Rep. Ed Case

Maddy summaryThe Cost Estimates Improvement Act requires the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to include public debt servicing costs in their financial estimates, to the extent practicable. This change directly affects federal budgeting processes by ensuring that the interest payments on national debt are factored into official cost projections for new legislation. The bill amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to mandate this specific inclusion in all future estimates prepared by these two bodies.

Maddy summaryHR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.

Maddy summaryThe High School Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 requires all public high schools in the United States to be designated as voter registration agencies under federal law. Schools must conduct at least one voter registration drive each academic year, with a specific goal of registering eligible students who are at least 17 years old and enrolled in American Government or Economics classes. To support these efforts, the Department of Education would establish a grant program that reimburses schools for the reasonable costs associated with running these drives. Additionally, state election officials may provide voting machines to schools upon request for use in student council elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Program under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It requires regional teams trained in early detection and rapid response to prevent, control, and eradicate invasive species harming native wildlife and habitats on or near National Wildlife Refuges, using science-based methods and partnerships with states, tribes, and local entities. The program is funded at $15 million annually from 2026-2030 and mandates annual reports to Congress on progress in managing priority invasive species. It directly affects National Wildlife Refuge lands and adjacent properties by coordinating invasive species management with nearby landowners and agencies.

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. [ sic ] This bill temporarily directs the Department of the Interior to award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution formally recognizes the contributions of the roughly 1.3 million nonprofit organizations and their more than 12 million employees in the United States. It highlights that these groups serve as trusted community partners, often helping federal programs operate more efficiently while employing a significant portion of the workforce. The bill expresses support for designating August 17, 2026, as National Nonprofit Day to honor this sector's role in feeding, healing, and educating people across the country.

Maddy summaryThe Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 imposes comprehensive economic restrictions on the Russian Federation, including blocking assets of government officials, state-owned financial institutions, and entities supporting the defense sector. The bill prohibits new U.S. investments in Russia, bans the purchase of Russian sovereign debt, and restricts the importation of uranium and energy products from the country. Additionally, it authorizes the imposition of tariffs up to 500 percent on goods imported directly from Russia and up to 100 percent on goods from foreign nations that continue to purchase significant volumes of Russian crude oil or natural gas. The legislation also extends the Iran Sanctions Act through 2031 and includes a five-year sunset provision for the new measures, subject to specific humanitarian and safety exceptions.

Maddy summaryThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act establishes a national prescribed fire program that requires federal agencies to increase the acreage of controlled burns on public lands by 10 percent annually for a decade. It creates a ten-year national wildfire plan to coordinate landscape-scale forest restoration, reforestation, and watershed protection efforts across federal, state, tribal, and private boundaries. The bill also authorizes new funding for community resilience, including grants for home hardening, satellite monitoring technology, and a joint office dedicated to fire environment data and prediction. Additionally, it modernizes the firefighting workforce by establishing training academies, expanding civilian conservation centers, and providing liability protections for non-federal partners conducting prescribed fires.

Maddy summaryThe Building Safer Streets Act directs the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to update traffic control manuals and design standards to better prioritize safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. Key provisions require the agency to publish detailed justifications for design prohibitions, clarify how all transportation modes must be considered in planning, and issue new guidelines for transit stops and connected networks. The bill also mandates a study on how current rules limit engineers from choosing safer street designs and requires states to update their own highway manuals within two years. Additionally, the legislation sets aside at least 10 percent of certain grant funds specifically for small communities with projects under one million dollars and increases the federal funding share for these smaller initiatives.