Rep. Monica De La Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for businesses selling products made with U.S.-grown cotton. The credit equals 24% of the cotton's market value if processed only in the U.S. or in countries with U.S. trade deals, or 18% for other processing locations. To qualify, cotton must be digitally traced from U.S. farms to finished products and certified by the USDA as meeting origin requirements. It directly affects clothing and textile manufacturers selling qualifying products in the U.S. market.

Maddy summaryHR 224, the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, modifies how income is calculated for housing assistance programs by requiring that veterans' service-connected disability compensation (from the VA) be excluded when determining eligibility for low/moderate income housing. This directly affects disabled veterans who receive VA disability payments, ensuring these funds do not count against them for housing assistance under HUD programs. The bill amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to mandate this exclusion in income calculations. Additionally, it requires a report within one year examining how disability compensation is treated across HUD programs and recommending improvements to better serve veterans.

Maddy summaryHR 909, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025, modifies how funds from the False Claims Act are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. It specifies that from 2025 through 2029, certain False Claims Act proceeds (specifically those for qui tam plaintiff payments and government damage reimbursements) cannot be deposited into the fund. This change directly affects the composition of the Crime Victims Fund by excluding these specific revenue streams during the specified period. The bill does not create new benefits or alter victim services; it only adjusts fund allocation rules for existing False Claims Act revenues.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants the Secretary of Homeland Security clear legal authority to issue work permits (Employment Authorization Documents) to individuals granted deferred action under the DACA program, including new applicants who previously faced restrictions in certain states like Texas. It directly affects DACA-eligible immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, ensuring they receive work authorization at the same time as their DACA approval, regardless of court rulings blocking such permits. The law amends immigration law to override judicial injunctions that have limited work authorization for new applicants in specific jurisdictions. This creates a uniform national standard for work permits, removing geographic barriers to employment for eligible DACA recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the process for H-2A agricultural visas. It requires the Department of Labor to use Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data to set the minimum wage rate for farmworkers, directly affecting farm employers needing these visas and the workers they hire. The bill also amends immigration law to have the Secretary of Homeland Security handle visa processing instead of the Attorney General and allows simultaneous processing of labor certifications and visa petitions. These changes aim to streamline the H-2A program while ensuring wage rates are based on current local data. The bill does not alter the wage rate amount itself but changes how it is calculated and processed.

Maddy summaryHR 3492, the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, makes it a federal crime to perform genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration on minors under 18, except for specific medical reasons. The bill broadly defines prohibited procedures to include gender transition-related surgeries (like hysterectomies or mastectomies) and medical treatments such as puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones administered to minors. It criminalizes these acts when they occur across state lines, involve payments, or use interstate commerce, while explicitly banning religious tradition as a defense. Exceptions include medically necessary procedures for health emergencies, childbirth, or conditions certified by a physician.

Maddy summaryHR 6792, the Foreign-Trade Zone Export Enhancement Act of 2025, modifies U.S. tariff rules to make it easier for businesses using foreign-trade zones (FTZs) to export goods to U.S. trade partners under the USMCA (or future agreements). It allows certain merchandise manufactured or altered within FTZs - specifically items classified under HTS 9801.00.95 - to enter the U.S. duty-free when exported directly to Canada or Mexico. This change aims to support U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and job retention by reducing costs for companies processing goods in FTZs for export to USMCA countries. The bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement these tariff changes within 90 days of enactment.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This act provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

Maddy summaryHR 6575, the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, extends enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance through 2026, directly benefiting millions of lower and middle-income Americans purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplace. The bill modifies income thresholds for premium subsidies, creating new income tiers that maintain or increase financial assistance for households earning up to 1,000% of the poverty level. It includes provisions to prevent fraud in health insurance exchanges by imposing civil penalties on agents and brokers who provide false information, and requires transparency in pharmacy benefit manager contracts to improve drug pricing accountability. The legislation also extends the annual open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges for the 2026 plan year, allowing more time for people to enroll or change coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to annually report whether Mexico delivered at least 350,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S. under the 1944 treaty. If Mexico fails this annual check, the President must deny non-treaty water requests from Mexico and may limit U.S. engagement with Mexican sectors (like agriculture) that rely on U.S. water deliveries. Exceptions allow emergency water requests for ecological, environmental, or humanitarian crises, but only with congressional certification that the water won’t support municipal, industrial, or routine needs. The law directly affects U.S.-Mexico water relations and Mexican irrigation-dependent economic sectors.