Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 2634, the Free Speech On Campus Act, requires public colleges and universities to implement specific free speech education for students. It mandates that institutions provide new and transfer students with a written statement explaining First Amendment rights and their commitment to free expression, along with educational programming about campus speech policies and respectful discourse. Institutions must also post this statement on their public websites. The bill directly affects public higher education institutions by requiring these specific orientation and website disclosures as a condition of federal funding under the Higher Education Act.
Maddy summaryThe One Door to Work Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to allow states (or local areas/consortia within states) to apply for 5-year consolidated grants. This enables them to waive certain federal workforce program requirements (like specific training rules) and combine funding streams to test innovative approaches for job seekers, employers, and taxpayers. The bill requires third-party evaluations comparing employment and earnings outcomes of participants to non-participating groups and sets performance targets that must exceed previous benchmarks. States must report annual results and ensure at least 10% of funds cover administrative costs, with veterans, low-income individuals, and others prioritized for services.
Maddy summaryThis bill codifies a "maximum pressure" policy toward Iran, requiring the U.S. to maintain all sanctions until Iran meets specific conditions related to its nuclear program, missile development, support for terrorism, and human rights violations. It expands sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and entities supporting Iran's ballistic missile program, while prohibiting waivers of sanctions on these entities. The bill mandates regular reports to Congress on Iran's nuclear activities, support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and human rights abuses within Iran. It also directs the use of frozen Iranian assets to support victims of state-sponsored terrorism and prevents the release of funds that could benefit Iran's terrorist proxies. The bill aims to maintain economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran until it changes its behavior across multiple fronts.
Maddy summaryThe Worker Enfranchisement Act (HR 2572) changes how unions gain exclusive representation rights under labor law. It requires that a union must be chosen by at least two-thirds of all eligible employees voting in a secret ballot election, rather than a simple majority. This applies to all new union representation elections occurring six months after the bill becomes law. The change directly affects workers and unions by raising the threshold for establishing a union as the sole bargaining representative.
Maddy summaryHR 2490, the "No In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Act," would require states to charge non-citizens not lawfully present in the U.S. the same out-of-state tuition rate at public colleges as other non-residents, or risk losing federal education funding. Specifically, states that offer in-state tuition rates to undocumented immigrants would become ineligible for Title IV federal student aid funds under the Higher Education Act starting the year after the violation is identified. This provision directly affects public universities in states that currently provide in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, as they would lose access to federal financial aid programs. The bill does not change state tuition laws directly but ties federal funding eligibility to compliance with the new requirement.
Maddy summaryThe DETERRENT Act requires higher education institutions receiving federal funding to disclose foreign gifts and contracts meeting certain value thresholds ($50,000 or more for regular foreign sources, all for "foreign countries of concern" or "foreign entities of concern"). Institutions must report details including the foreign source's identity, purpose, and financial value, with all disclosures made public through a searchable database. The bill prohibits contracts with designated "foreign countries of concern" or "foreign entities of concern" without a specific waiver, and includes enforcement mechanisms with fines for non-compliance. Institutions must also maintain policies requiring faculty and staff to disclose foreign connections that meet certain criteria.
Maddy summaryThe FARMLAND Act of 2025 strengthens oversight of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land, particularly from countries like China and other "foreign entities of concern" as defined in the law. It requires agricultural land buyers to conduct due diligence and certify compliance, creates civil penalties for false or missing reports, and prohibits foreign persons from participating in Farm Service Agency programs. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on foreign ownership of farmland by specific countries and requires development of a centralized database tracking foreign ownership. It also expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' authority to review certain real estate transactions involving foreign entities of concern.
Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act (HR 2395) redefines federal firearm definitions to exclude antique and collector firearms from being classified as firearms, and removes distinctions between short-barreled rifles and shotguns in federal regulations. It prevents state laws from imposing taxes or registration requirements on short-barreled rifles and shotguns, requiring state rules to align with federal compliance instead. The bill also mandates the federal government to destroy specific records related to these firearms within one year of enactment.
Maddy summaryHR 2457, the Mining Schools Act of 2025, establishes a competitive grant program to fund education and training programs for the U.S. mining industry. It directs the Secretary of Energy to award up to 10 annual grants to eligible "mining schools" - defined as accredited engineering programs (including Tribal Colleges) or specific geology/engineering departments at public universities in states with significant mining GDP - to recruit students and enhance curriculum. Grants must support education in critical areas like critical mineral extraction, environmental reclamation, rare earth element processing, and reducing reliance on foreign mineral supplies. The program requires geographic diversity in grant selection and mandates an advisory board (with industry and academic members) to review applications and ensure funds are used for specified educational purposes, with no new federal funds authorized.