Rep. Andy Harris

Maddy summaryHR 1094, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, prevents private restrictions (such as those in homeowners associations) from blocking amateur radio operators from installing and maintaining antennas for emergency communications. The bill directly affects over 770,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the U.S. who face such restrictions on their residential property. Key provisions include overriding unreasonable restrictions, requiring reasonable safety and building code compliance for allowed rules, setting a 45-day approval period for antenna installations (with deemed approval if not acted on), and exempting small antennas (under 1 meter, flagpoles ≤43 feet, or minimal wire antennas) from prior approval. This ensures amateur radio operators can quickly establish emergency communication systems without unnecessary delays or costs during crises.

Maddy summaryHR 992, the PATROL Act, prohibits the federal Attorney General from suing states that build border barriers (like walls or fences) to prevent illegal entry or protect state territory. It specifically blocks civil lawsuits under existing border laws (33 U.S.C. 401/403) against states for such barrier projects. The bill defines key terms like "barrier" (including walls or fences) and "immigration laws" to clarify its scope. This directly affects states constructing border infrastructure and limits federal legal actions against those efforts. The bill does not create new border policies but changes the legal landscape for state-led border security measures.

Fair Access to Banking Act This bill places restrictions on certain banks, credit unions, and payment card networks if they refuse to do business with a person who complies with the law. Restrictions include prohibiting the use of electronic funds transfer systems and lending programs, termination of an institution's depository insurance, and specified civil penalties. Banks and other specified financial institutions are allowed to deny financial services to a person only if the denial is justified by a documented failure of that person to meet quantitative, impartial, risk-based standards established in advance by the institution. This justification may not be based upon reputational risks to the institution. The bill establishes the right for a person to bring a civil action for a violation of this bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Prison Rape Prevention Act of 2025" (HR 1015), actually establishes rules for housing and medical care in federal prisons, not rape prevention. It requires the Bureau of Prisons to house and transport inmates only with others of the same biological sex (defined by reproductive anatomy) and prohibits providing gender-related medical treatments. This includes banning treatments like hormone therapy, surgeries (e.g., hysterectomy, phalloplasty), or puberty blockers for transgender inmates, except for specific medical conditions like disorders of sex development or injuries from prior treatments. The bill directly affects all federal prison inmates and applies only to the Bureau of Prisons.

Maddy summaryHR 691 would rename Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia as "Donald J. Trump International Airport" upon the bill's enactment. It requires all federal references in laws, documents, and maps to use the new name instead of the current designation. This is a purely ceremonial renaming bill with no impact on airport operations, funding, or policy.

Silencers Help Us Save Hearing Act or the SHUSH Act This bill removes silencers from regulation under certain federal statutes governing the sale, transfer, and possession of firearms. Specifically, it removes silencers from the list of firearms subject to regulation (i.e., registration and licensing requirements) under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Additionally, it excludes a muffler or silencer from the list of firearms subject to regulation (e.g., background check requirements) under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA). Finally, the bill does the following: preempts state or local laws that tax or regulate firearm silencers, specifies that a person who lawfully acquires or possesses a silencer under provisions of the GCA meets the registration and licensing requirements of the NFA, eliminates mandatory minimum prison terms for a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense in which a defendant uses or carries a firearm equipped with a silencer or muffler, and permits active and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed silencer.

Maddy summaryHR 895 requires the Attorney General to investigate whether the 2022 discovery of five baby remains in Washington, DC, violated the existing Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, with a report due within six months. It mandates that healthcare workers must immediately report suspected violations of the ban to law enforcement and requires annual reports from the Attorney General detailing enforcement efforts, violations, and prosecutions over the past decade. The bill also directs the GAO to review enforcement actions from 2004-2024 and submit recommendations. This legislation focuses on strengthening enforcement of the existing 2003 ban, directly affecting healthcare providers, law enforcement, and the Department of Justice.

Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 This bill increases certain payment adjustments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for services furnished between April 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 847, the BLOCK Act, replaces 10 specific K-12 education programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act with flexible block grants to states starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico by repealing targeted grants for local schools (Title I), English language learners (Title III), student support (Title IV), rural education, and other programs effective October 1, 2025. The bill shifts funding from federally mandated, program-specific grants to general block grants, giving states more discretion in how they allocate funds. This represents a major structural change to federal K-12 education financing, moving away from categorical funding toward broader state flexibility. The law takes effect with the 2026 budget cycle, using 2025 funding levels as the baseline for block grant amounts.

Maddy summaryHR 899 would end the U.S. Department of Education by December 31, 2026, terminating its federal agency status. This bill directly affects all federal education programs and operations currently managed by the Department, such as student aid and school funding. The key mechanism is a fixed termination date, requiring the transfer of the Department's responsibilities to other federal agencies without specifying new administrative structures. The bill focuses solely on ending the agency's existence, not altering education policy or funding mechanisms.