Rep. Jodey C. Arrington

Maddy summaryHRES 262 establishes a House Select Committee focused solely on investigating Mexican drug cartels and their international networks, including U.S. and Mexican government efforts to address them. The committee has no legislative authority but may hold public hearings, conduct investigations, and issue policy recommendations by December 2025, with final reports due by December 2026. This procedural resolution affects only House committee structure and processes, not direct policy changes for the public or government agencies.

Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act (HR 2395) redefines federal firearm definitions to exclude antique and collector firearms from being classified as firearms, and removes distinctions between short-barreled rifles and shotguns in federal regulations. It prevents state laws from imposing taxes or registration requirements on short-barreled rifles and shotguns, requiring state rules to align with federal compliance instead. The bill also mandates the federal government to destroy specific records related to these firearms within one year of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 2443, the NPR and PBS Act, would ban all federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), including funds used indirectly by public broadcast stations. This bill directly affects NPR, PBS, and any future organizations replacing them, as it prohibits government money from supporting them through any channel - like station dues or programming purchases. The key provision blocks all federal funds, both direct and indirect, from flowing to these entities after the bill's enactment. This would require NPR and PBS to find new funding sources, as they currently rely on federal support. The bill does not change how public broadcasting operates but eliminates its primary government funding stream.

Maddy summaryHR 2423, the Unfair Tax Prevention Act, amends the U.S. tax code to modify how the base erosion tax applies to certain foreign-owned businesses. It directly affects foreign-controlled entities operating under specific foreign tax systems that impose taxes based on ownership chains, such as those linked to foreign corporations. Key provisions include treating these entities as "applicable taxpayers" for tax purposes, changing a deadline from December 31, 2025, to the bill's enactment date, and counting 50% of their cost of goods sold as a tax benefit while excluding certain other tax rules. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHRES 232 is a non-binding resolution calling on Panama to expel Chinese officials and end Chinese management of key Panamanian ports, specifically Balboa and Cristobal. It urges Panama to terminate agreements with Chinese-affiliated entities like Hutchison Ports and reaffirm the Panama Canal's neutrality under the 1977 Neutrality Treaty. The resolution also requests U.S. support for Panama to reduce reliance on Chinese infrastructure projects and develop alternatives. This addresses concerns about Chinese influence over strategic infrastructure, as raised by Panama's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Maddy summaryHR 2242 requires states administering Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs to follow the same fraud prevention standards as federal agencies under the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019. This applies directly to state TANF programs, mandating they implement measures to detect and prevent improper payments - such as payments to ineligible recipients or overpayments. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to submit a 10-year plan to Congress for reducing improper TANF payments within one year of the bill’s enactment. The bill focuses on strengthening program integrity through existing federal payment oversight mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHJRES 35 is a congressional resolution disapproving an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established procedures for emissions charges on petroleum and natural gas systems. Specifically, it targets the EPA’s November 2024 rule titled "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions," which would have required companies to pay fees based on emissions. The resolution, passed by both chambers in February 2025, nullifies the rule, preventing it from taking effect. This directly affects oil and gas companies subject to the EPA’s emissions regulations, removing a specific compliance mechanism they would have faced.

Maddy summaryHR 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, extends the time limit for prosecuting fraud related to pandemic unemployment programs. It adds a 10-year window for criminal or civil actions against individuals who falsely claimed benefits under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), or Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC). The law applies only to fraud committed during these specific pandemic-era programs and does not revive cases where the original statute of limitations had already expired before this bill passed. This change gives authorities more time to pursue fraud cases without altering the programs' core eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 1990, the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025, amends tax rules for businesses to make research and development (R&D) costs more flexible. It allows companies to deduct R&D expenses immediately as business costs (instead of capitalizing them) or to spread these costs over a minimum 60-month period. The bill clarifies which R&D expenses qualify, excludes land improvements and mineral exploration costs, and ensures companies can claim R&D tax credits without conflict with expense treatment. This directly affects businesses that conduct R&D, changing how they account for these costs on tax returns starting for 2022 taxable years.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office Building".