Rep. Mike Flood

Stop China’s Continuous Purchase of Land Act or the Stop CCP Land Act This bill requires states that receive certain federal program funds to restrict the purchase of agricultural land by a covered foreign country.  Covered foreign country means a country included in Department of State regulations as subject to certain prohibitions (i.e., Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela), as well as Russia. Specifically, a state may not receive funds for certain programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (e.g., certain energy efficiency and conservation programs) unless that state has a law prohibiting a covered foreign country (or persons acting on behalf of the country) from purchasing agricultural land in the state. Further, a state must require that a person from a covered foreign country that holds agricultural land in the state prior to the state law's enactment submit an annual report to the state on the agricultural holdings. The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress on how the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 should be updated to ensure accurate documentation and monitoring of foreign investment in agricultural land. The Government Accountability Office must submit a report to Congress that includes (1) an assessment of this bill's impact on national security, and (2) any measures that can be taken to better secure U.S. real estate from foreign manipulation.

Maddy summaryHR 4737, the "Stop Executive Capture of Banking Regulators Act," requires five major financial regulatory agencies (Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, FDIC, NCUA, and FHFA) to notify Congress and provide detailed justification before implementing non-binding recommendations from the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) chair or executive orders. Specifically, agencies must give Congress 120 days' notice, submit a report explaining the proposed implementation and its rationale, and offer testimony if requested. This bill directly affects how these regulators interact with Congress on certain policy proposals, adding a formal consultation step. It does not change regulatory standards but mandates transparency and oversight for specific types of guidance. The bill focuses on procedural requirements, not substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes a permanent the 20% tax deduction for eligible small business owners under Section 199A of the tax code. This provision directly affects pass-through business owners (like S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) who qualify for the deduction. The bill achieves this by removing the temporary expiration language (subsection (i)) from the existing tax code provision. The key change is ending the need for annual congressional extensions of this deduction, providing long-term tax certainty for small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, establishes new standards for when veterans can receive care from private providers instead of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires the VA to allow veterans to seek community care if they cannot get an in-person appointment within 30 days for primary care or 60 days for specialty care at a VA facility within a 30 or 60-minute drive, respectively. The legislation also mandates that the VA notify veterans of their eligibility for community care within two business days, provide information about telehealth options, and explain reasons for denied care requests along with appeal instructions. Additional provisions include requiring the VA to conduct outreach to inform veterans about community care options, mandate the use of value-based reimbursement models for community care, and establish a pilot program to improve care administration through scheduling improvements and provider incentives. The bill also extends the deadline for health care entities to submit claims under the prompt payment standard from 180 days to one year, and requires the VA Inspector General to assess VA medical center performance in implementing community care programs within three years of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 4642, the International Regulatory Transparency and Accountability Act, requires U.S. financial regulators (including the Federal Reserve, SEC, and Treasury) to increase transparency in international financial negotiations. The bill mandates that these regulators provide Congress and the public with written notifications before international talks (excluding enforcement agreements), report on how U.S. positions are formed, and post meeting summaries online. It also requires a 60-day public comment period before finalizing agreements with covered international bodies like the Basel Committee and Financial Stability Board, and makes all final agreements publicly accessible. This bill directly affects the nine federal financial regulators listed in its definition and applies to their activities with specific international financial organizations.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that research and promotion boards support efforts to develop new markets and strengthen existing markets via research, education, and promotion.

Maddy summaryHR 4417, the "Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act," prevents state and local governments from imposing additional production standards on agricultural products sold across state lines if those standards aren't already required by federal law or the state where the product is grown. It directly affects agricultural producers, distributors, and businesses operating in interstate commerce by allowing them to sue states in federal court to challenge such regulations. The bill creates a private right of action for affected parties to seek court invalidation of the regulations and damages for economic losses, with provisions for preliminary injunctions to halt enforcement during litigation. This aims to reduce regulatory barriers that could hinder the movement of agricultural goods between states.

Maddy summaryHR 4335, the VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2023, requires mortgage lenders to include specific information about VA home loan programs in standard mortgage disclosures. The bill amends the National Housing Act to mandate that lenders provide details on VA loans (guaranteed under Title 38) alongside other loan options, including assumptions about prevailing interest rates. This change directly affects lenders processing VA-guaranteed mortgages, ensuring borrowers receive clearer comparisons between VA loans and other financing. The law does not require lenders to verify borrower eligibility for VA loans, only to include the specified disclosure language.

Maddy summaryThe HERO Act establishes a national data system to track suicides among public safety officers, including firefighters, EMTs, police, and telecommunicators, collecting detailed statistics by age, gender, occupation, and employment status (career, volunteer, or retired). It mandates annual reports to Congress and public availability of findings to identify suicide trends and effective interventions. The bill also funds peer-support wellness programs for fire/EMS departments, behavioral health programs for healthcare providers, and resources to train mental health professionals on treating public safety personnel. All data collection and program provisions include strict privacy safeguards to protect confidentiality and prohibit using suicide data to deny survivor benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act by creating a federal grant program to improve swimming pool safety across the United States. The program provides funding to states, Indian Tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations that have enacted swimming pool safety laws meeting federal standards. Grant recipients must use at least 25% of funds for hiring and training personnel to enforce safety standards and inspect pool drain covers, with the remainder for public education and swimming lessons (limited to 25% of that portion). The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2024-2028 for these grants and a separate $5 million for public education campaigns, requiring annual reporting on program implementation and effectiveness.