Rep. Tim Burchett

Maddy summaryHR 813, the FIZZ-NO Act of 2025, amends the Food and Nutrition Act to prohibit using SNAP benefits for carbonated drinks containing more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving. This directly affects SNAP recipients by restricting their ability to purchase these specific beverages with their benefits. The bill defines "soda" in the law and adds it to the list of items ineligible for purchase with SNAP funds, alongside alcoholic beverages. The changes will take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryHRES 166 is a non-binding House resolution expressing U.S. support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic. It condemns the Iranian regime's terrorism, regional proxy wars, internal suppression of ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights abuses - including executions and repression of women-led protests. The resolution calls for holding the regime accountable through sanctions, supports the Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s democratic transition, and urges protection for Iranian political refugees in Albania. It does not create new laws but affirms U.S. policy alignment with Iranian protesters' demands.

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion (known as the "Black Panthers"), the first predominantly Black armored unit in World War II's European Theater. It recognizes their combat service from 1944-1946, including key roles in the Battle of the Bulge and breaking the Siegfried Line, despite facing racial prejudice during and after the war. The medal will be displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The bill commemorates the battalion's 130,000 enemy casualties inflicted, 50% casualty rate, and their 1978 Presidential Unit Citation. It does not create new laws or affect current policies.

Maddy summaryHR 1551, the Protect and Serve Act of 2025, creates a new federal criminal offense for intentionally harming law enforcement officers under specific circumstances. It imposes harsher penalties, including up to 10 years in prison for serious injury or life imprisonment if death occurs, kidnapping is involved, or a firearm is used. The law applies when the crime crosses state lines, involves interstate weapons, occurs on federal property, or targets federal officers. Prosecutions require the Attorney General’s written certification, considering factors like prior state convictions and public safety impact. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers and federal prosecutors by expanding federal jurisdiction for certain violent crimes against them.

Maddy summaryHR 1421, the "Make American Flags in America Act of 2025," requires all flags of the United States displayed on federal property or procured by federal agencies to be 100% manufactured in the United States. This directly affects federal agencies (including executive departments, military branches, and legislative/judicial offices) by banning the use of foreign-made flags for official displays or purchases. The bill sets a 90-day deadline for procurement changes and a two-year timeline for display requirements, while excluding private entities from these rules. It also mandates a Federal Trade Commission study on enforcing country-of-origin labeling for flags, with a report due within one year of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. State and Defense Departments to produce a report within 180 days analyzing how expanding the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA) would improve regional security cooperation. The report must cover CSIPA’s benefits for military readiness, economic ties, and technology collaboration, including responses to Houthi attacks and Iranian threats, plus identify barriers to broader membership. It also mandates a follow-up strategy and briefing to engage Middle Eastern nations in joining CSIPA. The bill affects U.S. foreign policy agencies but does not alter existing laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 1301, the Death Tax Repeal Act, would eliminate the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of individuals dying on or after its enactment date. It directly affects individuals inheriting significant assets, as it removes taxes on estates exceeding $10 million (adjusted for inflation) and repeals taxes on large transfers between generations. The bill modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption with annual inflation adjustments, replacing previous tax brackets. It applies to estates, gifts, and transfers occurring on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHR 1309, the "Protect America’s Lands Act," prohibits national securities exchanges from processing transactions involving securities issued by "natural asset companies." These are defined as companies that hold rights to manage specific land areas for conservation, restoration, or sustainable use, with the primary purpose of maintaining or growing natural assets and ecosystem services. The bill directly affects financial markets by restricting how securities tied to environmental land management are traded, not landowners or conservation efforts. It amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to create this new regulatory barrier for such financial instruments. The bill focuses on securities regulation, not direct land protection or policy changes for land use.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the President to issue "letters of marque and reprisal" - a historical power from the U.S. Constitution - to privately armed groups. It would allow these groups to seize property and capture individuals (defined as cartel members or associates) responsible for aggression against the U.S., operating outside U.S. territory. The President must require a security bond to ensure compliance, and "cartel" is defined using two specific references (an executive order and a non-existent law). The bill directly affects foreign cartel members and their assets, not U.S. citizens or domestic operations. It revives a rarely used 18th-century legal mechanism for addressing perceived national security threats.

Alternatives to Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act or the Alternatives to PAIN Act This bill reduces cost-sharing and prohibits the imposition of certain utilization requirements under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for certain non-opioid pain management drugs. Specifically, the bill requires such drugs to be covered without a deductible and to be placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier (if any). The bill also prohibits the imposition of prior authorization requirements (i.e., requiring prior approval from a plan) or step therapy requirements (i.e., requiring the use of alternative drugs before a drug is covered under a plan) with respect to such drugs.