Rep. Ben Cline

Maddy summaryHR 4620 amends federal law to include rioting as a form of racketeering activity under Title 18, United States Code. This change would allow prosecutors to charge individuals who organize or participate in riots as part of a larger criminal enterprise under federal racketeering laws. The bill specifically targets coordinated riot activities linked to organized crime, not isolated or spontaneous protests.

Maddy summaryThe Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025 protects U.S. property interests in Western Hemisphere countries with U.S. free trade agreements. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify and list ports, harbors, or marine terminals where a foreign government has nationalized, expropriated, or seized U.S.-owned land (since January 2024) through actions like contract repudiation or forced control. Once listed, the President must prohibit vessels using these sites from importing goods, docking passenger vessels, or conducting maintenance in the United States. This directly affects U.S. persons (citizens or businesses) with property in designated locations.

Maddy summaryHRES 594 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries. It cites specific examples like violence against Christians in Nigeria (including attacks on Palm Sunday and Yelewata), restrictions in Egypt (such as limited worship spaces and forced conversions), and blasphemy-related violence in Pakistan. The resolution urges the President to prioritize protecting persecuted Christians in U.S. foreign policy, including through diplomatic engagement and trade negotiations with affected countries. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals, but aims to influence U.S. diplomatic efforts.

Maddy summaryThe Don't Sell My DNA Act amends the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to protect genetic information by requiring written consent from all affected individuals before any sale, lease, or use of genetic data in bankruptcy cases. It mandates that bankruptcy trustees and debtors must provide prior written notice to every person whose genetic information is involved in such transactions. The bill also requires trustees to delete genetic information from bankruptcy estates if it isn't sold, using court-approved methods like NIST guidelines. This directly affects individuals with genetic data in bankruptcy cases, as well as bankruptcy trustees and debtors managing those estates.

Maddy summaryHR 1919, the "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act," prohibits the Federal Reserve from developing, testing, or issuing any central bank digital currency (CBDC) or similar digital assets. It specifically bans the Fed from offering direct financial products to individuals, maintaining individual accounts, or issuing CBDCs directly or indirectly through intermediaries like banks. The bill also blocks the Fed from using any digital asset for monetary policy and clarifies that physical currency's privacy protections remain intact. This policy directly affects the Federal Reserve System's ability to create or manage digital monetary tools.

Maddy summaryHR 4454, the SOIL Act of 2025, prohibits China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia (or entities controlled by them) from buying or leasing property within 10 miles of designated sensitive sites. These sites include U.S. military installations, ports, government facilities, and any property that could enable foreign intelligence gathering or expose national security activities to surveillance. The bill amends the Defense Production Act to create this restriction, effective upon enactment, and requires the Committee to notify Congress of any violations. It directly affects foreign entities from the specified countries seeking to acquire property near these defined national security locations.

Maddy summaryThe COUNTER Act of 2025 requires the U.S. government to assess and counter China's overseas military basing activities. It mandates the Director of National Intelligence to submit a classified risk assessment within 180 days of enactment, focusing on locations where China maintains or seeks military infrastructure. The State Department must then develop a strategy within 180 days, identifying at least five high-risk locations, detailing current efforts to prevent China from establishing bases, and outlining effective actions for partner nations to reject such access. The bill directs the creation of an interagency task force to implement this strategy and conduct quadrennial reviews of the approach. This legislation applies to U.S. government agencies, not directly to foreign nations or citizens.

Maddy summaryHR 4468, the Federal Interviews Reform Act, requires U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) officers to electronically record all interviews with people suspected of federal crimes during investigations - whether the person is in custody or not, and even if they're abroad. This applies to interviews related to federal offenses or joint investigations with state/local agencies, but excludes communications with confidential informants. Unrecorded statements cannot be used as evidence in federal court, and recordings must be kept for 10 years (or indefinitely if related to a capital case). The law aims to increase transparency in federal law enforcement interviews without requiring consent from the person being interviewed.

Maddy summaryHR 4448, the Restoring Equal Opportunity Act, prohibits lawsuits alleging discrimination based on "disparate impact" in employment and housing. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act to ban claims where a neutral policy (like a test or screening rule) unintentionally disadvantages protected groups (such as race or gender), even if there was no discriminatory intent. The bill also nullifies specific federal regulations implementing civil rights laws, removing legal grounds for such claims under current enforcement rules. This directly affects employers, housing providers, and federal agencies that enforce civil rights laws, changing how discrimination claims can be brought in court.

Maddy summaryHR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.