Rep. Derek Schmidt

Maddy summaryThe Combat Pay Protection Act establishes a new formula to increase specific special and incentive pay for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those in the reserve components. For the first year after the bill becomes law, pay will rise by the greater of the inflation rate or the percentage increase in basic pay, while subsequent years will use a similar calculation based on inflation or basic pay growth. This adjustment applies to bonuses and allowances defined in the law and overrides any existing legal caps on maximum pay amounts. The Department of Defense is also required to publish a detailed table listing the specific pay types and the calculated increase amounts by the end of the year the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryHR 2332, the SHARE Act of 2025, standardizes how states share criminal history background check information for professional licensing across state lines. It requires the FBI to provide this information to state licensing authorities through agreements with law enforcement, specifically for verifying applicants seeking licenses or practice privileges in multiple states. The bill strictly prohibits states from sharing detailed criminal history records with other states or the public, allowing only a simple "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" result to be shared. This directly affects licensed professionals (like nurses or contractors) seeking to practice in multiple states and the state agencies that issue their licenses.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Competes Act updates federal policy to explicitly state that enforcing antitrust laws against illegal mergers and anticompetitive behavior should promote competition and help small businesses grow. It requires the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to submit detailed reports every two years on how their enforcement actions have impacted small businesses, including data on complaints and investigations. Additionally, the Office of Advocacy must analyze this data and provide recommendations to Congress on how to better deter unfair business practices. The bill defines key terms like "small business" and "antitrust violation" to ensure clarity in these reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 2978, the GUARD Act, allows state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to use existing federal grant funds for investigating elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" investment scams, and general financial fraud. The bill directs these funds toward hiring specialized staff, training on blockchain tools and transnational fraud, purchasing investigative software, improving data collection, and creating financial sector liaisons to coordinate with banks. It requires annual reports from law enforcement on fund usage and outcomes, and mandates federal agencies to submit comprehensive reports to Congress on scam statistics, enforcement actions, and funding allocation. The legislation directly affects law enforcement agencies and aims to strengthen efforts against fraud targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals.

Maddy summaryThe USDA Field Office Stability Act prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from closing or relocating specific county and field offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development. This restriction applies unless an office is located within 20 miles of another office in the same state or is moved for routine leasing purposes within the same county. Additionally, the bill requires these agencies to maintain sufficient staffing levels to ensure their local service centers remain open and accessible to the public during standard business hours.

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 summaryHR 2675, the Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025, requires parties and their lawyers in federal civil cases to disclose any foreign funding tied to case outcomes. It mandates written disclosure of foreign funders' identities (including country of origin) and certification about funding sources, while banning foreign states or sovereign wealth funds from funding litigation. The law also requires annual reports to Congress detailing foreign-funded cases, including amounts and jurisdictions. This directly affects parties using foreign-funded litigation, courts handling such cases, and foreign entities seeking to influence U.S. courts through financial support.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act, expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by strengthening their immunity from civil lawsuits. It requires courts to immediately dismiss any pending cases against these companies that are based on the criminal or unlawful misuse of a gun by a third party, while also clarifying that sellers are not liable for negligence in entrusting products to others. The legislation further restricts who can file such suits by prohibiting foreign governments from bringing these claims and adding a specific exception for victims under the age of 17, though it maintains immunity for cases involving design or manufacturing defects. Additionally, the bill allows companies to move these cases to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately, along with the ability to recover legal fees if they win. Finally, it preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability on these entities for the same types of misuse-related harms.

Maddy summaryThe ReCement Act amends federal regulations to allow cement manufacturers to use non-hazardous secondary materials as fuel or ingredients without classifying them as waste. This change directly affects the cement industry by permitting the use of recovered resources that meet specific legitimacy criteria, such as being managed as valuable commodities or processed before use. By updating the definition of what constitutes waste under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the bill aims to increase material efficiency in cement production through the incorporation of alternative fuels and recovered materials.

Maddy summaryThe No American Left Behind Act directs the Department of Defense to submit a detailed report to Congress within 180 days regarding its efforts to recover, repatriate, and account for U.S. citizens who are held hostage, unlawfully detained, or missing abroad. This report must specifically cover cases in regions like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan and analyze how military planning, intelligence, and diplomatic strategies influence these recovery operations. The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to assess current policies, identify gaps in authority or resources, and evaluate the feasibility of creating a formal "No American Left Behind" doctrine to guide future efforts. Ultimately, the bill aims to ensure that considerations for the safety and return of American nationals are integrated into core defense planning and contingency operations.