Rep. Keith Self

Maddy summaryThis House resolution marks the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment and honors its original sponsor, Congressman Henry Hyde. It asserts that the amendment has prevented over 2.6 million abortions by restricting federal funding for elective procedures. The text emphasizes that this policy protects taxpayer conscience rights by ensuring public money is not used to finance abortions. Additionally, it encourages Americans to reflect on the history of the amendment and the total number of abortions performed since the Roe v. Wade decision.

Maddy summaryHR 4986, the Parents Opt-in Protection Act, amends federal law to require written permission before schools administer certain student surveys or evaluations. It directly affects students (especially minors) and their parents, requiring schools to obtain prior written consent from the student (if an adult or emancipated minor) or the parent (for minors) for each specific survey. The bill clarifies that schools cannot force participation without this written consent for surveys related to sensitive topics like health or behavior. This change updates existing consent rules from verbal permission to a written requirement for targeted school assessments.

Maddy summaryHR 10501 amends the Communist Control Act of 1954 to explicitly classify the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a communist political party under federal law. By adding the DSA and any successor organizations to the statutory list of banned entities, the bill subjects the group to existing restrictions on membership in government positions and other legal penalties associated with designated communist parties. This legislative change directly affects members and leaders of the DSA by potentially disqualifying them from holding public office or serving in certain federal roles.

Maddy summaryHR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.

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.

Maddy summaryHR 2323, the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, would expand Big Bend National Park by adding approximately 6,100 acres of land. The Secretary of the Interior may acquire this land through donation or exchange (not eminent domain), using a specific map dated November 2022. Once acquired, the land becomes part of the park and is managed under existing laws. The map must be publicly available for inspection at National Park Service offices.

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 House concurrent resolution formally denounces Sharia law and opposes its implementation within the United States. The text argues that Sharia functions as a comprehensive political and legal system that conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, specifically citing differences in criminal justice, gender equality, and individual liberties. It references historical examples of Islamic governance and recent statements by President Trump to support the claim that foreign legal systems incompatible with American values should not be applied domestically. As a concurrent resolution, this measure serves as an official expression of congressional sentiment rather than creating new binding laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThe Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act of 2026 would prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy meals at restaurants and other private food service establishments. The bill achieves this by removing specific legal provisions from the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 that currently allow states to run optional restaurant programs for eligible groups such as the elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals. If enacted, these changes would take effect 180 days after the date of enactment, directly affecting SNAP recipients who rely on these state-level options for dining out.