Rep. Clay Higgins

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act, aims to strengthen border security and reform immigration enforcement by directing the Department of Homeland Security to resume and complete the construction of a physical border wall, expand the use of surveillance technology, and increase staffing levels for Border Patrol agents. It also imposes stricter rules on asylum eligibility and employment authorization for applicants, mandates the reopening of specific immigration detention facilities, and requires the return of individuals arriving from contiguous foreign countries to those nations while their claims are processed. Additionally, the legislation expands penalties for visa overstays, limits the use of certain digital tools like the CBP One app, and includes provisions to reduce funding for organizations that facilitate illegal entry or provide services to inadmissible aliens.

Maddy summaryThe PROVIDE Act creates a new priority category for processing veterans' disability claims when a major disaster (like floods or fires) impacts their area. It directly affects veterans living in regions where the President has declared a major disaster under the Stafford Act. The bill requires the VA to establish flexible evidence rules and extended filing deadlines for these veterans, while also adding them to the existing list of priority claimants (e.g., those facing homelessness or terminal illness). The VA must post this new eligibility information on its website within 60 days of the bill becoming law. This change aims to help veterans affected by disasters access benefits faster to aid their recovery.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment, which currently mandates the direct election of U.S. Senators by the public. If ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the states, the change would restore the original system where state legislatures select Senators. The proposal includes a provision to protect the terms of any Senators currently serving, ensuring their positions remain unaffected by the transition. This measure directly impacts the method of choosing Senators and would alter the balance of power between the federal government and state legislatures.

Maddy summaryThe End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to create new regulations. Specifically, it prohibits the EPA Administrator from issuing rules that restrict the sale or use of internal combustion engine vehicles, force power plants to switch fuel sources, or reduce the reliability of the electric grid. The bill also bars the agency from mandating technologies that are commercially unavailable, too expensive without subsidies, or technically unfeasible due to geographic or infrastructure limitations. Additionally, the law prevents the EPA from expanding its regulatory power beyond what Congress originally intended. These changes directly affect the EPA's ability to enforce environmental standards and impact industries such as automotive manufacturing and energy production.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the fourth anniversary of the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which removed the federal constitutional right to abortion. The text expresses support for state authority to regulate abortion and acknowledges the work of pregnancy centers that provide care to women and families. It also recognizes the belief that unborn life possesses inherent rights and calls for the protection of that life. As a symbolic measure, the bill does not change any laws or policies but serves to formally celebrate the anniversary and state the House's position on the issue.

Maddy summaryHR 5109 requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create guidelines helping individuals in federal, state, and local prisons prepare for and apply for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards *before* their release. The bill directs TSA to develop specific procedures for prison staff to assist inmates in pre-applying for TWIC cards and navigating appeals or waivers if initially denied. This aims to streamline access to TWIC cards - required for many port and maritime jobs - allowing returning citizens to secure employment faster after release. The bill cites that 525,000 jobs in Louisiana alone depend on TWIC access, and faster credential acquisition supports reintegration efforts.

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two key initiatives for the District of Columbia. First, it creates a federal program (to end in 2029) requiring the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan coordinating Federal and local efforts to clean public spaces, remove graffiti, and restore monuments - directly affecting DC's parks, streets, and landmarks. Second, it forms a "Safe and Beautiful Commission" (also ending in 2029) with representatives from federal agencies like the FBI, DHS, and DOJ, tasked with monitoring immigration law enforcement compliance, supporting DC police recruitment, improving transit security, and enhancing coordination on crime reduction. The Commission must submit annual reports to Congress on its activities. The bill focuses on concrete administrative coordination, not new funding or penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal immigration laws to officially classify crawfish processing as agricultural labor. It directly affects workers involved in washing, sorting, grading, boiling, peeling, and transporting crawfish, allowing them to be treated similarly to those working in apple cider production. By adding these specific tasks to the legal definition of agricultural services, the legislation ensures that individuals performing this work can access the same visa categories available to other farm laborers. The change is a straightforward update to existing statutes without altering other immigration rules or creating new programs.