Rep. John B. Larson

Maddy summaryHR 1544, the LEASH DOGE Act, requires the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to report detailed information about its employees and operations to Congress. Specifically, it mandates a report listing all DOGE employees with their roles, background check results, security clearances, and conflict of interest disclosures; appearances before congressional committees; and a public website updated weekly with employee data, funding reductions, and contact information for public inquiries. The bill sets a March 31, 2025, deadline for compliance, with penalties including restrictions on using federal funds for DOGE activities or new DOGE Agency Teams until requirements are met. It directly affects DOGE leadership, its employees, and congressional oversight committees. The law focuses on transparency about DOGE’s staffing and budget decisions, not policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1505, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, establishes federal standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) in states that do not meet minimum requirements. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will determine after 180 days whether a state law "substantially provides" key rights, such as forming unions, negotiating wages/hours, and using binding arbitration to resolve disputes. If a state fails this assessment, federal bargaining rules apply within two years, but existing state laws with stronger protections remain valid. The bill explicitly respects state laws that exceed its standards and exempts small jurisdictions (under 5,000 population or 25 full-time employees).

Maddy summaryThis bill protects certain public safety workers - like police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel - from job loss or punishment for expressing personal opinions about work-related issues. It allows covered employees to sue employers if they face adverse actions (like termination) for speaking out on topics such as working conditions, safety equipment, pay, policies, or even political/religious views. However, the protection does not cover speech made while on duty, threats of violence, discrimination, disclosure of confidential personal information, or calls to withhold essential services. The law explicitly states it doesn’t override existing civil rights laws like 42 U.S.C. 1983.

Maddy summaryHR 1410 expands access to mental health care for 9/11 responders and survivors by allowing licensed mental health providers (not just physicians) to conduct initial health evaluations and certifications under the World Trade Center Health Program. It adjusts the program’s funding formula to account for changing enrollment numbers by linking annual funding to the previous year’s enrollment ratio, and clarifies that deceased individuals are excluded from enrollment counts. The bill also extends the timeframe for adding new health conditions to the program’s list and requires a 2028 report assessing long-term funding needs through 2090. These changes aim to streamline eligibility, improve care access, and ensure sustainable funding for the program.

Maddy summaryThe Food Deserts Act (HR 484) creates a federal grant program to help establish grocery stores in underserved communities by providing capitalization grants to states. States would use these grants to build revolving funds that make low-interest loans to grocery stores meeting specific criteria, such as offering unprocessed foods, affordable pricing, and local hiring. The program prioritizes stores that source from local farms, provide nutrition education, and commit to keeping healthy foods in stock, while requiring applicants to contribute 20% of loan costs from non-federal funds. It authorizes $150 million for fiscal year 2026 to support these loans, which must be repaid over up to 30 years to replenish the revolving fund for future use.

This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates federal vehicle safety standards to permit pulsating light systems on high-mounted stop lamps, directly affecting vehicle manufacturers and safety regulators. It requires the Transportation Secretary to issue new regulations within 180 days establishing performance rules for these systems. The key provision defines a "pulsating light system" as one that emits rapid pulses (max 4 pulses within 1.2 seconds) when brakes are applied, then switches to steady light, with a mandatory 5-second lockout period before pulses can repeat after brake release. The bill amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 to formally allow this technology under specific technical parameters.

More Homes on the Market Act This bill increases the amount of gain from the sale of a principal residence that an individual may exclude from gross income (for federal tax purposes). Under the bill, an individual may exclude from gross income gain from the sale of a principal residence of up to $500,000 (currently $250,000), and taxpayers who are married and file a joint federal income tax return may exclude up to $1 million (currently $500.000). The bill also requires these amounts to be adjusted annually for inflation.

Maddy summaryHR 1321, the "Ending DOGE Conflicts Act," requires special government employees (like officials overseeing federal contracts) who own, control, or lead companies doing business with the government to file financial disclosure reports with the Office of Government Ethics. These employees must now comply with the same financial disclosure rules as other government officials under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. Until their initial report is certified as compliant by the Office of Government Ethics, these employees are prohibited from performing any official duties related to federal contracting. The bill directly affects high-level government officials with direct financial ties to federal contractors.