Rep. Derek Schmidt

Maddy summaryThe FORGE Act establishes a new program within the Department of State called FIRST to support the international deployment of small modular nuclear reactors. Managed by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, this program aims to promote U.S. nuclear technology abroad by facilitating diplomatic efforts, offering safety and regulatory guidance, and providing early-stage project support to help American businesses compete fairly with state-backed rivals. The legislation requires the program to submit regular reports and briefings to Congress detailing its activities, partners, and funding, and it is set to expire in 2034.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to analyze indirect economic costs on small businesses when creating new rules, including costs affecting businesses that interact with regulated entities (like suppliers or partners). It creates a new process allowing small businesses to petition the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel to review agency certifications claiming a rule won't significantly impact them. Agencies must then provide detailed cost analyses, publish guidance online for small business feedback, and face penalties if they fail to cooperate with reviews. The bill does not change existing regulations but adds new review steps for small business input.

Maddy summaryThe Veterans Protection from Fraud Act of 2026 strengthens federal penalties for crimes targeting veterans of any age. It achieves this by amending the U.S. Code to explicitly include "targeted veterans" as a specific category of victims for certain offenses. This legislative change ensures that fraud or crimes directed at veterans are treated with the same legal severity as those committed against other protected groups. The bill directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and the veterans community by closing a potential gap in how such crimes are classified and punished.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Lowering Input Costs for American Farmers Act, aims to reduce costs for U.S. agricultural producers by modifying trade duties on phosphate fertilizers. It removes existing tariffs and countervailing duties on phosphate imports from Morocco, while leaving duties on similar products from other countries unchanged. Additionally, the legislation requires the U.S. government to refund cash deposits collected from Moroccan importers under previous trade orders and ensures no new duties are applied to these specific shipments.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as TREY's Law, aims to make nondisclosure clauses in contracts void and unenforceable if they prevent the reporting of sexual abuse involving minors. It directly affects victims of such abuse, their families, and anyone with knowledge of the abuse by allowing them to disclose these incidents without fear of civil liability. The law applies retroactively to agreements made before or after its passage and overrides any state laws that allow the enforcement of these specific clauses. While it invalidates clauses that silence abuse details, it permits parties to keep confidential other settlement terms like payment amounts, provided this does not stop the disclosure of the abuse itself.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 aims to speed up care decisions and increase transparency for Medicare Advantage enrollees and providers. Starting in 2028, the bill requires insurance plans to respond to most prior authorization requests within 72 hours and to provide real-time decisions for low-risk services, while also banning requirements for re-authorization when a treatment plan is clinically modified. The legislation introduces a new compliance scoring system that will publicly rank plans and reduce payments to those with poor performance, alongside stricter rules ensuring medical necessity standards match those of traditional Medicare.

This resolution supports the recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The resolution also supports the efforts of the Department of Transportation, state and local governments, and state and local law enforcement to prevent and stop distracted driving.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the House of Representatives' strong support for designating April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." It recognizes the impact of crime on victims and survivors, appreciates organizations that assist them, and encourages continued efforts to support victims' rights and services.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 prohibits state and local governments from suing energy companies for damages related to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions. This bill declares that regulating emissions is exclusively a federal responsibility and voids any state laws that hold energy businesses liable for alleged climate harms. Consequently, all pending lawsuits of this nature against energy producers must be dismissed immediately, preventing states from imposing retroactive penalties for past lawful operations. The legislation directly affects companies involved in the production, refinement, and sale of oil, gas, and coal by shielding them from civil liability in both state and federal courts.

Maddy summaryThe Strategic Assets Protection Act requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review all completed transactions involving real estate, businesses, critical infrastructure, or assets related to U.S. nuclear facilities that occurred on or after January 1, 2017. This review must assess whether these transactions pose national security risks and determine if mitigation measures or further action are needed. The Treasury Secretary must submit a classified report with findings and recommendations to congressional committees within 180 days of the bill's enactment, along with an unclassified summary when possible. The law directly affects foreign investment transactions involving sensitive nuclear infrastructure and related facilities.