Rep. Daniel Webster

Maddy summaryThe SAFE for Manatees Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study identifying potential new habitats for manatees in Florida as industrial sites are decommissioned and water temperatures change. This study must evaluate natural warm-water locations and explore methods for building artificial warm-water refuges in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers and Florida wildlife officials. The bill requires the Interior Department to publish a report on these findings within 180 days of enactment to inform future conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026, aims to streamline environmental permitting for the State of Florida by recognizing a specific federal biological opinion as fully compliant with the Endangered Species Act. By deeming this existing document sufficient, the legislation eliminates the need for additional federal consultations regarding dredge and fill projects under the Clean Water Act. The primary effect is to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to approve Florida's request to manage its own state-level permitting program without further federal oversight on these specific environmental matters.

Maddy summaryThe Title IX Clarification Act of 2026 amends federal education law to explicitly define the terms "sex," "female," and "male" based on biological characteristics. Specifically, it states that "sex" refers to an individual's biologically determined status as male or female, while "female" and "male" are defined by the presence of specific reproductive systems capable of producing ova or sperm, respectively. These definitions apply to all education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance starting on the date the bill becomes law. The legislation aims to clarify existing statutes by removing ambiguity around biological sex definitions in the context of Title IX protections.

Maddy summaryHR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the United States Postal Service to assign a single, unique ZIP Code to each of 80 specific communities across various states within one year of enactment. The legislation directly affects residents and businesses in these listed areas by ensuring they have their own distinct postal identifier rather than sharing codes with neighboring regions. The primary mechanism is a mandatory directive for the USPS to update its coding system to reflect these individual community boundaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a 34-mile segment of the Myakka River in Sarasota County, Florida, as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It classifies specific river segments as "wild" (11.2 miles), "scenic" (multiple segments totaling 22.9 miles), or "recreational" (1.5 miles), based on their natural character. The bill establishes cooperative management through the existing Myakka River Management Coordinating Council and prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from administering the river as a National Park System unit or using land condemnation. It requires the Secretary to work with Florida and local entities to implement a management plan already developed under state law, without altering current land ownership or management authority.

Maddy summaryH.Res. 1497 is a House resolution that commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, in which 13 U.S. servicemembers were killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The bill lists the names of the fallen soldiers and formally condemns the Biden-Harris administration for what it describes as dereliction of duty and the forfeiture of military property to the Taliban. It asserts that the withdrawal was a disastrous failure that ignored security warnings and left Americans at risk, while also criticizing the lack of accountability from officials involved in the decision-making process.

Maddy summaryHR 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, restricts Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing certain investments like stocks in publicly traded companies. It requires 7-14 days' advance public notice before selling any such investment, including the sale date, description, and number of shares. Exceptions apply for work-related transactions (e.g., employer compensation) and reinvesting dividends. Violations trigger a fee of $2,000 or 10% of the investment’s value (whichever is greater), plus any net gain, paid from personal funds - not congressional allowances or campaign donations. The bill aims to prevent conflicts of interest by increasing transparency around congressional financial dealings.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Charleston, South Carolina, should proceed with hosting the 2027 annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly. The bill cites Charleston's existing facilities as suitable for the event and notes that hosting the convention in South Carolina honors the legacy of late Senator Lindsey Olin Graham. It also highlights that the United States has not hosted this specific assembly since 2005. The measure does not change any laws or allocate funding but serves as a formal statement of support for the planned event.

Maddy summaryThe USA Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to advance international standards for artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies by promoting private sector-led processes and strengthening public-private partnerships. To improve U.S. involvement, the bill requires the institute to provide Congress with a briefing on current standards activities and to create a web portal that helps industry and government agencies find and join these efforts. Additionally, the legislation establishes a five-year pilot program that awards grants to eligible organizations to host standards meetings within the United States, aiming to increase domestic participation in global technical standardization.