Rep. Jodey C. Arrington

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 31 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all voters to be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) for any election. This would prohibit non-citizens without national status or a green card from voting in federal, state, tribal, local, or territorial elections - including city council or school board races. The amendment must be ratified by 38 states (three-fourths of all states) within seven years to become part of the Constitution. Currently, most states already restrict voting to citizens, but this would extend that requirement nationwide and constitutionally.

Maddy summaryHR 840 would eliminate a federal rule protecting six specific mussel species (Guadalupe Fatmucket, Texas Fatmucket, Guadalupe Orb, Texas Pimpleback, Balcones Spike, and False Spike) as endangered, and one species (Texas Fawnsfoot) as threatened, along with their designated critical habitats. The bill directly affects these mussel species by removing their legal protections under the Endangered Species Act. It achieves this by declaring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's final rule (published June 4, 2024) "shall have no force or effect." This is a procedural bill that would reverse an existing regulatory action, not create new policy.

Maddy summaryHR 841 amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provisions in U.S. law to prohibit states from using LWCF funds to purchase land, water, or related interests directly from private landowners. This restriction applies specifically to states receiving financial assistance under the LWCF program. The bill adds a new section (l) to 54 U.S.C. § 200305 and amends § 200306 to explicitly state that LWCF appropriations cannot fund acquisitions from private owners. The policy change directly affects state governments that administer LWCF funds for conservation projects.

Maddy summaryHR 882 prohibits states and local jurisdictions from hiring non-U.S. citizens to administer federal elections. It requires all election administrators for federal office (like president or Congress) to be U.S. citizens, applying to elections held on or after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects election officials in all states and localities managing federal races by changing their hiring eligibility rules. The bill does not alter voting rights or election procedures for voters, only the citizenship requirement for those managing the process.

Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act This bill directs the Department of State to designate four specified drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. (Among other things, such a designation allows the Department of the Treasury to require U.S. financial institutions to block transactions involving the organization.) The four specified cartels in the bill are the Gulf Cartel, the Cartel Del Noreste, the Cartel de Sinaloa, and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion. The bill also requires the State Department to submit a detailed report on those four cartels and any other cartels it may identify. Based on this report, the State Department must designate as a foreign terrorist organization any such identified cartel (or faction thereof) that meets certain criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill specifies that it may not be construed to expand eligibility for asylum.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funds from being used to cover gender transition procedures for individuals under 18, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies (at higher-than-normal doses), and surgeries like hysterectomies or mastectomies. It defines "sex" biologically as male or female and exempts certain medical treatments, such as puberty suppression for precocious puberty or care for genetic disorders of sex development. The policy directly affects minors receiving federally funded healthcare (e.g., Medicaid), restricting coverage for most gender-affirming care. Key mechanisms include funding restrictions and specific medical exceptions, though it does not ban private insurance or out-of-pocket payments.

Maddy summaryThe America First Act (HR 746) would restrict access to numerous federal benefits and programs for certain non-citizens by requiring citizenship verification and denying eligibility to individuals with specific immigration statuses. It affects programs including Medicaid, Medicare, Head Start, WIC, school meals, housing assistance, tax credits, and community development funds by denying benefits to people granted parole, temporary protected status (TPS), deferred action (including DACA), asylum, or who are unlawfully present. The bill also reduces funding for schools in "sanctuary jurisdictions" and limits refugee resettlement for certain Haitian immigrants. It mandates that federal agencies verify immigration status before providing benefits and prohibits use of federal funds for services to certain non-citizens.

Maddy summaryHR 745 requires federal agencies to conduct studies on the monetary value of minerals in specific areas. The Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must each complete studies within three years to assess the value of oil, gas, and minerals in designated onshore and offshore areas, excluding national parks and certain monuments. These studies will cover areas like national monuments (excluding marine ones), areas under environmental protection, and lands withdrawn from mining or leasing. The bill does not authorize new mining or leasing but mandates data collection for future decision-making.

Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act This bill imposes sanctions against foreign persons (individuals and entities) who assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting certain individuals. The bill categorizes as protected persons (1) any U.S. individual, U.S. entity, or person in the United States, unless the United States is a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC and provides formal consent to ICC jurisdiction; and (2) any foreign person that is a citizen or lawful resident of a U.S. ally that is not a state party to the Rome Statute or has not consented to ICC jurisdiction. If the ICC attempts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute a protected person, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against the foreign persons that engaged in or materially assisted in such actions, as well as against foreign persons owned by, controlled by, or acting on behalf of such foreign persons. The President must also apply visa-blocking sanctions to the immediate family members of those sanctioned. Upon enactment, the bill rescinds all funds appropriated for the ICC and prohibits the subsequent use of appropriated funds for the ICC.

Life at Conception Act This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Nothing in this bill shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.