Rep. Paul A. Gosar

Maddy summaryThe Stop the Cartels Act (HR 597) aims to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and related criminal activities by requiring enhanced intelligence gathering on cartels in Mexico and Central American countries, mandating improved U.S.-Mexico law enforcement cooperation, and cutting federal funding from jurisdictions that restrict immigration enforcement. The bill creates a "Special Transnational Criminal Organization" designation for major cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, requires monthly reports on migrant encounters at the border, and establishes refugee processing centers in Mexico and Central America. It also increases staffing for immigration courts by 500 judges, prohibits asylum applications from nationals of countries with refugee processing centers, and reauthorizes substance abuse prevention funding at higher levels while repealing several existing drug programs. These provisions directly affect U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Mexican and Central American governments, local jurisdictions receiving federal funds, and migrants seeking asylum or refugee status.

Maddy summaryHR 1006, the NRC Survey Act, requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to conduct surveys of its employees and nuclear industry stakeholders to identify ways to improve the efficiency of reactor licensing. The employee survey asks about internal processes, communication, funding, and barriers to innovation, while the stakeholder survey seeks industry input on regulatory challenges and engagement. The Inspector General must distribute these surveys within 60 days of enactment and submit reports to Congress with aggregated feedback and individual responses. This bill gathers direct input to inform potential future regulatory improvements without changing existing laws or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding from being provided to healthcare facilities that refuse treatment to patients based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. It specifically blocks funds under Medicare (Title XVIII), Medicaid (Title XIX), and CHIP (Title XXI) from going to such facilities. The law directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other providers receiving federal healthcare funding by requiring them to offer treatment regardless of vaccination status. The key mechanism is withholding all federal funds authorized by law from any facility engaging in this practice.

CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act This bill limits the ability of the Federal Reserve to (1) provide direct services to individuals, and (2) use a central bank digital currency. A central bank digital currency is a digital currency (e.g., Bitcoin or Ether) issued by a government-backed central bank. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Federal Reserve and the Federal Open Market Committee from using any central bank digital currency to implement monetary policy. In addition, a Federal Reserve bank is prohibited from offering products or services directly to an individual, maintaining an account on behalf of an individual, or issuing a central bank digital currency directly to an individual. The Federal Reserve must (1) consult with each Federal Reserve bank with respect to any central bank digital currency study or pilot program, and (2) issue quarterly reports on the findings and determinations of any such study or program.

Maddy summaryHR 96, the "Protecting Arizona from Federal Land Grabs Act," prevents the federal government from establishing or extending national monuments on public lands within Arizona. It directly affects Arizona by adding the state to a specific legal provision that already restricts such actions in Wyoming. The bill amends a section of U.S. law (54 U.S.C. § 320301(d)) to explicitly include Arizona alongside Wyoming in the list of states where new national monuments cannot be created. This is a procedural change to existing federal land management rules.

American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act This bill limits the protection of endangered or threatened species to species that are native to the United States. In addition, the bill prohibits certain funding for endangered or threatened species from being used to acquire lands, waters, or other interests in foreign countries.

Less Imprecision in Species Treatment Act of 2023 or the LIST Act of 2023 This bill revises the process for removing a species from the endangered or threatened species lists. A species must be removed from the endangered or threatened species lists if the Department of the Interior produces or receives substantial scientific or commercial information demonstrating that the species is recovered or that recovery goals set for the species have been met. The publication and notice of a proposed regulation to remove a species from the lists must consist solely of a notice of the removal. The bill establishes a process for removing species from the lists if they were erroneously or wrongfully listed. The bill prohibits a person from submitting a petition to list a species as a threatened or endangered species for 10 years if the person knowingly submitted a petition with information that was inaccurate beyond scientifically reasonable margins of error, fraudulent, or misrepresentative.

Armed Forces Endangered Species Exemption Act This bill establishes exemptions from the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) for defense-related purposes. Specifically, the bill establishes exemptions from the ESA for (1) operations related to national defense, and (2) military personnel engaged in such operations. For example, the bill allows such personnel to take (e.g., harm or kill) endangered or threatened species. In addition, the bill expands restrictions on the Department of the Interior designating defense-related areas as critical habitat. It also exempts the Department of Defense from certain requirements to consult with Interior about critical habitats.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE for America Act of 2023 eliminates the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, commonly known as the "visa lottery," which provided annual visas to individuals from countries with historically low U.S. immigration rates. This change directly affects applicants and participants in the diversity visa program, ending their eligibility for this specific immigration pathway. The bill amends key sections of immigration law (Sections 201, 203, and 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act) to remove references to the diversity program and adjust visa allocation procedures. The changes take effect October 1, 2023, permanently ending this visa category.

Maddy summaryHR 1088, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968) and the first Black candidate for a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image, which will be presented by Congress and then permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to the public to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. This bill commemorates Chisholm's legacy and achievements without creating new laws or affecting any current policies.