Rep. Bill Huizenga

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions and published on December 30, 2024. The rule revises provisions regarding charges for insufficient funds in a customer’s bank account (i.e., overdrafts) at very large financial institutions. Under the rule, these institutions must (1) cap overdraft charges at $5; (2) with justification, cap charges at a higher amount; or (3) handle overdrafts as credit and comply with applicable Truth in Lending Act disclosure requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 227 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for designating March 18, 2025, as "National Agriculture Day" to honor agriculture's role as a vital U.S. industry. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or impose requirements on any group. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight agriculture's economic impact and contributions to the nation. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy effect beyond raising awareness.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 223) is a ceremonial measure honoring Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan on its 108th anniversary. It commends the base’s historical contributions - such as hosting the Tuskegee Airmen, supporting post-9/11 security, and hosting KC-46A aircraft - and acknowledges its current role in national defense, economic impact (supporting over 4,500 jobs and generating hundreds of millions in local revenue), and community partnerships. The resolution does not create new policy or funding but formally recognizes the base’s significance to military history and regional security. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct effect on legislation or affected parties beyond symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryHR 2162, the Honey Integrity Act, requires U.S. honey packers to test honey for economically motivated adulteration (EMA) - such as substitution or dilution to increase value - using scientifically validated methods like DNA and NMR testing. Qualifying commercial honey packers (those paying fees to the National Honey Board) must conduct testing, certify compliance, and report results to the FDA within 180 days of the law’s enactment. The bill mandates immediate reporting of EMA findings to authorities and prohibits accepting adulterated honey, with the FDA required to investigate and share data with agencies like Customs and Agriculture. This directly affects honey packers in interstate commerce, aiming to improve product integrity through standardized testing and enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, citing ongoing violence against religious minorities. It specifically calls for Nigeria to protect religious minorities, prosecute perpetrators of attacks, and address displacement of millions caused by religiously motivated violence. The resolution also recommends increased U.S. diplomatic engagement with Nigeria and targeted sanctions against those responsible for religious freedom violations. This follows the State Department's omission of Nigeria from its CPC list in 2021-2023 and its 2024 failure to release an annual report.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1990, the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025, amends tax rules for businesses to make research and development (R&D) costs more flexible. It allows companies to deduct R&D expenses immediately as business costs (instead of capitalizing them) or to spread these costs over a minimum 60-month period. The bill clarifies which R&D expenses qualify, excludes land improvements and mineral exploration costs, and ensures companies can claim R&D tax credits without conflict with expense treatment. This directly affects businesses that conduct R&D, changing how they account for these costs on tax returns starting for 2022 taxable years.

Maddy summaryHR 2000, the Arctic Watchers Act, establishes a new State Department program to monitor security, economic, and political activities in the Arctic region. The program assigns "Arctic Watchers" to at least three European diplomatic posts and one North American post to track foreign influence (particularly from China and Russia), protect U.S. interests, and strengthen engagement with Arctic stakeholders. It requires annual reports to Congress detailing assigned staff, responsibilities, and strategies, with $10 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2025 and beyond. The bill directly affects U.S. diplomatic operations in Arctic-focused countries and aims to counter perceived threats to U.S. security and economic interests in the region.

Farm Credit Administration Independent Authority Act This bill specifies that the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) is the sole regulator of the Farm Credit System (FCS) and establishes reporting requirements for FCS institutions (i.e., lenders). Specifically, the bill states that the FCA is the sole and independent regulator of the FCS and exempts entities that are supervised by the FCA from the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). As background, the bill addresses a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that implements provisions of the ECOA by requiring covered financial institutions, including FCS institutions, to collect and report to the CFPB data on credit applications for small businesses, including the principal owner's race, sex, and ethnicity. This 2023 rule has been challenged in court. The bill also requires FCS institutions to (1) request that loan applicants and borrowers that are small farmers disclose information identifying their race, sex, and ethnicity; and (2) annually report the collected information to the FCA. The FCA must make the collected information available to the public on annual basis. If an FCS institution customer does not voluntarily report the requested information, the FCA may not require the institution to use other means to deduce the information. In addition, the bill specifies that FCS institutions shall not be required to comply with the bill's requirements if financial institutions are not required to comply with the CFPB rule due to a court invalidating the rule or a repeal of the rule.