Rep. Daniel Webster

Maddy summaryHR 1094, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, prevents private restrictions (such as those in homeowners associations) from blocking amateur radio operators from installing and maintaining antennas for emergency communications. The bill directly affects over 770,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the U.S. who face such restrictions on their residential property. Key provisions include overriding unreasonable restrictions, requiring reasonable safety and building code compliance for allowed rules, setting a 45-day approval period for antenna installations (with deemed approval if not acted on), and exempting small antennas (under 1 meter, flagpoles ≤43 feet, or minimal wire antennas) from prior approval. This ensures amateur radio operators can quickly establish emergency communication systems without unnecessary delays or costs during crises.

Maddy summaryHR 71, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, allows eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare to choose from a broader network of providers, including non-VA facilities, without geographic restrictions. The bill creates a 3-year pilot program in four diverse locations (rural and urban) where veterans can select primary care and specialty providers within a defined "covered care system" (VA facilities and approved community providers), with VA coordinating care through a primary provider. After the pilot, the law permanently requires the VA to offer this same choice of providers to all enrolled veterans, removing current barriers that limited access to non-VA care outside a veteran’s local VA network. The program uses existing VA funding and mandates regular reports to Congress on implementation and results.

Maddy summaryHR 992, the PATROL Act, prohibits the federal Attorney General from suing states that build border barriers (like walls or fences) to prevent illegal entry or protect state territory. It specifically blocks civil lawsuits under existing border laws (33 U.S.C. 401/403) against states for such barrier projects. The bill defines key terms like "barrier" (including walls or fences) and "immigration laws" to clarify its scope. This directly affects states constructing border infrastructure and limits federal legal actions against those efforts. The bill does not create new border policies but changes the legal landscape for state-led border security measures.

Fair Access to Banking Act This bill places restrictions on certain banks, credit unions, and payment card networks if they refuse to do business with a person who complies with the law. Restrictions include prohibiting the use of electronic funds transfer systems and lending programs, termination of an institution's depository insurance, and specified civil penalties. Banks and other specified financial institutions are allowed to deny financial services to a person only if the denial is justified by a documented failure of that person to meet quantitative, impartial, risk-based standards established in advance by the institution. This justification may not be based upon reputational risks to the institution. The bill establishes the right for a person to bring a civil action for a violation of this bill.

Maddy summaryHR 934, the Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act, requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The report must analyze the national security effects of surveillance conducted by China via the high-altitude balloon shot down in U.S. airspace in February 2023, specifically covering impacts on military installations and the technology recovered from the balloon, including its country of origin. This bill directly affects the Department of Defense and Congress by mandating a formal assessment of a specific security incident. It does not create new policies or funding but establishes a procedural requirement for transparency regarding the balloon incident. The report must be unclassified but may include a classified annex.

Maddy summaryHR 925, the "Dismantle DEI Act of 2025," would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal government operations. The bill requires federal agencies to close DEI offices, rescind related executive orders, and prohibit the use of federal funds for DEI training, offices, or initiatives. It defines "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice" as any activity that discriminates based on race, ethnicity, religion, biological sex, or national origin, or requires employees to complete training asserting that certain groups are inherently superior or inferior. The legislation also prohibits requiring employees to sign statements about race, ethnicity, or gender, and establishes private lawsuits for violations with potential damages of $1,000 per violation per day. This bill would directly affect federal agencies, contractors, grantees, and advisory committees receiving federal funding.

Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act of 2025 This bill requires finished pasteurized orange juice to contain at least 10% by weight of orange juice soluble solids, exclusive of the solids of any added optional sweetening ingredients. (Current regulations require at least 10.5% by weight of orange juice soluble solids.)

Maddy summaryHR 895 requires the Attorney General to investigate whether the 2022 discovery of five baby remains in Washington, DC, violated the existing Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, with a report due within six months. It mandates that healthcare workers must immediately report suspected violations of the ban to law enforcement and requires annual reports from the Attorney General detailing enforcement efforts, violations, and prosecutions over the past decade. The bill also directs the GAO to review enforcement actions from 2004-2024 and submit recommendations. This legislation focuses on strengthening enforcement of the existing 2003 ban, directly affecting healthcare providers, law enforcement, and the Department of Justice.

Maddy summaryHR 886, the "Beat Bad Bureaucrats Act," prevents the Small Business Administration (SBA) from withholding Social Security payments to repay certain business loans when identity theft is confirmed. It specifically protects victims of identity theft who fraudulently obtained SBA loans under Sections 7(a) or 7(b) of the Small Business Act (including pandemic-era loans). The law requires the SBA to update its regulations within 30 days to include clear instructions for reporting identity theft through its public website. This policy change directly affects individuals who report fraud via SBA's designated process, blocking garnishment of their Social Security benefits for those specific loans.

Maddy summaryThe Fighting Budget Waste Act requires the President and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to consider the most recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on reducing government waste when preparing the annual federal budget. Specifically, it mandates review of the GAO's findings about cutting fragmentation, duplication, and overlap in federal programs - such as the report titled *Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Billions of Dollars in Financial Benefits* - to identify potential savings. The OMB must also submit a separate report to Congress detailing how it incorporated the GAO's recommendations into the budget submission. This law aims to make the budget process more transparent by formally integrating the GAO's waste-reduction analysis into federal fiscal planning.