Rep. Kelly Morrison

Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025   This bill imposes penalties on certain persons (individuals and entities) if the President determines that the Russian government or a person acting at Russia's direction is involved with (1) refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine; (2) violating a negotiated peace agreement; (3) initiating another invasion of Ukraine; or (4) overthrowing, dismantling, or seeking to subvert the Ukrainian government.   If the President makes such a determination, the bill requires certain actions including the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items to the Russian armed forces; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the Department of the Treasury must impose property-blocking sanctions on any financial institution organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia, and any financial institution that engages in transactions with those entities; and the Department of Commerce must prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product.

Maddy summaryThe Nutrition CARE Act of 2025 requires Medicare to cover medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with eating disorders starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with eating disorders, including an estimated 1.6 million people on Medicare Part B, with specific focus on underserved groups like 420,500-560,700 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color beneficiaries. The bill mandates coverage through registered dietitians or nutrition professionals, requiring at least 13 hours of services in the first year (including initial assessment) and 4 hours annually thereafter, with referrals from physicians or psychologists. This addresses a current gap where Medicare does not cover medical nutrition therapy for eating disorders at any treatment level. The policy change aims to improve access to a critical treatment pillar for a condition with high mortality rates and significant healthcare costs.

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 summaryThe PHIT Act of 2025 allows taxpayers to deduct certain fitness-related expenses as medical costs on their federal tax returns. It directly affects individuals and families who pay for qualifying physical activity programs, such as gym memberships, fitness classes, or approved equipment. Key provisions include setting annual limits ($1,000 per person or $2,000 for joint returns), defining eligible fitness facilities (excluding golf courses or private clubs), and specifying that equipment must be used exclusively for physical activity. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat these expenses as deductible medical costs, effective for taxable years after its enactment.

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 summaryHR 2138, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase disability compensation and survivor benefits for veterans and their families on December 1, 2025. It directly affects veterans receiving disability compensation (including wartime rates), dependents, and survivors (spouses and children) who currently qualify for benefits under specific provisions of Title 38, U.S. Code. The bill mandates that these payments increase by the same percentage as the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits effective December 2025. This ensures veterans' benefits rise with inflation, aligning with Social Security’s automatic adjustment mechanism.

Maddy summaryThe Paycheck Fairness Act strengthens equal pay protections by expanding the definition of "sex" to include pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. It modifies employer defenses for pay disparities to require proof that any pay difference is job-related, not based on sex, and accounts for the entire pay gap. The bill prohibits employers from asking about salary history, enhances penalties for violations, and requires employers with 100+ employees to collect and report detailed pay data by race, sex, and job category. It also establishes training programs for employers on eliminating pay bias and creates a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to coordinate enforcement efforts. This legislation directly affects employers, particularly those with 100+ employees, and aims to address pay disparities impacting women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 80 would declare the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) part of the U.S. Constitution, asserting it has been ratified by 38 states (three-fourths of the states) despite the original 1972 deadline. If passed, this resolution would formally establish the ERA as a constitutional amendment, requiring all federal and state laws to align with its gender equality protections. The bill does not create new laws but confirms the ERA's status as part of the Constitution, affecting how laws are interpreted and enforced. It is a procedural step to resolve the legal dispute over the ERA's validity after decades of debate.

Maddy summaryHRES 238 is a non-binding House resolution expressing the House's position that every person has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care during medical emergencies. It does not create new laws or alter existing regulations but formally states the House's view that abortion restrictions in emergencies endanger patients' health and lives. The resolution specifically highlights how current abortion bans put pregnant people at risk during life-threatening conditions like hemorrhage or infection, disproportionately impacting Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, and low-income individuals. It serves as a symbolic statement opposing policies that restrict emergency reproductive care access.