Rep. Scott Franklin

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 26 is a congressional disapproval resolution blocking the District of Columbia Council's approval of its Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-789). It directly affects the District of Columbia by preventing the new criminal code from taking effect, as Congress disapproved the Council's action under the Home Rule Act. The resolution formally rejects the Council's enactment of the code, which was transmitted to Congress on January 27, 2023. This procedural action stops the District from implementing the revised criminal code without further congressional action.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (HRES 233), not a bill with policy changes. It formally supports designating March 18, 2023, as "National Osceola Turkey Day" to honor the Osceola subspecies of wild turkey, which is native only to peninsular Florida. The resolution references Florida's hunting traditions, conservation programs like the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program, and the Osceola turkey's ecological significance, but does not create new laws or affect any regulations. It simply encourages the public to observe the day with appropriate activities.

Maddy summaryThe DAIRY PRIDE Act would require food products using dairy-related terms (like "milk," "yogurt," or "cheese") to meet the FDA's definition of dairy - derived from animal milk - to prevent misleading labeling of plant-based alternatives. It directly affects producers of plant-based products currently marketed with dairy terms, such as almond or oat milk, which often lack comparable nutrition. The bill mandates the FDA issue enforcement guidance within 180 days and report to Congress on actions taken after two years. This policy change aims to align product names with the FDA's existing definition of dairy products under federal law.

Safe Responsible Ethical Scientific Endeavors Assuring Research for Compassionate Healthcare Act or the Safe RESEARCH Act This bill prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or supporting research on human fetal tissue obtained from an abortion procedure. It also imposes other restrictions on human fetal tissue research. Under the bill, the NIH may conduct or support research on human fetal tissue only if it was obtained from a stillbirth. Current law allows research on tissue from stillbirths or from spontaneous or induced abortions. The bill also applies informed consent and other requirements applicable to research on the transplantation of human fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes to all research with human fetal tissue. This includes research on stem cells and other human fetal tissue alternatives. Additionally, human fetal tissue used for this research must be obtained in accordance with state anatomical gift laws. These laws govern organ and tissue donation for therapeutic, research, and other purposes. Some states already apply anatomical gift laws to human fetal tissue donation. Currently, executive branch officials may not prohibit the NIH from conducting or supporting research on the transplantation of human fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes. The bill repeals this limitation on executive branch officials. It also repeals a requirement that the NIH fund certain proposals for this research.

Maddy summaryHRES 206 is a symbolic resolution expressing congressional support for the 88th Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida. It recognizes the festival's cultural importance to the community and the state, and highlights Plant City's strawberry industry as a major contributor to U.S. agriculture (noting it produces over 75% of midwinter U.S. strawberries). The resolution has no policy impact - it solely applauds the festival's community role, its $360 million annual agricultural value to Hillsborough County, and its signature events like the Strawberry Ball. This is a procedural resolution with no funding or legislative changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 215 is a symbolic resolution recognizing Nowruz, the ancient Persian New Year celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide, including Iranian Americans. It acknowledges Nowruz’s 3,000-year cultural history, its themes of renewal and human rights, and expresses appreciation for Iranian Americans’ contributions to U.S. society. The resolution has no binding policy impact but formally supports the holiday’s observance and the values of freedom and tolerance it embodies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the National Debt is National Security Act, sets two limits on foreign ownership of U.S. public debt. It prohibits foreign governments, entities, and citizens from holding more than 25% of the total national debt combined, and no single foreign country from holding more than 5% of the debt. The Treasury Secretary, working with the Office of Management and Budget, must create rules to calculate and enforce these limits. The President may temporarily waive either limit for national security reasons but must notify Congress and explain the justification.

Maddy summaryHR 1492, the CBO Show Your Work Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to publicly publish its fiscal models, data, and detailed methodologies used when estimating the costs and effects of legislation. Specifically, the bill mandates that the CBO make available all models, data preparation routines, and the specific assumptions and computations behind its cost estimates - enabling independent verification by non-CBO staff. This applies to all estimates prepared under the law, with limited exceptions for data protected by other statutes (requiring only descriptive statistics and access details for such data). The changes take effect six months after the bill becomes law. The bill directly affects the CBO’s internal processes and transparency practices, not the legislative content itself.

Maddy summaryThe Hurricane Tax Relief Act provides tax relief for individuals affected by Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, and Fiona in designated disaster areas. It allows affected taxpayers to deduct larger portions of personal property losses by increasing the standard deduction by their net disaster loss amount and adjusting the threshold for casualty loss deductions (raising the $500 floor to $1,000 for most cases). The bill also directs the Treasury to pay Puerto Rico an amount equivalent to tax benefits its residents would have received under U.S. federal tax rules, contingent on Puerto Rico having an approved plan to distribute funds directly to residents. This relief applies to losses incurred in the specified hurricane disaster areas on or after the dates of each storm's declaration.

Maddy summaryHR 1405, the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, establishes two programs within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The IMPACTT Program provides trauma support training for HSI staff working with trafficking victims, focusing on recognizing burnout and stress, self-care resources, and supervisor training. The Victim Assistance Program mandates specific staffing (including forensic interview specialists and victim assistance specialists) at HSI offices and task forces to deliver victim-centered, trauma-informed support, including emergency aid like food, shelter, and transportation. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on training participation and victims assisted, aiming to improve both staff well-being and victim support services.