Rep. Pete Sessions

Maddy summaryThe Make Elections Great Again Act (HR 7300) would require voters to present photo identification to cast ballots in person or by mail for federal elections, with limited exceptions for religious objections or military voters. It would establish new requirements for proving U.S. citizenship during voter registration, including documentary proof of citizenship and proof of state residency. The bill would change mail-in ballot procedures by requiring voters to request mail-in ballots (rather than universal mail-in voting), implementing barcode tracking for mail-in ballots, and setting strict deadlines for ballot receipt. These provisions would apply to all states for federal elections held in 2027 or later, affecting how voters register, vote in person, and submit mail-in ballots for federal office elections.

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE America Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, and requires photo identification to vote, in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill (1) provides for a private right of action for certain violations, and (2) establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses. Individuals voting in federal elections must present an eligible photo identification document. An individual who votes by absentee ballot must submit a copy of their identification document with both the request for, and the submission of, the absentee ballot.

Maddy summaryHR 7270 creates a federal grant program administered by the Treasury Secretary to provide funding to states for developing secure digital identity systems. States would use these grants to create digital driver’s licenses and identity credentials that comply with NIST guidelines, prioritize protection against deepfake attacks, and replace vulnerable legacy systems. The bill requires states to use at least 10% of grant funds to assist individuals in obtaining digital identity services, while prohibiting states from forcing residents to use digital IDs or eliminating physical licenses. It aims to reduce identity theft fraud in government benefit programs and the financial system by enhancing digital identity security, with no requirement for states to develop digital credentials.

Maddy summaryHR 1295, the Reorganizing Government Act of 2025, amends federal law to streamline executive branch operations. It requires all executive departments (like the Departments of Defense or Education) to eliminate unnecessary programs, reduce federal employee numbers, and cut burdensome regulations that increase compliance costs. The bill updates deadlines for reorganization plans from 1984 to 2026 and explicitly mandates that all government operations must serve the public interest. These changes apply broadly across the federal government, focusing on efficiency and cost reduction.

Maddy summaryHR 7235, the "Protecting Motherhood Act," requires all federal agencies to stop using the term "birthing person" in official documents and instead use specific terms like "female," "mother," "pregnant woman," or "woman." It directly affects federal agencies that produce regulations, forms, or communications, mandating the use of these defined terms when referring to individuals based on biological sex. The bill provides detailed definitions for terms like "female" (based on biological sex at conception) and "pregnant woman" (an adult human female carrying a child). The law takes effect 30 days after enactment. This is a procedural change focused solely on terminology in government documents, with no direct impact on healthcare access or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for businesses selling products made with U.S.-grown cotton. The credit equals 24% of the cotton's market value if processed only in the U.S. or in countries with U.S. trade deals, or 18% for other processing locations. To qualify, cotton must be digitally traced from U.S. farms to finished products and certified by the USDA as meeting origin requirements. It directly affects clothing and textile manufacturers selling qualifying products in the U.S. market.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE KIDS Act would void surrogacy contracts between U.S. surrogates and foreign nationals from designated "foreign entities of concern" (nations listed under 10 U.S.C. §4872(f)(2)), except for married couples where at least one prospective parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. It prohibits surrogacy brokers from facilitating such contracts, imposing fines or up to one year in prison for knowingly arranging these agreements. If a contract is voided, custody decisions for the child would be determined by state courts based solely on the child’s best interests, disregarding the invalid agreement. The bill aims to address what Congress identifies as a national security threat involving exploitation of U.S. surrogacy laws and potential human trafficking.

Maddy summaryHR 224, the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, modifies how income is calculated for housing assistance programs by requiring that veterans' service-connected disability compensation (from the VA) be excluded when determining eligibility for low/moderate income housing. This directly affects disabled veterans who receive VA disability payments, ensuring these funds do not count against them for housing assistance under HUD programs. The bill amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to mandate this exclusion in income calculations. Additionally, it requires a report within one year examining how disability compensation is treated across HUD programs and recommending improvements to better serve veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new regulatory framework specifically for homeopathic drugs, establishing rules distinct from those for conventional medicines. It defines homeopathic drug products as those containing only homeopathic ingredients (with no other active ingredients) and sets safety and quality standards based on the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States. The bill requires new labeling that includes specific statements about unverified uses and removes the requirement for premarket approval of these products. It also creates a Homeopathic Drug Product Advisory Committee to advise the FDA and withdraws previous FDA guidance on homeopathic products.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to change how tipped employees' wages are calculated. It removes the previous requirement that tipped workers must "customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips" to qualify for the lower cash wage rate. Instead, it requires that the combined cash wage plus tips must equal or exceed the standard federal minimum wage for the pay period chosen by the employer (ranging from daily to monthly). The bill directly affects restaurant servers, bartenders, and other tipped workers who receive cash wages plus tips. It simplifies wage calculations for employers while ensuring tipped employees earn at least the full minimum wage when tips are included.