Rep. Mikie Sherrill

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program through 2032, extending funding for watershed restoration projects. It adds Maryland as a fifth Basin state (previously a 4-State program) and requires the program to prioritize projects benefiting small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. The bill also updates definitions and administrative provisions from the original 2016 program under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. This affects restoration efforts across the Delaware River Basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland).

Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2025 This bill increases penalties for, and establishes additional enforcement mechanisms related to, fraudulent and grossly negligent violations of U.S. customs laws. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for a fraudulent violation to three times the domestic value of the merchandise. (Currently, the maximum penalty is the domestic value of the merchandise.) It prohibits a person who commits a fraudulent violation from importing merchandise into the United States for a five-year period. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum civil penalty for a grossly negligent violation to the lesser of (1) 3 times the domestic value of the merchandise; or (2) 10 times the lawful duties, taxes, and fees. (Currently, the maximum penalty is the lesser of the domestic value of the merchandise or four times the lawful duties, taxes, and fees.) It prohibits a person who commits a grossly negligent violation from importing merchandise into the United States for a two-year period. Further, the bill applies these importation bans to an affiliated person (e.g., a family member or employee) of the person who committed the fraudulent or grossly negligent violation. The bill establishes a private right of action for an interested party (e.g., a manufacturer) affected by customs fraud or grossly negligent violations. The bill prohibits any person (or an affiliated person) who commits a fraudulent or grossly negligent violation from participating in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Importer of Record program, and further requires revocation of their importer of record numbers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federally licensed gun dealers to provide new customers with specific information about safe firearm storage at the point of sale. The information must cover storing firearms unloaded and locked away from children, the risks of unsecured guns (including suicide and accidental shootings), and guidance on secure devices like safes and lock boxes. It also mandates that dealers stock a variety of secure storage options, such as gun safes and lock boxes, for purchase. Additionally, the bill creates a tax credit for individuals buying qualified gun safes, up to $500 annually, to encourage secure storage practices. The requirements take effect six months after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHR 1269, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025, expands benefits for public safety officers (like police and firefighters) who develop certain cancers linked to their work. It adds 22 specific cancers - including lung, mesothelioma, and breast cancer - to the list of conditions presumed to be "exposure-related" and sustained in the line of duty. This presumption applies if the officer served at least 5 years, was diagnosed with the cancer within 15 years after last active duty, and the cancer directly caused death or permanent disability. The bill also establishes a process for adding new cancers every 3 years based on medical evidence from agencies like NIOSH, and allows claims to be filed within 3 years of the law's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Play for Women Act would require schools and athletic associations receiving federal funding to collect and publicly disclose detailed data on gender equity in sports, including participation rates, funding, facilities, and coaching. It mandates annual training for staff and athletes about Title IX rights and establishes civil penalties for schools that fail to comply with gender equity requirements. The bill directly affects all public elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions, as well as state athletic associations. Key provisions include requiring detailed reporting on gender disparities in sports participation and funding, and creating enforcement mechanisms to hold schools accountable for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHR 1196 prohibits using federal funds to eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, as defined by law. It requires the Secretary of State to certify annual compliance with this restriction to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees. The bill directly affects USAID's operational status and U.S. foreign aid programs by preventing congressional or executive actions that would dismantle or merge the agency, maintaining its role in U.S. international development efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts access to Treasury payment systems (including the Bureau of the Fiscal Service) to only Treasury employees with a "fully successful" performance rating and at least one year of civil service, or contractors/outsiders with security clearances, required privacy/cybersecurity training, ethics agreements, and no conflicts of interest. It treats non-government users accessing these systems as government employees for ethics rules and defines specific actions (like stopping payments) as "personal and substantial participation" in government matters. The Treasury Inspector General must investigate any unauthorized access within 30 days and report to Congress, detailing the breach, security risks, and any halted payments. The bill directly affects Treasury staff, contractors, and any external entities accessing federal payment systems.

Maddy summaryThis proposed bill (HR 220) would expand VA healthcare benefits to cover infertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation services for veterans with infertility or at risk of infertility (e.g., due to medical treatments), and their partners. It limits VA coverage to three successful IVF cycles or ten attempts, requires consent from veterans, partners, and donors, and allows use of donated eggs or embryos. Partners would receive travel reimbursement as if they were veterans, and temporary rules during implementation will immediately allow partners to access care without marriage requirements. The bill clarifies VA isn’t required to cover maternity care beyond existing rules and defers full implementation until VA issues final regulations within one year of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act requires Medicare to cover falls risk assessments and fall prevention services for seniors aged 65+ who have fallen in the previous year. These services, provided by physical or occupational therapists, will be included in Medicare's annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams starting January 1, 2026. The bill also mandates annual reports to Congress beginning in 2027 on falls among seniors aged 65+ that required treatment for fall-related injuries. This policy directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with a documented history of falls by adding targeted preventive care to their covered benefits.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 120) expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' condemnation of Azerbaijan's treatment of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, a detained academic and economist. It urges Azerbaijan to immediately release Dr. Ibadoghlu, who was arrested in 2023 without evidence, subjected to severe beatings, poor prison conditions, denied medical care and legal access, and later placed under house arrest with a travel ban. The resolution specifically calls for his "immediate and unconditional release" and directs the Secretary of State to prioritize his well-being and release in diplomatic engagements with Azerbaijan. It directly addresses the Azerbaijani government's actions toward Dr. Ibadoghlu and his family, who face ongoing harassment.