Rep. Keith Self

Maddy summaryHR 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from automatically sending veterans' personal information to the national background check system (NICS) solely because a court has appointed a fiduciary (like a guardian) to manage their benefits. This directly affects veterans who have a fiduciary appointed due to mental health or cognitive challenges but are not deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires a court order finding the veteran poses a danger before any such information can be shared with the NICS. It changes VA procedures to block unnecessary barriers to firearm ownership for veterans who qualify for fiduciary support without a judicial determination of danger.

Maddy summaryHR 6764, the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Oversight Act of 2025, establishes four new advisory committees within the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide expert input on specific veteran needs. The bill creates a Veterans Health Advisory Committee focusing on prosthetics, mental health, and environmental exposures; a Veterans Economic Opportunity Committee addressing education and employment transitions; an Advisory Committee on Veterans Special Populations for underserved groups including women, tribal veterans, and those from outlying areas; and an Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War covering compensation and memorial affairs. Each committee must submit annual reports to VA leadership and Congress, with all committees set to terminate by September 30, 2028 unless renewed. The bill also terminates several existing advisory committees by September 30, 2026, streamlining the VA's advisory structure. This legislation does not create new benefits but establishes formal mechanisms for gathering expert input on existing VA programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the issuance of religious worker visas to individuals holding specific high-ranking titles in Islam, including ayatollahs, grand ayatollahs, imams, grand imams, muftis, grand muftis, and shaykhas. The law directly affects foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States under the R visa category for religious work, effectively barring those with these designated titles from admission. By amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, the legislation creates a blanket restriction based solely on religious hierarchy rather than individual conduct or specific activities.

Maddy summaryHR 8901, the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act, prohibits federally funded researchers and institutions from collaborating with entities on specific U.S. government restricted lists, such as those related to national security risks or forced labor. The bill defines research collaboration broadly to include joint projects, data sharing, co-authorship, and personnel exchanges, and it requires agencies to issue guidance for standardized compliance. While the law generally bans these partnerships, it allows federal agency heads to grant case-by-case waivers if the collaboration is essential for national security or critical scientific purposes, provided they report the decision and justification to Congress within 30 days.

Maddy summaryHR 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, requires the Attorney General to publish and regularly update a public list of all states and local governments that allow cashless bail (release without requiring money bonds). This list must be available within 30 days of the bill's enactment and updated quarterly. The bill does not change existing bail laws but increases transparency by making it easier for the public to see where cashless bail is used. It directly affects individuals seeking information about bail practices in different jurisdictions. The key mechanism is a mandatory, publicly accessible database maintained by the federal government.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Know Your American Customer Act, requires banks and credit unions to verify that all new and existing individual account holders are legally present in the United States. To open an account, individuals must present specific documents proving citizenship or lawful status, such as a passport, driver's license, or permanent resident card, with stricter rules applying to those with temporary visas. The law mandates that institutions freeze or close accounts for individuals who lose their legal status, though it provides a temporary grace period to allow for incoming deposits before restricting withdrawals. Additionally, the bill introduces criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for individuals who illegally open or maintain accounts, while explicitly exempting those who have recently lost status or are seeking asylum.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the ASSIMILATION Act, fundamentally restructures the U.S. immigration system by replacing family-based and lottery-based admissions with a merit-based approach that prioritizes economic self-sufficiency and national interest. It directly affects prospective immigrants, current visa holders, and employers by establishing new requirements for entry, employment, and naturalization. Key provisions eliminate the diversity visa lottery, restrict family-sponsored immigration to spouses and minor children, and mandate that all immigrants demonstrate the ability to support themselves without relying on government benefits. The legislation also introduces stricter enforcement measures, such as making visa overstays a criminal offense, expanding E-Verify to all employers, and requiring higher English proficiency and tax compliance for citizenship. Additionally, it tightens asylum rules by adding a transit bar for those passing through other countries and limits parole to specific humanitarian cases rather than broad programs.

Maddy summaryThe FORTIFY Act allows defense equipment and services to move freely between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania without needing special permission from the U.S. President. This change removes previous legal barriers that required U.S. approval whenever one Baltic nation shared military supplies with another. Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Defense to set up a shared digital system so these countries can easily coordinate and share ammunition for training and operations. The legislation aims to strengthen regional security by making it easier for Baltic allies to support each other militarily.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs within the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as the main point of contact between the department and Congress. The office will be led by an Assistant Secretary appointed by the President and will be split into two roles: one focusing on developing legislative positions and another managing the logistics of responding to congressional requests. The bill establishes specific timelines for answering congressional information requests, requiring acknowledgment within two days, a production plan within five days, and full responses within 45 days. It also mandates that at least 65 percent of the office's staff be career civil servants rather than political appointees to ensure operational stability. Additionally, the legislation includes penalties for missing response deadlines, such as restrictions on spending office funds and a mandatory review by the department's Inspector General.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Board of Veterans Appeals to annually report on factors causing delays in resolving veterans' appeals and cases sent back for more review (remands). Specifically, it mandates the Board's Chairman to identify, for both new and legacy appeal systems, the specific causes of untimely case resolutions and remands, including the number and percentage of cases affected by each factor. The report must cover cases pending under the new appeals system (since 2017) and all cases remanded during the year. This transparency measure directly affects veterans with pending appeals by making the reasons for delays and remands publicly documented.