Rep. Scott Franklin

Maddy summaryThe Putting Investors First Act of 2023 requires proxy advisory firms (companies that provide voting recommendations to investors) to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and disclose potential conflicts of interest. It mandates these firms to establish procedures ensuring recommendations are based on accurate information, provide public companies with reasonable time to review data used in recommendations, and maintain an ombudsman for complaint resolution. The bill also requires investment advisors and asset managers with over $100 million in assets to report how they use proxy advice and provide economic analysis for votes not aligned with board recommendations. Additionally, it prohibits "robovoting" (automatically voting based on proxy advice) and mandates ESG funds to disclose performance comparisons with standard index funds. The legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability in the proxy advisory industry to better protect investor interests.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 3 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for pro-life facilities, groups, and churches targeted by vandalism and threats following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. It condemns specific incidents like graffiti, window-smashing, and arson at pregnancy centers and churches (e.g., in Frederick, MD, and Portland, OR), while recognizing the role of these organizations in supporting pregnant women. The resolution calls on the Biden Administration to use law enforcement to protect these facilities but does not create new laws or policies. As a symbolic measure, it has no legal effect on the incidents described.

This resolution declares that every state within the United States has the sovereign right to exclude any person who does not have the right to be there. It also declares that the states along the southern border (1) are being invaded by terrorists, narco-terrorist cartels, and criminal actors; and (2) have the sovereign and unilateral authority to defend themselves against such an invasion.

Maddy summaryThis bill blocks federal funding for colleges that operate or partner with campus health clinics providing abortion drugs or abortions to students or staff. It requires institutions receiving federal funds to annually certify that no such services are offered at their on-campus clinics. The law specifically excludes hospital-based clinics from coverage and defines "abortion drugs" as medications intended to terminate pregnancy (excluding specific medical exceptions). It directly affects public and private colleges receiving federal aid, as most institutions of higher education qualify for such funding.

Life at Conception Act This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Nothing in this bill shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.

Standardizing Thresholds Of Penalties for Fentanyl Act or the STOP Fentanyl Act This bill reduces the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, imports, exports, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl. The bill also creates enhanced criminal penalties for certain violations involving fentanyl that was imported along the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, the bill reduces from 400 to 5 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 100 to 0.05 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for high-level first-time or repeat offenders. It also reduces from 40 to 0.5 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 10 to 0.005 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for low-level first-time or repeat offenders. Additionally, the bill creates enhanced mandatory minimum prison terms for importing or exporting fentanyl that was imported along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Maddy summaryHR 330, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, prohibits federal funding under the Title X family planning program for clinics that perform or fund abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when a physician certifies a life-threatening condition. It requires clinics receiving Title X funds to certify they do not provide or fund abortions (with the specified exceptions), and hospitals are exempt if they don't fund non-hospital abortion providers. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress listing all funded clinics, the number of abortions performed under exceptions (including rape/incest cases), and the certification dates for each clinic. This directly affects Title X-funded clinics nationwide that provide abortion services or fund such services, altering their eligibility for federal funding. The law aims to restrict federal support for abortion access within the Title X program while maintaining limited exceptions.

Maddy summaryHR 279, the Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act, protects pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy owners who refuse to dispense medications approved for abortion or that they believe may be used for abortion, based on moral, religious, or medical objections. The bill prohibits federal agencies and entities receiving federal funds (including state/local governments) from discriminating against, penalizing, or retaliating against these providers for such refusals. It does not require pharmacists to dispense these medications and explicitly preserves stronger state conscience protections. This law directly affects pharmacists and pharmacies seeking to align their practice with personal or religious beliefs regarding abortion-related medications.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the export or sale of petroleum products drawn from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to specific countries and entities, including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and any nation under U.S. sanctions. It also bans exports to entities owned or controlled by these countries or the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy must enforce this ban, though they may issue a national security waiver for specific exports. The bill requires the Secretary to issue implementing rules within 60 days of enactment. It directly affects the Secretary of Energy, oil exporters seeking to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the listed countries/entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires family planning services funded under Title V of the Social Security Act to provide pamphlets containing regional adoption center contact information to patients during consultations about medical or abortion services. The pamphlets must include a comprehensive list of adoption centers in the region, along with each center's address and phone number. It mandates that services offer patients the opportunity to read these pamphlets at the time of inquiry. The provision uses existing Title V funding and does not create new financial obligations.