Rep. Barry Moore

Maddy summaryHR 4848, the Censorship Accountability Act, allows individuals to sue federal employees who, while acting in their official capacity, deny others their First Amendment rights (such as free speech or assembly). It directly affects federal employees (excluding the President/Vice President) who may restrict protected expression under federal law. Key provisions create a private right of action for victims to seek legal redress in court, with courts able to award attorney fees to the winning party. The bill explicitly excludes lawsuits against the federal government for employment-related conduct and clarifies that unconstitutional sections won’t invalidate the rest of the law.

Maddy summaryHR 8985, the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2024, prohibits federal courts from enforcing any surrogacy contract clause requiring a surrogate mother to have an abortion at the request of intended parents or their agents. The bill mandates courts to enforce payment to the surrogate for her services, regardless of any contract term tied to abortion, including clauses penalizing refusal (like reduced pay or liquidated damages). It directly affects surrogacy agreements between intended parents and surrogate mothers, ensuring surrogates cannot be forced to undergo abortions against their will while protecting their contractual compensation. The law defines "abortion" as intentionally terminating a pregnancy except in specific medical circumstances, such as after fetal viability or removing a non-viable fetus.

Maddy summaryHRES 1338 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for designating the month of July as "American Patriotism Month." It recognizes historical acts of patriotism, including the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), military service after Pearl Harbor and 9/11, and the role of citizens in defending U.S. values. The resolution requests the President issue an annual proclamation for this designation but has no legal effect or direct impact on citizens or policies. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or alter government operations.

Maddy summaryHR 8889, the Sunset Chevron Act, requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to compile a list of federal court decisions that upheld agency rules using Chevron deference (a legal doctrine where courts defer to agency interpretations of laws) and are still in effect. The GAO must organize this list by agency and assign each rule a sunset date - 30 days after the list's publication for the most recent rule, with older rules getting sunsets 30 days apart. This bill directly affects federal agencies whose rules are included in the GAO's list, as it triggers automatic expiration of those rules after specific dates. The key mechanism is the mandatory GAO review and the automatic sunset schedule, not new regulations or policy changes. The bill does not alter Chevron deference itself but creates a timeline for existing rules upheld under it to expire.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to clarify that veterans may lawfully carry firearms on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property, provided it complies with applicable state and local laws. It updates Title 18, U.S. Code, to explicitly include veterans' lawful firearm carrying on VA property as an exception to certain restrictions. The bill also adds a new provision to Title 38 confirming that such lawful possession does not violate VA regulations or penalties. It directly affects veterans using VA facilities (like hospitals or offices) and ensures VA policies align with state firearm laws where permitted. The change focuses on clarifying existing legal boundaries without altering state gun laws or expanding firearm access.

Maddy summaryHJRES 171 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a proposed rule by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the Unaccompanied Children Program. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024, aimed to update regulations governing the placement, care, and services for unaccompanied alien children (children entering the U.S. without a parent or guardian). This resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving existing regulations under the current program framework. It uses a standard congressional disapproval process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code to halt the rule without altering the program’s underlying policy.

Maddy summaryHJRES 170 is a resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a federal rule that would have required new housing projects financed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to meet specific energy efficiency standards. The rule, published in April 2024, aimed to set these standards for new construction in federally subsidized housing. If passed, this resolution would block the rule under the Congressional Review Act, making it legally void. It directly affects developers and builders of HUD- and USDA-financed housing by removing the requirement to comply with these energy standards.

Maddy summaryHR 8847, the "Confronting CCP Human Rights Abusers Act," requires the U.S. Commerce Department to add China's Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science (including its aliases) to the Commerce Department's sanctions list within 60 days of the bill's enactment. The law directly affects this Chinese entity by restricting its access to U.S. technology and exports through sanctions. A waiver is permitted if the President certifies the institute is not involved in human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, submitting this certification to Congress within 60 days. The bill's key mechanism is the mandatory inclusion on the sanctions list, with the waiver option tied to human rights certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 6180, officially recognizes the Poarch Band of Creek Indians as a federally recognized tribe under the Indian Reorganization Act. It reaffirms all lands previously taken into trust for the tribe by the U.S. government as valid trust lands, ratifying the Secretary of the Interior's actions. The law applies retroactively to June 18, 1934, covering all existing and future legal challenges regarding the tribe's land titles or the validity of trust acquisitions. This directly affects the Poarch Band of Creek Indians' land holdings and legal standing on federal trust lands.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 114 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should allow Taiwan to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics using its own national name, flag, and anthem instead of the current "Chinese Taipei" designation. It argues that requiring Taiwan to use this term contradicts the Olympic Charter’s principles of non-discrimination and the right of athletes to represent their country. The resolution cites the IOC’s own charter stating that sport access must be free from discrimination based on "national or social origin," and notes that Taiwan athletes have won 36 Olympic medals under the current system. This resolution directly addresses the IOC’s policy toward Taiwan, not U.S. law or Taiwan’s status.