Rep. Lance Gooden

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam, a music educator who founded the Melody Maids, an all-girls singing group that supported U.S. military morale during World War II and subsequent conflicts. The legislation directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medal's presentation on behalf of Congress, while the Secretary of the Treasury is tasked with striking the gold medal with appropriate designs. Following the ceremony, the original medal will be given to the Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas, for display and research, and the Secretary may also produce and sell duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs.

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Maddy summaryHR 2675, the Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025, requires parties and their lawyers in federal civil cases to disclose any foreign funding tied to case outcomes. It mandates written disclosure of foreign funders' identities (including country of origin) and certification about funding sources, while banning foreign states or sovereign wealth funds from funding litigation. The law also requires annual reports to Congress detailing foreign-funded cases, including amounts and jurisdictions. This directly affects parties using foreign-funded litigation, courts handling such cases, and foreign entities seeking to influence U.S. courts through financial support.

Maddy summaryHR 1468 establishes a new "CCP Initiative" within the Department of Justice's National Security Division to counter threats from the Chinese Communist Party. The initiative specifically targets intellectual property theft, economic espionage, and unauthorized technology transfers by Chinese entities, focusing on protecting U.S. businesses, academic institutions, and critical infrastructure. Key mechanisms include developing enforcement strategies, prioritizing cases involving trade secret theft and hacking, and requiring annual congressional reports on progress, resource use, and economic impacts. The initiative is designed to operate separately from other DOJ programs and will expire six years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act, expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by strengthening their immunity from civil lawsuits. It requires courts to immediately dismiss any pending cases against these companies that are based on the criminal or unlawful misuse of a gun by a third party, while also clarifying that sellers are not liable for negligence in entrusting products to others. The legislation further restricts who can file such suits by prohibiting foreign governments from bringing these claims and adding a specific exception for victims under the age of 17, though it maintains immunity for cases involving design or manufacturing defects. Additionally, the bill allows companies to move these cases to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately, along with the ability to recover legal fees if they win. Finally, it preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability on these entities for the same types of misuse-related harms.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Act establishes a new task force within the Department of Justice to coordinate efforts against cryptocurrency theft. Led by the Attorney General, this group will include representatives from agencies such as the FBI and the Treasury to improve how federal, state, and local law enforcement investigate and prosecute these crimes. The task force is responsible for sharing information, providing training on digital evidence collection, and identifying gaps in current laws without creating new criminal offenses or regulating digital assets. Additionally, the Attorney General must submit annual reports to Congress detailing the task force's activities and offering recommendations for future improvements.

Maddy summaryThe Blue Skies for Taiwan Act of 2026 establishes a working group to evaluate how the United States can support Taiwan in producing secure, China-independent drone components. This initiative aims to address security risks posed by Chinese-sourced parts in commercial drones by facilitating public-private partnerships and streamlining certification processes for Taiwanese manufacturers. The bill also creates a cooperative framework to help regional allies acquire these secure drones and includes provisions for fast-tracking export controls and cybersecurity reviews for qualified Taiwanese suppliers. While the legislation authorizes funding for these efforts, it explicitly states that it does not change the official U.S. position on Taiwan's international status.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative $5 gold and $1 silver coins marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coins must feature designs honoring victims and first responders (including the inscription "Never Forget") and will be sold only during 2027-2028. All surcharges ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin) collected from sales will fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, with no net cost to the federal government. The coins are legal tender but primarily intended for collectors, not circulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend federal law to strengthen penalties for organized retail crime by expanding definitions of theft to include digital goods, gift cards, and setting a $5,000 aggregate value threshold for charges over a 12-month period. It would establish a new "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" under Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts against cross-jurisdictional theft groups. The Center would share information with retailers, transportation companies, and law enforcement agencies, track crime trends, and produce annual reports on organized retail crime. This legislation directly affects retailers, supply chain businesses, and law enforcement agencies, while targeting organized crime groups responsible for a 93% increase in larceny incidents and rising safety concerns for retail employees. The bill aims to address significant financial losses and supply chain disruptions noted in the National Retail Federation's 2023 data.

Maddy summaryThe Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 restricts the importation, sale, and manufacture of vehicles and related technology from specific countries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, to address national security concerns. The law defines prohibited items as connected vehicles, their software, and hardware components and sets different effective dates, with vehicle bans starting in 2027 and hardware restrictions beginning in 2030. A government official can grant exceptions for specific items after reviewing security risks and notifying Congress, while the agency must publish annual reports on enforcement actions and compliance.