Rep. Bruce Westerman

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 1174 (HRES 1174) is a symbolic resolution supporting April's Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. It recognizes math and statistics as foundational to STEM fields and everyday life (like technology and cybersecurity), while highlighting the need for greater diversity in math careers based on 2022 data showing underrepresentation of women and minorities in math PhDs. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness of these fields' importance through annual recognition. It is an annual statement, not a policy change, focused on celebrating math and statistics' role in innovation and inclusion.

Maddy summaryHR 8147 repeals the Corporate Transparency Act, which required certain businesses (typically those with more than 20 employees) to report beneficial ownership details to the Treasury Department. This bill eliminates the requirement for companies to disclose who ultimately owns or controls them, directly affecting business owners and financial institutions that previously submitted this information. The bill also makes minor technical changes to Title 31 of the U.S. Code to remove references to the repealed provisions. The repeal would end the existing financial transparency reporting obligation for covered entities.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution supports designating April 2024 as "Second Chance Month" to raise public awareness about barriers (like employment restrictions, housing limitations, and educational barriers) that individuals with criminal records face after incarceration. It calls on communities, employers, and organizations to take action to help these individuals reintegrate successfully and become productive members of society. The resolution emphasizes that these "collateral consequences" often persist even after individuals have served their time, hindering their ability to secure jobs, housing, and education.

Maddy summaryHR 8066, the Ammunition Supply Chain Act, requires the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The report must assess the U.S. supply chain for ammunition components like nitrocellulose and smokeless gunpowder, focusing on improving sourcing, avoiding single points of failure, managing global demand risks, and leveraging private sector capacity. This bill directly affects the Department of Defense and ammunition manufacturers by mandating a review of supply chain vulnerabilities. It is procedural in nature, establishing a reporting requirement without creating new regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, requires the Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment and mandates the President to impose sanctions under existing authorities (Executive Orders 13224 and 13780) against Ansarallah and its members, agents, or affiliates. The bill directly affects Ansarallah and any foreign entities linked to it by triggering U.S. sanctions. Key provisions set strict 90-day deadlines for both the designation and sanctions implementation. The law focuses on reversing a prior designation revocation and enforcing existing legal mechanisms against the group.

Maddy summaryHR 5947 terminates specific U.S. waivers and licenses related to Iran, ending a 2023 waiver that allowed funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar. It prohibits the Treasury Department from reissuing similar waivers or licenses for the same purpose and blocks the President from granting Iran access to certain designated financial accounts established under prior laws. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by restricting how Treasury handles Iran-related financial transactions. It enacts concrete policy changes by ending existing authorizations and preventing future approvals for Iran to access specific accounts.

Maddy summaryThe Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 extends funding for existing federal reentry programs through 2029, replacing previous 2019-2023 funding periods. It specifically adds new provisions requiring state and local reentry projects to include peer recovery services, substance use disorder treatment, case management, overdose reversal medications, and reentry housing. These changes directly affect state/local governments, prisons, and nonprofit organizations administering reentry services for people returning to communities after incarceration. The bill does not create new programs but continues and refines current initiatives focused on reducing recidivism through evidence-based support.

Maddy summaryHRES 1148 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that condemns the Iranian government for supporting terrorism, regional proxy conflicts, and internal suppression of dissent - including its crackdown on protests following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. It specifically calls for maintaining sanctions against Iran, supporting the Iranian Resistance's Ten-Point Plan (which advocates for a democratic, secular, nonnuclear Iran), and protecting Iranian political refugees in Albania. The resolution also affirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination under international law and urges the U.S. to recognize their struggle for freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional stance.

Maddy summaryHR 7801, the Sultana Steamboat Disaster Commemorative Coin Act of 2024, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster - the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history, which killed nearly 1,200 people. The bill specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad) to be minted between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2027, with surcharges from sales directed to the Sultana Historical Preservation Society for museum development and artifact preservation. The coins will be sold at face value plus surcharges ($5-$35 per coin), and the funds must support constructing a museum, exhibits, and preserving disaster-related history. This bill does not create new laws but enables commemorative coin sales to fund a specific historical preservation effort.