Rep. John B. Larson

Maddy summaryHR 3607, the MARSHALS Act, restructures the U.S. Marshals Service by moving it from the Department of Justice to the judicial branch of the federal government. It requires the Chief Justice, in consultation with a new oversight Board, to appoint marshals for each judicial district (with four-year terms) and establishes a Director to lead the Service. The bill expands the Marshals Service’s duties to include protecting judges, court officers, and witnesses from intimidation, and adds specific roles in assisting with sex offender investigations and locating missing children at the Attorney General’s request. These changes directly affect federal marshals, judicial branch operations, and law enforcement coordination with the Department of Justice.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. military from discriminating against service members or applicants based on gender identity. It bans policies that would deny service, involuntarily separate members, deny medically necessary healthcare, or require service in a gender different from one's identity. The law defines "gender identity" broadly to include a person's internal sense of gender, appearance, and mannerisms, regardless of sex assigned at birth. It directly affects transgender and gender-diverse individuals currently serving or seeking to serve in the Armed Forces.

Maddy summaryHR 3559, the Save Our Forests Act of 2025, requires the U.S. Forest Service to increase staffing for National Forest System lands within 30 days of enactment to support forest health and productivity. It mandates reinstating Forest Service employees terminated between January 20, 2025, and the bill’s enactment date. The bill also directs the continuation of specific existing projects funded under laws like the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These provisions directly affect Forest Service operations, workers, and the management of national forests.

Maddy summaryHR 3555, the Protect our Parks Act of 2025, requires the Secretary of the Interior to ensure National Park Service units are fully staffed for visitor safety, resource protection, and maintenance within 30 days of enactment. It mandates rehiring all National Park Service employees involuntarily terminated between January 20, 2025, and the bill’s enactment date. The bill also directs the continuation of specific park projects funded under the Great American Outdoors Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation directly affects National Park Service staff and park operations, focusing on staffing stability and project continuity.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a code of conduct for Supreme Court justices, requiring them to disclose gifts, income, and potential conflicts of interest. It creates a formal process for handling complaints about justices, including a judicial investigation panel to review allegations. The bill adds specific circumstances requiring recusal, such as when a justice or family member has financial ties to a party in a case. Additionally, it mandates that parties and amicus briefs disclose any gifts given to justices and lobbying activities related to their nomination. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in the Supreme Court's operations.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.

Maddy summaryHRES 410 is a non-binding House resolution requiring President Trump to comply with the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause regarding a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet gift from Qatar’s royal family. It directs the President to immediately submit all plans for the aircraft to Congress and obtain explicit congressional consent before accepting it, as required by the Constitution. The resolution cites historical precedent where all prior presidents sought Congress’s approval for foreign gifts, including items like medals, horses, and the Statue of Liberty. It emphasizes that accepting the jet without consent would violate the Constitution and pose national security risks. The bill focuses solely on procedural compliance, not the merits of the gift itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how married couples filing jointly can deduct student loan interest on their federal taxes. Currently, the deduction limit of $2,500 applies to the household as a whole. The bill would amend the tax code to apply the $2,500 limit separately to each spouse, meaning both partners could each deduct up to $2,500 in interest. This directly affects married couples with student loans who file jointly, providing them with a larger potential tax benefit. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 3243, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025, bans the provision of paid conversion therapy aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and prohibits advertising such therapy as effective, safe, or without risk. It directly affects LGBTQ+ individuals and their families who might be targeted by these practices, as professionals have determined conversion therapy is ineffective and harmful. The law treats violations as deceptive acts under consumer protection laws, empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce it through civil actions. It explicitly excludes legitimate gender transition support and non-discriminatory counseling from the ban.

Maddy summaryHR 3184, the PFAS Alternatives Act, funds research to develop turnout gear (firefighter safety clothing) without harmful PFAS chemicals, directly affecting firefighters who wear this gear. It authorizes $25 million annually (2025-2029) for grants to eligible organizations to research and test PFAS-free gear, requiring partnerships with firefighting groups to translate findings into practice. The bill also allocates $2 million yearly (2027-2031) for training programs on safe gear use and decontamination. Its goal is to reduce firefighters' exposure to chemicals linked to occupational illnesses during operations.