Rep. Thomas H. Kean, Jr.

Maddy summaryHR 1973, the "No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act," would withhold pay from members of Congress during periods when the U.S. government reaches the public debt limit or experiences a shutdown. Specifically, for each 24-hour period the debt limit is reached or a shutdown occurs during the 119th Congress (2025-2027), members' pay would be reduced daily and placed into an escrow account. The withheld funds would be released to members on the last day of the 119th Congress, with no effect after the November 2026 general election. This bill directly affects current House and Senate members serving in the 119th Congress during these fiscal crises.

Maddy summaryThe Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the commercial import, sale, or distribution of kangaroos and kangaroo products (like leather goods) within the United States. It directly affects businesses or individuals engaged in importing or selling items made from the western grey kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo, common wallaroo, or red kangaroo. Violations carry fines up to $10,000, up to one year in prison, or both, with each violation treated as a separate offense. The Secretary of Commerce will develop implementing regulations, effective 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 1902, the HERO Act, creates a national data system to track suicide rates among public safety officers (including firefighters, EMTs, police, and telecommunicators) and requires annual reports to Congress with detailed breakdowns by age, gender, occupation, and employment status (volunteer, career, etc.). The bill funds peer-support mental health programs for fire departments and EMS agencies, establishes confidential wellness services for healthcare providers, and develops resources to train mental health professionals on first responder-specific stressors and PTSD. It prohibits using suicide data to deny life insurance or benefits to survivors and mandates that all collected data be kept confidential and secure. This legislation directly affects all public safety officers nationwide by improving data collection, access to mental health resources, and evidence-based interventions to address suicide and trauma.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the non-consensual sharing of digitally manipulated intimate images (deepfakes) of identifiable people. It creates a civil right for victims to sue individuals who distribute such images without consent, allowing claims for actual damages, $150,000 in liquidated damages, or punitive damages, plus attorney fees. Criminal penalties up to 10 years in prison apply for malicious disclosure intended to harass, harm reputation, or facilitate violence. Exceptions include disclosures to law enforcement for investigations, legitimate public interest matters (excluding mere public figure status), or efforts to assist the victim. The law specifically defines "intimate digital depictions" to include explicit body parts, sexual fluids, or sexual conduct in manipulated images.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for actor James Earl Jones to recognize his career achievements in theater and film. It directs the Treasury Secretary to strike a gold medal bearing his name, which will be presented to his son, Flynn Earl Jones, following Jones' passing. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. As a ceremonial honor with no policy changes, it does not affect legislation or government operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that U.S. Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who remain on duty during a government shutdown receive their salaries. It appropriates funds from the Treasury for fiscal year 2025 to cover their pay during any shutdown period beginning after the bill's enactment. The provision specifically applies to CBP personnel who are not furloughed under standard shutdown protocols. It directly affects federal workers in CBP’s Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations during government funding gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Interior and Agriculture Secretaries from transferring title of certain federal lands to non-government entities. It specifically blocks transfers of lands that are publicly accessible (via roads, trails, or waterways) or adjacent to such lands, unless the land is under 300 acres or meets specific exceptions. Key exceptions include small parcels under 5 acres accessible by water, transfers authorized by historical laws like the Alaska Statehood Act, and land exchanges already permitted by federal law. The bill does not affect existing transfers under these authorized programs or prevent agencies from subdividing land to meet acreage thresholds.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 16 is a concurrent resolution scheduling a joint session of Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 2026. The session will commemorate the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) of the Declaration of Independence, which was approved in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. This ceremonial gathering at Independence National Historical Park follows past congressional meetings held outside Washington, D.C., for historical milestones, such as the 1987 Constitution bicentennial event. The bill does not create new laws or alter policies - it solely directs the timing and location of a commemorative event.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the European Union to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under the EU's Common Position 931 framework, which allows for such designations. It cites the U.S. (2019) and Canada (2024) as precedents for designating the IRGC, noting the EU has only sanctioned individual IRGC members, not the entity itself. The resolution emphasizes the IRGC's documented ties to terrorism, human rights abuses in Iran, support for proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and its role in supplying drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The House requests the EU expedite this designation and encourages U.S. diplomatic efforts to prioritize it.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the exclusivity period for certain advanced drugs from 7 to 11 years. It defines "advanced drug product" as a drug using genetically targeted technology to modulate gene function (e.g., suppress or activate genes). This change directly affects pharmaceutical companies developing these specific advanced therapies by granting them longer market exclusivity. The policy change modifies the Social Security Act to provide extended protection for these innovative drugs, allowing companies more time to recoup research and development costs.