea, or Russia. It directly affects research institutions receiving grants or contracts from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would conduct such animal testing in those four countries. The bill bans HHS from directly conducting this research or funding it through grants, contracts, or other federal support. It also requires HHS to submit detailed reports to Congress within 60 days when adding new countries to the restricted list, as determined with input from State and Defense departments. This is a funding restriction, not a ban on all international research.