Rep. Andy Barr

Maddy summaryThis House resolution supports designating the week of September 20 through September 26, 2026, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." It aims to honor the families of service members and veterans who have died in the line of duty. The bill encourages Americans to observe this annual week by performing acts of community service and celebrating the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to replace an existing plaque at the Lincoln Memorial with a new one that commemorates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The legislation requires that the design and placement of the new plaque follow the rules set by the Commemorative Works Act. It also authorizes the use of federal funds for the removal of the old plaque and the installation of the new one, while allowing the agency to accept private contributions to help cover these costs without needing additional congressional approval.

Maddy summaryThe Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026 significantly restructures the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection by subjecting it to the regular federal appropriations process and establishing an independent Inspector General appointed by the President. The bill restricts the Bureau's supervisory authority over banks and credit unions with assets under $30 billion, allowing these institutions to elect to remain under their existing prudential regulators instead. It also introduces a safe harbor for small-dollar loans of $3,500 or less that meet specific structural requirements, shielding compliant lenders from civil money penalties and private damages. Additionally, the legislation creates federal standards for earned wage access services, requiring providers to offer a no-cost option for early wage access and prohibiting them from treating these services as credit or debt under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "American Lending Fairness Act of 2026," makes changes to federal laws governing interest rates charged by financial institutions, primarily impacting how state-chartered banks and credit unions operate across state lines. It repeals a current federal law (Section 525 of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980) that has allowed states

Maddy summaryThe TRAPS Act establishes a federal Task Force on Payment Scams, chaired by the Treasury Secretary, to coordinate efforts across agencies like the FTC, Federal Reserve, and consumer groups. The Task Force will study current scam tactics (such as fake text messages or fraudulent payment platforms), evaluate prevention strategies, and develop recommendations to help consumers avoid and report scams. It must submit an initial report within one year and annual updates, focusing on improving federal-state coordination and education programs. This bill directly affects government agencies and stakeholders participating in the Task Force, with the goal of protecting consumers from evolving payment scams.

Maddy summaryHR 2978, the GUARD Act, allows state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to use existing federal grant funds for investigating elder financial fraud, "pig butchering" investment scams, and general financial fraud. The bill directs these funds toward hiring specialized staff, training on blockchain tools and transnational fraud, purchasing investigative software, improving data collection, and creating financial sector liaisons to coordinate with banks. It requires annual reports from law enforcement on fund usage and outcomes, and mandates federal agencies to submit comprehensive reports to Congress on scam statistics, enforcement actions, and funding allocation. The legislation directly affects law enforcement agencies and aims to strengthen efforts against fraud targeting vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 1653, the Civil Investigative Demand Reform Act of 2025, amends rules for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) information requests (civil investigative demands or CIDs) under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010. It directly affects financial institutions and businesses under CFPB investigation by requiring CIDs to specify particular facts, extending the violation window to six years, and adding a process for attorneys to seek clarifications from the CFPB within 20 days. Key provisions include clearer legal grounds for challenging CIDs (such as undue burden or duplication) and allowing judicial review if the CFPB denies a request to modify or dismiss a CID. The bill aims to make the CID process more transparent and predictable for regulated entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new passenger vehicles manufactured for sale in the U.S. to include AM radio as standard equipment (not an optional add-on) by 2027-2028, depending on manufacturer size. It mandates that AM radio receivers must be easily accessible to drivers and allows compliance through digital AM broadcast technology. During a transition period, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio but cannot charge extra for this feature. The bill also mandates a GAO study on AM radio's role in emergency alerts and includes a 10-year sunset provision for the rule. It preempts state laws regarding AM radio access in vehicles.

Maddy summaryThe Make Apportionment Great Again Act would change how U.S. House seats are distributed among states by excluding noncitizens from the population count used for apportionment. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to recalculate state populations using existing federal and state government records, without conducting a new census, and mandates that future censuses include a question on citizenship status. The bill establishes a legal presumption that any resulting changes in seat allocation are valid, allowing courts to overturn them only with clear evidence of statutory or constitutional violations. Additionally, it creates an expedited judicial process for legal challenges, requiring cases to be heard by three-judge panels and permitting direct appeal to the Supreme Court.

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. [ sic ] This bill temporarily directs the Department of the Interior to award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum.