Rep. Laurel M. Lee

Maddy summaryThe TEMP Act (HR 6186) requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop index-based insurance for crops affected by frost or cold weather events. It specifically directs research on protecting crops like tomatoes, peppers, citrus, and berries against production or revenue losses from such weather, evaluating risk management tools for low-frequency events. The Corporation must report findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. This research aims to create nationally available insurance options but does not immediately implement new coverage.

Maddy summaryHR 7455, the Sunset Act of 2024, requires federal agencies to automatically expire significant rules after 10 years unless Congress passes a new law extending them. Agencies must submit reports 180 days before expiration, and Congress can extend rules via joint resolution within 3 legislative days of receiving the report. The bill also mandates annual reviews of 10% of active agency rules for 9 years, with rules not extended by Congress after the 10-year period expiring. It applies to all major agency rules (e.g., environmental or safety regulations) and includes limited presidential exemptions for emergencies, but does not affect existing rules already in effect.

Maddy summaryHR 7450, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, prohibits payment card networks and covered entities (like payment processors) from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that specifically identify firearms retailers as different from general stores or sporting goods retailers. This directly affects firearms retailers and payment networks by preventing them from using business classification codes that could flag firearm sales. The bill establishes an enforcement process where the Attorney General investigates complaints, issues remediation notices, and can seek court injunctions for non-compliance, while preempting state or local laws on this issue. It does not create private lawsuits for individuals.

Maddy summaryThe Election Worker Recruitment and Safety Act requires the Election Assistance Commission to regularly study state programs for recruiting and training poll workers, with a focus on safety. The Commission must publish reports by December 2024 and every two years after, identifying voluntary best practices states can adopt. States can then use federal election funding to implement these recommended practices for recruiting and training poll workers. The bill does not mandate specific actions but creates a framework for states to access and apply proven safety and recruitment strategies. This aims to improve the safety and efficiency of election worker programs nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act" (HR 7320), reforms how the FBI can query information about U.S. persons under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It requires FBI personnel to get supervisor or attorney approval before querying U.S. person information, prohibits political appointees from being involved in approval processes, and mandates annual audits of such queries. The bill also adds training requirements, additional approvals for sensitive queries (including those involving elected officials), and notification to congressional leadership about certain queries. Additionally, it limits the FBI's ability to use Section 702 information for criminal investigations and requires sworn statements in applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Maddy summaryThis bill maintains the existing minimum wage rate for H-2A agricultural workers in each state as it stood on December 31, 2023, through December 31, 2025. It directly affects farms that hire H-2A visa workers by requiring the Department of Labor to use these state-specific rates for wage calculations during this period. The bill also clarifies that wage determinations for these workers must consider their primary job duties, especially when workers perform multiple tasks. This provides stability for farms relying on seasonal agricultural labor without changing the current wage structure.

Maddy summaryHR 7051, the Parity for Child Exploitation Offenders Act, amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to ensure military personnel accused of child exploitation offenses face the same federal legal standards as civilians. The bill updates references in multiple sections (including 2241, 2251, 2252, 2252A, 2426, and 3559) to explicitly include offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice alongside State offenses. This means military cases involving child exploitation will now be prosecuted under the same federal statutes as civilian cases, eliminating a previous distinction. The bill directly affects military service members charged with such offenses by aligning their legal treatment with civilian counterparts. It makes no new penalties but ensures consistency in how these crimes are addressed under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 25% pay incentive for Department of Justice employees with specialized cyber skills (such as expertise in computers, networks, or internet technology) who work directly on detecting, preventing, or prosecuting online fentanyl trafficking. It applies specifically to DOJ positions requiring these skills to combat fentanyl trafficking cases. The incentive pay is added to an employee's base salary for retirement calculations but is excluded from annual pay limits. The bill directly affects DOJ personnel in cyber-focused roles targeting online drug trafficking operations.

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 summaryThis bill corrects a technical error affecting certain 9/11 victims' families who settled claims through the 2014 court case *In re 650 Fifth Avenue*. It ensures these families - designated as "Havlish Settling Judgment Creditors" - receive withheld funds from the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund and can participate in future payments like other eligible claimants. The bill amends existing law to exempt these families from specific distribution rules and requires released funds to be paid directly to them. It does not create new payments but fixes a bureaucratic oversight preventing these families from accessing funds they were previously owed.