Rep. Mark Pocan

Maddy summaryHR 1756, the "Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act of 2025," prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading stocks, bonds, or other investments tied to defense contractors with U.S. Department of Defense contracts. It requires all such holdings to be divested within 120 days (or 180 days for complex funds) of enacting the law or when taking office, banning "blind trusts" as a compliance method. Exceptions include diversified investment funds meeting specific criteria, Alaska Native Claims Settlement stock, U.S. Treasury securities, and government retirement plans. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $50,000 per offense.

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 2439 authorizes $50 million for fiscal year 2026 and $55 million for 2027 to fund the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), directly supporting its global programs. The bill specifies that these funds will help end preventable maternal deaths, address unmet contraceptive needs, combat gender-based violence, and end harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation. UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, primarily aiding women and girls in developing nations and crisis zones, including those affected by conflict or natural disasters. The bill emphasizes UNFPA’s compliance with U.S. restrictions (not funding abortion) and its role in advancing U.S. strategic interests through voluntary family planning and reproductive health services.

Maddy summaryThe COST of Relocations Act (HR 2470) requires federal agencies to conduct a detailed benefit-cost analysis before relocating more than 5% or 100 employees (whichever is smaller) outside their current commuting area. Agencies must submit an unredacted report to their Inspector General, covering expected outcomes, stakeholder impacts, risk assessments, and how the move affects the agency's mission. The Inspector General then reviews the report and submits findings to Congress within 90 days, including an assessment of whether the relocation complies with existing OMB guidance. This law applies specifically to significant relocations of federal operations, ensuring transparency without overriding other legal requirements for such moves.

Maddy summaryHR 2467, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, would designate approximately 1.3 million acres of public land across Utah as wilderness areas, protecting them from development and managing them for conservation. The bill specifically designates 77 wilderness areas in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, including lands within existing national monuments like Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears. It includes provisions for water rights protection, allows continued livestock grazing under certain conditions, and withdraws the designated lands from mining and mineral leasing. The bill also ensures Tribal rights are protected and requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer these areas according to wilderness management standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2411, directs the U.S. government to immediately resume funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by repealing two prior funding restrictions. It requires the State Department to restart payments to UNRWA under existing authorities and mandates the President to rescind a 2025 executive order ending UNRWA support. The bill affects Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank who rely on UNRWA for humanitarian aid, as well as U.S. funding mechanisms. It also requires quarterly reports through 2028 on UNRWA’s progress implementing accountability reforms from an independent review led by Catherine Colonna.

Maddy summaryHR 2381, the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2025, reauthorizes and updates the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). It directly affects low-income, uninsured, or underinsured women across all 50 states, territories, and tribal communities by expanding access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic services, and patient navigation support. Key provisions include updating program language to emphasize prevention alongside detection and control, adding specific strategies to reduce disparities, and appropriating $235 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030. The bill also requires a GAO study by 2027 to assess program eligibility, service trends, and barriers to screening access.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Abolish Super PACs Act" but actually regulating them, would impose contribution limits on super PACs by redefining them as "independent expenditure committees" under federal election law. It sets a $5,000 annual threshold for activities qualifying a committee as a super PAC, capping individual contributions to these entities to reduce corruption risks from unlimited donations. The legislation targets the top contributors who gave over 96% of super PAC funds in 2024, aiming to limit the appearance of quid pro quo arrangements. It would apply to all qualifying committees starting in the first full calendar year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require federal firearms licensees to prohibit sales of specific high-capacity rifles and shotguns to people under 21. It targets semiautomatic centerfire rifles and shotguns capable of holding more than 5 rounds in their magazines, raising the age limit from 18 to 21 for these weapons. Exceptions apply for active military members and certain government employees authorized to carry firearms. The law directly affects gun retailers and individuals under 21 seeking to purchase these specific firearms. It modifies existing federal gun sale rules without changing age requirements for other firearms.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 21 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing the persistent gender wage gap in the U.S., where women earn significantly less than men for comparable work. It cites specific data showing women overall earn 75 cents and women of color earn even less (e.g., 58 cents for Latinas) per dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the economic impact of this disparity, including annual lost wages exceeding $994 million for full-time women workers. It also highlights designated Equal Pay Days for different demographic groups to underscore the varying timelines to close the gap.