Rep. Ken Calvert

Maddy summaryHR 7248, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, creates a new FDA process to qualify alternative nonclinical testing methods that can replace or reduce animal testing in drug development. Drug developers can request qualification for methods that improve safety/efficacy predictivity or shorten development time, with the FDA required to review requests within 180 days. If qualified, these methods allow expedited FDA review of drug applications and enable referencing the qualified method in submissions. The bill mandates annual reports tracking qualified methods, animal use reduction, and application approvals, with transparency requirements for Congress. This directly affects pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms developing new drugs.

Maddy summaryHJRES 114 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule that would have required tracking greenhouse gas emissions as part of assessing performance for the National Highway System. The rule, published in the Federal Register in December 2023, aimed to establish specific metrics for evaluating highway system performance, including emissions data. If approved, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing the FHWA from implementing the emissions tracking requirement. This action directly affects how the FHWA measures highway system performance, specifically regarding environmental metrics.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates over $15 billion in supplemental funding for U.S. security assistance to Israel following attacks in Israel. It includes specific allocations such as $5.2 billion for Israel's Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Iron Beam defense systems, as well as funds for military personnel, operations, and equipment across all branches of the military. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress detailing security assistance provided to Israel and designates all funding as "emergency requirements" under federal law. This funding directly supports U.S. security assistance programs with Israel to respond to regional security threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to integrate behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment into housing support for homeless individuals. It requires housing programs receiving federal funds to partner with nearby Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics for eligible participants, defined as those in supportive housing, receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or classified as homeless with a disability. The bill sets aside 2% of annual funding for this integration and provides incentives of up to $500,000 per 1,000 homeless individuals in high-need areas, capped at $2 million per project. It also mandates annual reports on implementation progress to Congress.

Maddy summaryHR 7014, the Protect Medicaid Act, prohibits federal Medicaid funding for the administrative costs associated with providing health benefits to noncitizens who are not lawfully admitted permanent residents and are ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status. It directly affects states that currently offer health benefits to such noncitizens, requiring them to cover administrative expenses through state funds instead of federal Medicaid dollars. The bill amends federal law to add a specific prohibition on using federal funds for these administrative costs, while leaving the provision of medical care itself unaffected. Additionally, it mandates an Inspector General report analyzing how states separate administrative costs, ensure compliance, and finance these programs, including impacts on drug pricing. The law focuses solely on administrative funding, not on restricting medical benefits for eligible individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 7033 (WEST Act of 2024) imposes a new 6% excise tax on the endowments of large private universities and certain state-operated colleges. It directly affects institutions with non-religious endowments exceeding $12.2 billion (for private schools) or $9 billion (for state-operated colleges) in assets not used for their primary educational purposes. The tax applies to the fair market value of qualifying assets at the end of the prior year, calculated using existing IRS rules. This policy change would generate revenue from the largest endowments, with the tax effective for 2023 taxable years and beyond.

Maddy summaryThe Death Tax Repeal Act would eliminate the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die on or after the bill's enactment date, and for generation-skipping transfers made after that date. It would also establish a new $10 million lifetime gift tax exemption (adjusted annually for inflation) and replace the existing gift tax rate schedule with a revised structure. These changes would primarily affect high-net-worth individuals and their heirs, as the estate tax and gift tax typically apply to large estates or gifts exceeding the new exemption threshold. The bill's provisions would take effect on the date of enactment, with transitional rules for the year the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHRES 955 is a resolution commending Taiwan for its democratic election history and supporting Taiwan's democratic institutions. It recognizes Taiwan's transition to democracy since the late 1980s, including 7 presidential and 9 legislative elections held since then, all deemed free and fair. The resolution specifically expresses support for Taiwan's upcoming January 13, 2024, elections and condemns interference by the Chinese Communist Party. It affirms U.S. commitment to a strong partnership with Taiwan across multiple domains and supports Taiwan's self-defense and liberty. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support for Taiwan's democratic development.

Maddy summaryHRES 921 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 30th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. It recognizes the program’s work supporting at-risk youth aged 16-18 by providing free, structured education and discipline through a 5.5-month residential phase (covering life skills, leadership, academics, and physical fitness) followed by a 12-month mentoring phase. The resolution highlights that the program, operating in 28 states and territories, has served over 8,000 cadets annually and helped more than 200,000 youth graduate with academic credentials since its inception. The resolution expresses the House’s reaffirmed commitment to the program’s mission of developing character and preparing youth for societal success.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to advise defendants convicted of drug offenses involving fentanyl analogues (or similar substances) that caused death about the extreme dangers of illicit drugs, especially when mixed with fentanyl. It establishes that prior convictions for similar drug-related deaths can be used as evidence in subsequent homicide cases. The law also allows courts to admit sworn statements from prior cases across state and federal jurisdictions. This directly affects defendants in drug-related death cases involving fentanyl analogues, excluding minors at the time of the offense.