Rep. Daniel Webster

Protecting Kids from Fentanyl Act of 2023 This bill permits the use of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant to address fentanyl in educational institutions. Specifically, grant funds may be used to (1) purchase naloxone or other opioid overdose reversal drugs for educational institutions, (2) train school nurses and other personnel on how to administer them, and (3) provide fentanyl awareness classes or materials to students.

Maddy summaryH.J.Res. 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to set a permanent maximum of nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. The amendment would require that the Court never exceed nine members, and Congress would have authority to pass laws enforcing this limit. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years, this change would become part of the Constitution. The bill directly affects the structure of the Supreme Court and the process for appointing justices.

Maddy summaryHR 4345, the Dignity for Aborted Children Act, requires abortion providers to offer patients choices for handling fetal tissue after an abortion, including taking it home or having the provider arrange interment or cremation. Providers must obtain patient consent in writing for tissue disposal and arrange final disposition (interment or cremation) within 7 days if patients choose to release the tissue, failing which faces civil penalties up to $50,000 or criminal charges. The bill mandates annual reporting by providers on abortion procedures and tissue disposal methods, and requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on abortion statistics and disposal practices. This directly affects abortion providers and patients by changing post-abortion tissue handling procedures under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to detect, identify, monitor, and mitigate drone threats to specific high-risk facilities including government buildings, airports, critical infrastructure, and locations hosting special events. It establishes a 5-year pilot program allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to use drone detection technology under federal oversight, with strict privacy protections requiring 180-day data retention limits and mandatory training for personnel. The bill requires coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration to minimize impacts on air traffic and mandates regular congressional reporting on how these authorities are being used. It sets an expiration date of 7 years after enactment for these new authorities.

Maddy summaryThe Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2023 authorizes funding for Coast Guard operations, infrastructure, and vessel acquisitions for fiscal years 2024-2025, including $10.75 billion for operations in 2024. It establishes requirements for tsunami evacuation plans at Coast Guard facilities in high-risk tsunami zones and mandates a study on vessel traffic patterns and emergency response capabilities in the Bering Strait. The bill also includes provisions for modernizing Coast Guard information technology systems, constructing new training facilities at locations including Cape May, New Jersey, and updating merchant mariner credentialing requirements.

Maddy summaryHJRES 44 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a 2021 rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The rule classified firearms with stabilizing braces as "short-barreled rifles," which would have required additional licensing and regulation. This resolution uses a specific legal process (under Title 5, U.S. Code) to formally disapprove the ATF rule, meaning the rule would no longer be in effect. It directly affects firearm owners, manufacturers, and dealers who would have been subject to the rule’s requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 277 would require Congress to approve major federal regulations before they take effect. Major rules are defined as those with significant economic impact ($100 million+ annually), major cost increases for consumers or industries, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, or innovation. Agencies must submit detailed information about these rules to Congress, including cost-benefit analyses, before they can take effect. Congress would have 70 session days to approve the rule with a joint resolution; if they don't act within that timeframe, the rule would not take effect. This would increase congressional oversight of federal regulations and require more detailed information about proposed rules before they become law.

Maddy summaryHRES 518 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for parental rights in education and sports. It opposes labeling parents as "extreme" for seeking age-appropriate school curriculum (like avoiding sexual orientation discussions for young children) and for wanting biological males excluded from women’s sports. The resolution also states opposition to weakening Title IX protections and affirms that parents - not government - should have final say in their children’s education. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws but formally states the House’s position on these issues.

Maddy summaryHRES 272 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives calling on Russia to immediately release Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen and Michigan resident imprisoned since 2018 on espionage charges without evidence. It demands Russia provide Whelan with consular access, ensure due process rights, and release him from his 16-year labor camp sentence. The resolution also thanks Canada, Ireland, and the U.K. for their efforts to secure his freedom and expresses sympathy to his family. As a formal statement of congressional position, it does not compel action but underscores the House's stance on Whelan's case.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Veteran Community Care Act expands access to mental health and substance-use services through the Veterans Community Care Program for veterans who cannot get timely care in VA residential treatment facilities. It requires community providers to meet state licensing and accreditation standards and prohibits the VA from denying community care solely because community providers cannot meet the same wait time standards as VA facilities. The bill also mandates the VA to track and report on requests for mental health care, including approvals, denials, and appeals. This applies directly to veterans facing delays in accessing VA residential mental health programs.