Rep. Ryan Mackenzie

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 3404 (FAIR Leave Act), would remove a 12-week time limit for employees taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a spouse with a serious health condition. It directly affects workers who need to take time off to support a spouse facing medical needs, by repealing Section 102(f) of the 1993 Act. The key provision eliminates the current rule restricting spouse care leave to 12 weeks within a 12-month period. This change would allow employees greater flexibility in taking extended leave for their spouse's health needs without the prior time cap.

Maddy summaryThe Public Safety Retirees Healthcare Protection Act of 2025 increases the tax exclusion for health and long-term care insurance premiums paid by retired public safety officers from $3,000 to $6,000 annually. This change applies to distributions from governmental retirement plans used for these insurance costs, directly affecting retired police officers, firefighters, and other public safety personnel. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a higher portion of retirement income to remain tax-free for these retirees. It takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 3304, the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2025, establishes a federal grant program to help law enforcement agencies provide child care for officers' minor children during nonstandard shifts. The program awards competitive 3-year grants to state or local "lead agencies" (like state child care offices) to fund child care services through eligible law enforcement agencies or consortia, with 20% of funds reserved for small agencies (under 200 officers). Grants cover startup costs, provider training, sick child care, facility construction, and other needs, requiring local matching funds (10% to 33% over three years). The program is authorized for $24 million annually from 2026-2030 and includes studies to evaluate its impact on child care access for officers and other first responders.

Maddy summaryThe American Ownership and Resilience Act establishes a new framework for "ownership investment companies" that provide capital to support employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and worker-owned cooperatives. The bill creates a licensing system requiring ownership investment companies to meet capital requirements, use independent financial advisors and trustees for transactions, and maintain employee ownership interests. It establishes a facility to provide leverage to these companies with specific limits ($5 billion total annual limit, $100 million per Protégé OIC), and requires detailed reporting on the impact of these investments. The act aims to facilitate and protect employee ownership structures while ensuring transparency and accountability through strict regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act expands federal retirement benefits to include specific non-traditional law enforcement roles, such as IRS tax collection officers, U.S. Postal Inspection Service employees, Department of Veterans Affairs police, and certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized property specialists. It directly affects current and future federal workers in these positions who were previously excluded from law enforcement retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System and Civil Service Retirement System. The bill allows current employees (incumbents) to elect to count prior service toward retirement by paying a deposit covering the difference in retirement contributions, with government contributions made over 10 years. It also temporarily exempts law enforcement officers from mandatory separation for three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 3246, "Violet’s Law," amends the Animal Welfare Act to require federal research facilities to create plans for placing eligible animals (dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, or rabbits) no longer needed for research. It directs federal departments and agencies operating such facilities to develop standards within one year of enactment to facilitate adoption or placement with qualified organizations like animal rescue groups, sanctuaries, or shelters. Animals must be certified by a licensed veterinarian as free of infectious disease or physical issues endangering health before release. This applies directly to all U.S. federal agencies conducting animal research, mandating concrete steps to transition animals out of research settings into permanent care.

Maddy summaryHR 1800, the "Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025," removes the expiration date from existing U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's weapons programs and support for terrorism. It repeals the sunset provision in the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act, ensuring these sanctions remain permanently in effect without requiring future congressional renewal. The bill directly affects foreign entities, including those involved in Iran's conventional weapons acquisitions or support for terrorist proxies, by maintaining existing penalties for engaging with Iran's sanctioned activities. This is a procedural change to solidify current policy, not a new expansion of sanctions.

Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program through FY2032 and makes certain changes to the program and associated eligibility requirements. The CSBG program supports various antipoverty activities, primarily through formula-based allotments to states, tribes, and territories, the majority of which must be made available in grants to eligible local entities.  Specifically, the bill permanently sets the measure of eligibility for services, assistance, or resources provided directly to individuals or families under the program at 200% of the poverty line. (Under current law, the eligibility measure is temporarily set at 200% of the poverty line, an increase from the previous measure of 125% of the poverty line.) The bill also makes certain changes to the permitted uses of funding, including by allowing CSBG funds to be used to facilitate low-income individuals’ and communities’ access to high-speed broadband, digital literacy training, technical support, and other services. States may also use certain funds allocated for training and technical assistance to assist eligible entities in responding to statewide and regional conditions that create economic insecurity, including emergency conditions.   The bill also expands requirements for the plans that states must submit to the Department of Health and Human Services in order to receive CSBG funds (e.g., transparency assurances), and sets deadlines by which states must make funds available to eligible entities. Finally, the bill repeals a provision that allowed states to use CSBG funds to offset revenue losses associated with state charity tax credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help cover medical costs for retired Federal working dogs (like police or military K9s). It authorizes $1 million annually (2026-2030) for eligible nonprofits with a two-year history of providing such care to dogs that have received official retirement letters and are now with their handlers. The grants allow these organizations to pay for veterinary expenses, directly supporting retired service dogs and their handlers. The program is administered through the Department of Homeland Security under existing grant authority.

Maddy summaryHR 3112, the Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025, strengthens enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act by requiring dealers and exhibitors to hold valid licenses for animal sales or transport (Section 4). It expands enforcement authority by allowing the Attorney General to sue violators for up to $10,000 per day, seize animals, and seek injunctions (Section 20), while clarifying that courts can address violations of related rules and regulations. The bill directly affects animal dealers, exhibitors, the USDA, and the Department of Justice, creating clearer pathways for holding violators accountable. Key provisions include updating definitions, broadening inspection powers to cover all regulations, and directing penalty funds toward temporary animal care costs during legal proceedings.