Rep. Steve Womack

Maddy summaryHRES 719 is a House resolution honoring Charles "Charlie" James Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated on September 10, 2025. The resolution condemns his assassination and all political violence, extends condolences to his family, and calls on Americans to reject violence while promoting civil discourse. It specifically recognizes Kirk's legacy as a defender of constitutional principles and his role in inspiring youth through free speech and faith-based civic engagement. As a commemorative resolution, it does not enact policy changes but formally expresses the House's stance on honoring his life and legacy.

Maddy summaryHR 1107, the *Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025*, allows Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health professionals to prescribe and dispense medications regulated under federal law (like opioids or stimulants) via telemedicine without requiring an in-person medical exam first. This directly affects veterans receiving VA care and VA-employed health professionals who provide telemedicine services. The bill requires providers to hold a valid state license, act within their professional scope, and ensure prescriptions serve a legitimate medical purpose. It does not change existing federal drug laws but streamlines access to controlled medications for veterans through telehealth, particularly benefiting those in rural or remote areas.

Maddy summaryHR 5105, the UNLOCK Act, amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to expand eligibility for federal housing funds. It allows metropolitan cities, urban counties, states, local governments, insular areas, and tribal entities to use Section 106 funds for constructing new residential housing for low- and moderate-income residents, with or without nonprofit partnerships. The key change adds a new funding category (paragraph 27) to existing housing programs, streamlining access to resources for affordable housing projects. This bill directly affects local governments and tribal entities seeking to build or support affordable housing without requiring mandatory nonprofit involvement.

Maddy summary# Summary of Proposed FEMA Reform Legislation (FEMA Act of 2025) This comprehensive legislative document proposes significant reforms to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, with four main sections addressing: ## 1. Disaster Assistance Reforms - **Expanded eligibility** for assistance, including clarifying that absence of a fixed address doesn't disqualify individuals from sheltering assistance - **Improved rental assistance** with consideration of local post-disaster rent increases - **Direct assistance** for those unable to use financial assistance, with no requirement to show other assistance can cover costs (except insurance) - **Enhanced notices** for applicants, including documentation of denial decisions - **Clarification of displacement assistance** eligibility, stating insurance shouldn't be considered a duplication of benefits ## 2. Mitigation Program Enhancements - **Preapproved project mitigation plans** requiring states to develop plans with peer review processes - **Improved allocation of funds** with formulas prioritizing vulnerable communities, high-risk areas, and rural/economically distressed communities - **Resilient buildings** requirements for housing retrofits using the latest building codes - **Streamlined application processes** for hazard mitigation funds across multiple programs - **Study on mitigation benefits** to evaluate cost savings and effectiveness ## 3. Transparency and Accountability Measures - **Public dashboards** for both individual assistance (431) and public assistance (432) showing application status, approvals, denials, and funding - **Transparency requirements** for disaster declarations with detailed justifications for approvals/denials - **GAO studies** on numerous topics including: - Identity theft in disaster assistance (409) - Insurance utilization for public assistance facilities (410) - Wildfire management plans (411) - Effectiveness of alerting systems (412) - Cost savings of repair/rebuilding reforms (415) - **Prohibition on political discrimination** in assistance distribution ## 4. Workforce and Operational Improvements - **Study on workforce retention** in noncontiguous communities - **Pilot program** for preliminary damage assessments in remote communities - **Fast-moving disasters working group** to develop best practices for rapid response The legislation focuses on improving efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of disaster relief programs while prioritizing vulnerable populations and communities with higher risk of disasters. It also emphasizes data-driven decision making through required studies and reports to continuously improve disaster management policies.

Maddy summary# Summary of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This comprehensive appropriations bill allocates funding for the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies for fiscal year 2026. ## Key Funding Areas 1. **Department of Transportation**: Includes funding for transportation infrastructure, safety programs, and related initiatives. 2. **Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)**: - Tenant-based rental assistance (Section 8) - Public housing operating and capital funds - Lead hazard reduction programs - Fair housing activities - Homeless assistance grants - Community development programs - Healthy homes initiatives 3. **Related Agencies**: Funding for the Access Board, Federal Maritime Commission, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), National Transportation Safety Board, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and Surface Transportation Board. ## Major Restrictions and Provisions 1. **Funding Restrictions**: - No funds may be used for certain types of training (e.g., training inducing emotional stress, religious content, or designed to change personal values) - No funds for first-class airline travel in contravention of federal regulations - No funds for certain projects (e.g., no funds to support projects using eminent domain for private economic development) - No funds to facilitate new scheduled air transportation to Cuban Government-confiscated property 2. **Reporting Requirements**: - Quarterly reports to Congress on uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess funds - Semi-annual reports on properties with failing physical inspections 3. **Fund Transfer Rules**: - Strict limitations on reprogramming funds without Congressional approval - Restrictions on transferring funds between accounts (e.g., no more than 10% or $5 million transfer between offices) - Specific rules for transfer of funds to the Information Technology Fund 4. **Other Significant Provisions**: - Restrictions on using funds for certain types of litigation - Requirements for transparency in consulting services - Limits on using funds for executive-legislative activities - Prohibitions on using funds for certain types of contracts (e.g., "HAP Contract Support Services" solicitation) The bill contains numerous specific restrictions on how funds may be used, with over 100 provisions detailing what the funds cannot be used for, reflecting a strong emphasis on fiscal responsibility and program accountability.

Maddy summaryHR 1919, the "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act," prohibits the Federal Reserve from developing, testing, or issuing any central bank digital currency (CBDC) or similar digital assets. It specifically bans the Fed from offering direct financial products to individuals, maintaining individual accounts, or issuing CBDCs directly or indirectly through intermediaries like banks. The bill also blocks the Fed from using any digital asset for monetary policy and clarifies that physical currency's privacy protections remain intact. This policy directly affects the Federal Reserve System's ability to create or manage digital monetary tools.

Maddy summaryHR 4474, the Equal Shot Act of 2025, prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) from denying financial assistance - such as loans or guarantees - to firearm businesses solely because of their industry. It directly affects firearm manufacturers, distributors, trade associations, and affiliated entities like shooting ranges or training providers. The bill requires the SBA to treat these applicants equally under existing law, removing any policy that would block them based on their connection to firearms. This is a concrete policy change ensuring firearm-related businesses have the same access to SBA programs as other eligible applicants.

Maddy summaryHR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.

Maddy summaryHR 4132, the Prescription Information Modernization Act of 2025, allows drug manufacturers to provide FDA-approved prescribing information for prescription drugs exclusively through electronic means, while requiring them to offer paper copies at no additional cost upon request by prescribers or dispensers. The bill directly affects drug manufacturers, doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who rely on prescribing information. Key provisions include mandating that manufacturers give prescribers/dispensers the choice to continue receiving paper copies or request them as needed, and requiring the HHS Secretary to issue implementing regulations within one year to support this transition. The law takes effect two years after enactment or when final regulations are issued, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress the power to pass laws banning the physical desecration of the U.S. flag (such as burning, trampling, or defacing it). If ratified, it would directly affect individuals who engage in such acts by making them subject to federal criminal penalties under new laws Congress could create. The amendment would add a specific clause to the Constitution stating: "Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." Ratification would require approval by 3/4 of state legislatures within seven years of submission.