Rep. Derek Schmidt

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as TREY's Law, aims to make nondisclosure clauses in contracts void and unenforceable if they prevent the reporting of sexual abuse involving minors. It directly affects victims of such abuse, their families, and anyone with knowledge of the abuse by allowing them to disclose these incidents without fear of civil liability. The law applies retroactively to agreements made before or after its passage and overrides any state laws that allow the enforcement of these specific clauses. While it invalidates clauses that silence abuse details, it permits parties to keep confidential other settlement terms like payment amounts, provided this does not stop the disclosure of the abuse itself.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 aims to speed up care decisions and increase transparency for Medicare Advantage enrollees and providers. Starting in 2028, the bill requires insurance plans to respond to most prior authorization requests within 72 hours and to provide real-time decisions for low-risk services, while also banning requirements for re-authorization when a treatment plan is clinically modified. The legislation introduces a new compliance scoring system that will publicly rank plans and reduce payments to those with poor performance, alongside stricter rules ensuring medical necessity standards match those of traditional Medicare.

This resolution supports the recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The resolution also supports the efforts of the Department of Transportation, state and local governments, and state and local law enforcement to prevent and stop distracted driving.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the House of Representatives' strong support for designating April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." It recognizes the impact of crime on victims and survivors, appreciates organizations that assist them, and encourages continued efforts to support victims' rights and services.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 prohibits state and local governments from suing energy companies for damages related to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions. This bill declares that regulating emissions is exclusively a federal responsibility and voids any state laws that hold energy businesses liable for alleged climate harms. Consequently, all pending lawsuits of this nature against energy producers must be dismissed immediately, preventing states from imposing retroactive penalties for past lawful operations. The legislation directly affects companies involved in the production, refinement, and sale of oil, gas, and coal by shielding them from civil liability in both state and federal courts.

Maddy summaryThe Strategic Assets Protection Act requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review all completed transactions involving real estate, businesses, critical infrastructure, or assets related to U.S. nuclear facilities that occurred on or after January 1, 2017. This review must assess whether these transactions pose national security risks and determine if mitigation measures or further action are needed. The Treasury Secretary must submit a classified report with findings and recommendations to congressional committees within 180 days of the bill's enactment, along with an unclassified summary when possible. The law directly affects foreign investment transactions involving sensitive nuclear infrastructure and related facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the President to develop a National Veterans Strategy every four years to coordinate government, nonprofit, and private sector efforts aimed at improving veterans' well-being across health, economic, education, and social areas. The President must establish specific metrics to measure veteran success in these areas and consult with a wide range of stakeholders including federal agencies, state and local governments, veterans service organizations, and the general public. The bill also includes a provision allowing Congress to disapprove the strategy within 60 days of submission, and mandates annual reports on implementation progress along with quadrennial reviews to assess effectiveness and update the strategy as needed.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses appreciation for the contributions of American cowboys and historic cattle trails to the nation's history, particularly in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It recognizes the diverse roles of Mexican, Black, Native American, and White cowboys who drove cattle along trails like the Chisholm and Shawnee Trails across multiple states. The bill encourages local celebrations of this legacy as part of the national anniversary observances.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change federal law to give the executive branch more control over how United States Attorneys manage their offices. It directly affects the Department of Justice and the federal prosecutors who work under these attorneys. The key change removes a court rule that currently limits how long a U.S. Attorney can serve after being appointed, and it deletes a provision that restricts the executive branch from overseeing these offices. By making these adjustments to Title 28 of the U.S. Code, the legislation aims to restore what the bill describes as constitutional authority for the executive branch to supervise these legal offices.

Love Lives On Act of 2025 This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries. The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment.