Rep. Nick LaLota

Maddy summaryHR 1330 establishes the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, authorizing its location within the National Mall's "Reserve" area. The bill requires the Smithsonian Board to coordinate with federal agencies managing potential museum sites, including notifying relevant congressional committees before land transfers. It mandates that the museum's exhibits and programs accurately represent the diverse cultures, histories, and viewpoints of Hispanic and Latino communities in the U.S., seeking input from a broad range of community experts. The Smithsonian must also submit regular reports to Congress detailing compliance with these representation requirements.

Maddy summaryThe EAGLES Act of 2025 reauthorizes and expands the Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), directing it to lead national efforts in preventing targeted violence, particularly in schools. It mandates the NTAC to provide training, research, and consultation on evidence-based threat assessment programs for schools, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, with a focus on early intervention for students showing concerning behavior. The bill allocates $10 million annually (2026-2030) for these programs, requires hiring specialists in child psychology and school threat assessment, and mandates annual reports to Congress on training reach and effectiveness. This directly affects K-12 schools, local educational agencies, and public safety officials by establishing standardized protocols to prevent violence before it occurs.

United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 This bill requires or authorizes certain actions to increase defense-related cooperation between the United States and Israel. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a cooperative program, with the concurrence of Israel's Ministry of Defense (MOD), to develop and deploy advanced technologies for countering unmanned systems that threaten the United States and Israel; establish in Israel an office of the Defense Innovation Unit (an organization that focuses on rapidly fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military); and seek to engage Israel's MOD on the ascension of Israel into the national technology and industrial base (currently defined in law as the persons and organizations engaged in research, development, production, integration, services, or information technology activities conducted within the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada). The bill authorizes DOD, upon request of Israel's MOD, to jointly conduct research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics to meet defense challenges. Additionally, the bill extends the authority for DOD to (1) carry out RDT&E on a joint basis with Israel to establish anti-tunnel and counter unmanned aerial systems capabilities through 2028, and (2) transfer defense articles intended for use as reserve stocks for Israel through January 1, 2029.

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 summaryHR 1260, the U.S. Park Police Modernization Act, updates salary schedules for U.S. Park Police officers. It adjusts pay rates to align with federal executive pay scales (specifically, 95% of Level V for most ranks, matching Level V for the Chief position), modifies step progression timelines (e.g., 52 weeks between steps for lower ranks), and sets a cutoff date (January 12, 2025) for disregarding prior pay adjustments. The bill directly affects all U.S. Park Police officers by changing their compensation structure and step advancement rules. It does not alter police duties, operations, or public policies.

Maddy summaryHR 1189, the National Plan for Epilepsy Act, creates a coordinated federal strategy to address epilepsy through a National Plan for Epilepsy. The plan requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an annual assessment, maintain a diverse Advisory Council (including people with epilepsy, caregivers, and experts), and coordinate research and care across federal agencies. Key provisions include annual progress reports to Congress, data sharing between agencies, and recommendations to improve diagnosis, treatment access, and reduce epilepsy-related disparities. The plan expires December 31, 2035, and directly affects the estimated 3.4 million people in the U.S. living with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Maddy summaryHR 1207 transfers the administration of the Food for Peace Act's food aid programs from USAID to the Department of Agriculture. This means the Agriculture Secretary, not the USAID Administrator, will now handle all related functions, including managing assets, grants, and rules for distributing U.S. food aid overseas. The bill requires immediate implementation upon enactment, with references in law automatically updating to the Agriculture Secretary, and allows for swift interim rules to maintain program continuity. It also specifies that the Famine Early Warning Systems Network will continue under Agriculture, and the Department must consult with the State Department on certain aspects of the program.

Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act This bill expands the definition of major food allergen to include galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (commonly known as alpha-gal ). Under current law, food labels generally must identify each major food allergen found in labeled food products.  (Certain tick bites cause an allergic condition known as alpha-gal syndrome that can result in an allergy to the alpha-gal molecule, which is found in red meat and other products made from mammals.)

Maddy summaryHR 1131 exempts certain family farms and small businesses from being counted as assets when calculating financial need for federal student aid under the Higher Education Act. Specifically, it amends the law to exclude the net value of a family farm where the family resides and small businesses (with ≤100 employees) owned by the family from need analysis calculations. This change directly affects students from qualifying family farm or small business households when applying for federal financial aid. The exemption applies to need analysis conducted for award years beginning after the bill's enactment date. The bill modifies Section 480(f)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to implement this policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.