Rep. Eugene Simon Vindman

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to ban Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives from trading in prediction markets that bet on specific events or contingencies. The rule would prohibit these individuals from entering into contracts or agreements involving excluded commodities, though it explicitly allows for standard insurance policies and legal sports betting. Additionally, the resolution expresses the House's preference that the executive and judicial branches adopt similar restrictions to prevent conflicts of interest.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that antisemitic rhetoric from specific online personalities, including Hasan Piker and Candace Owens, is dangerous and contributes to hatred. It urges social media platforms to enforce their policies against hate speech and calls on public officials to condemn such conduct without exception. The bill does not impose new laws or penalties but instead highlights specific instances of alleged hate speech to emphasize the need for responsibility among influencers and technology companies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Stop Subsidizing Private Jets of 2026, prevents taxpayers from deducting expenses related to private fixed-wing aircraft on their federal income tax returns. It directly affects individuals and businesses that purchase, maintain, or operate personal planes, effectively removing the tax benefit previously available for these costs. The law allows deductions only for specific exceptions, such as aircraft used for property transport, agriculture, firefighting, emergency medical services, or commercial activities like flight instruction and sightseeing tours. These changes will apply to any expenses incurred after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Commander of the United States Space Command to submit a feasibility report to Congress within one year regarding the potential expansion of the Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender to include allies like Japan and South Korea. The report must detail current efforts, identify necessary policy or funding changes for these nations to join, and assess how such an expansion would impact U.S. national security interests. Additionally, the legislation requires an evaluation of whether inviting these countries to the force is practical and aligns with American national interests, while also outlining any new resources needed from government branches to facilitate this move.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act, aims to cancel specific regulations issued by the Department of State. It directly affects the federal government by prohibiting any department or agency from enforcing, implementing, or proposing rules related to protecting life, combating discriminatory equity ideology, and combating gender ideology in foreign aid programs. The legislation treats these cancelled rules as if they never existed, effectively nullifying their impact on future foreign assistance policies.

Maddy summaryThe Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026 temporarily eliminates the federal excise tax on gasoline for fuel sold between the date of enactment and January 1, 2027. To maintain funding for highway and environmental projects, the Treasury Department will transfer money from the general fund to replace the lost tax revenue. The bill also directs the Treasury to enforce measures ensuring that fuel producers and dealers pass these tax savings directly to consumers through lower prices.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies state unemployment programs to help job seekers start businesses. It removes the requirement that participants must first exhaust regular unemployment benefits before accessing self-employment assistance. States must now approve business plans or require entrepreneurial training/counseling for participants, who must also certify weekly participation. The bill also raises the cap on program participants from 5% to 10% of unemployed individuals. These changes aim to expand access to business ownership support through state unemployment systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends rules for sharing information about suspected intellectual property violations in trade. It requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to have a reasonable suspicion before sharing data, and permits sharing nonpublic details with online marketplaces, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other entities involved in U.S. merchandise imports. It also allows CBP to share such information with additional parties (e.g., importers or rights holders) as determined appropriate by the Commissioner. The changes aim to improve coordination between enforcement and industry for intellectual property protection.

Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act This bill creates a new income-driven repayment plan for student loans called the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) plan. The SOAR plan has similar provisions to, but further expands on, the Department of Education's (ED's) final rule published on July 10, 2023, that created the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The SAVE plan was blocked by federal courts. The bill directs ED to carry out a SOAR plan program that complies with specified requirements. The bill allows all federal student loan types to be eligible for repayment under the SOAR plan, including Parent PLUS Loans and Federal Family Education Loans. Under the SOAR plan, a federal student loan borrower whose income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) has $0 monthly payments. A borrower whose income is over 250% of the FPL pays 5% of their discretionary income on loans obtained for undergraduate study and 10% of their discretionary income for all other outstanding loans (e.g., loans obtained for graduate study). Additionally, under the SOAR plan, holders of eligible federal student loans (e.g., ED or private lenders) must apply 50% of the borrower's monthly payment toward outstanding principal. The other 50% must be applied in the following order: (1) accrued charges and collection costs on the loan, (2) outstanding interest, and (3) outstanding principal. ED must forgive any loan balance that remains outstanding after a specified maximum repayment period (e.g., 10 years or 15 years).

Maddy summaryThe Rural Child Care Access Act establishes a federal grant program to assist child care facilities in rural areas with fewer than 50,000 residents. The Department of Health and Human Services can award up to $4 million per facility for projects that upgrade infrastructure or improve provider recruitment and training. Congress has authorized $250 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, requiring the agency to report on project progress and ensure funds are distributed equitably across regions. Additionally, the bill mandates a study to assess the ongoing construction and renovation needs of child care facilities nationwide.