Rep. W. Gregory Steube

Maddy summaryHRES 1148 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that condemns the Iranian government for supporting terrorism, regional proxy conflicts, and internal suppression of dissent - including its crackdown on protests following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. It specifically calls for maintaining sanctions against Iran, supporting the Iranian Resistance's Ten-Point Plan (which advocates for a democratic, secular, nonnuclear Iran), and protecting Iranian political refugees in Albania. The resolution also affirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination under international law and urges the U.S. to recognize their struggle for freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional stance.

Maddy summaryHR 8011, the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate 12 Iranian-affiliated military groups and any entity controlled by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as Foreign Terrorist Organizations within 90 days. It mandates the President to decide within 60 days whether to impose sanctions under existing law (Executive Order 13224) on these groups, which would block their U.S. assets and restrict transactions. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress on new entities meeting designation criteria and the President to explain any decisions not to impose sanctions. This law directly affects the listed Iranian military groups and any new entities linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Maddy summaryThe PAAW Act prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or funding research that causes significant pain or distress to dogs or cats, effective 90 days after enactment. It requires the NIH to publish annual reports detailing all such research projects - including costs, animal numbers, locations, and efforts to phase out these studies - and submit them to Congress. The bill also mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to evaluate the NIH’s progress in reducing dog and cat testing, compare efforts with other agencies, and recommend improvements. These provisions aim to increase transparency about taxpayer-funded animal research and encourage adoption of alternative methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds to establish, implement, or enforce any requirement for wearing facial coverings to prevent COVID-19 spread. It directly affects federal agencies and any entities receiving federal funding that might enforce mask mandates. The key provision blocks all federal financial support for mask mandate enforcement, meaning no government money could be used to require or support such rules. This is a funding restriction, not a ban on mask mandates themselves, and applies only to federal resources.

Maddy summaryHR 7873, the Firearm Due Process Protection Act, directly affects individuals denied firearm purchases through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The bill requires courts to hold hearings on challenges to NICS denials within 30 days and shifts the burden to the government to prove eligibility by "clear and convincing evidence." It also mandates annual FBI reports to Congress detailing the number of challenges processed, reversals of denials, and processing times. These provisions aim to expedite due process for people seeking to correct inaccurate NICS records affecting their firearm rights.

Maddy summaryHR 661, "Sarah’s Law," requires U.S. immigration authorities to detain certain immigrants charged with crimes causing death or serious injury. It applies to immigrants who entered without proper inspection, held revoked temporary visas, or fall under specific deportation categories, and who face charges for violent crimes. The bill mandates that immigration officials notify victims or their families (like parents or spouses) about the immigrant’s identity, immigration status, custody details, and removal efforts. This law does not change existing victim rights but adds specific notification requirements for these cases.

Maddy summaryHR 7833, the "Nuclear Family Priority Act," changes U.S. immigration policy by excluding parents from the definition of "immediate relatives" for family-based visas, meaning parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents no longer qualify for expedited processing. It establishes a new nonimmigrant category (Section 101(a)(15)(W)) for parents of adult U.S. citizens (21+ years old), allowing 5-year stays with no work authorization, no public benefits, and requiring proof of health insurance and financial support from the U.S. citizen child. The bill also reduces the worldwide family-sponsored visa cap from 226,000 to 88,000 (minus a calculation) and reallocates 75% of visas without country limits. These changes directly affect parents of adult U.S. citizens seeking to immigrate and alter the visa allocation system for family-sponsored immigration.

Maddy summaryHR 7810, the Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act, sets a new limit on instructional hours for certain vocational training programs preparing students for recognized professions (like nursing or cosmetology). It requires that such programs, which already meet state minimums, cannot exceed 150% of either the state's or a federal agency's minimum hour requirement for that profession. This rule applies to determine eligibility for federal student aid under the Higher Education Act. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 academic year and beyond.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new eligibility rules for women's and girls' amateur sports by defining "female" and "male" based on biological sex at birth. It prohibits individuals designated as male under these definitions from participating in athletic competitions designated for females, women, or girls. The law amends existing U.S. Code provisions to add this requirement, directly affecting athletes and organizations managing female-designated teams. The key change is a clear ban on male-identified participants in female sports, replacing previous eligibility standards with biological sex criteria.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1086) is a symbolic gesture expressing the House's support for designating March 19, 2024, as "National Agriculture Day." It does not create new laws or policies, but instead formally recognizes agriculture as a vital industry in the U.S. economy. The resolution celebrates agriculture's broad economic impact without imposing any requirements or changes on farmers, consumers, or government programs. It is a commemorative statement, not a substantive legislative action.