Rep. Byron Donalds

Maddy summaryHR 325, the Harmful Algal Bloom Essential Forecasting Act, amends existing law to ensure continuous operation of critical algal bloom forecasting services during government funding gaps. It designates specific services provided by NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science - related to the Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System - as "excepted services" under the Anti-Deficiency Act. This means these services, which monitor and forecast harmful algal blooms affecting coastal waters, can continue during budget lapses if they protect human life or property. The bill directly affects NOAA's forecasting operations and coastal communities relying on these warnings to safeguard public health and safety.

Manatee Protection Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to include the West Indian manatee ( Trichechus manatus ) in the endangered species list and give the species protections provided to endangered species.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Medicare should be strengthened and should not be used to finance Democrats' policies.

Maddy summaryHR 1088, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968) and the first Black candidate for a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image, which will be presented by Congress and then permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to the public to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. This bill commemorates Chisholm's legacy and achievements without creating new laws or affecting any current policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require the U.S. to withhold funding for the UNRWA (United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians) unless the State Department certifies UNRWA staff, materials, and facilities comply with specific conditions. Key conditions include confirming no ties to terrorism or anti-Israel rhetoric (like denying Israel's right to exist or promoting BDS), no misuse of UNRWA resources for terrorist activities, and adherence to international financial audits. It also caps U.S. contributions to UNRWA at levels comparable to Arab League countries and mandates annual reports to Congress on phasing out UNRWA support. These changes directly affect U.S. foreign aid decisions for Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Maddy summaryHR 917, the "Protecting Military Installations from Foreign Espionage Act," requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review certain foreign-owned real estate transactions near military sites. It specifically mandates CFIUS to review any purchase or lease of property within 100 miles of a military installation or 50 miles of designated military airspace, training routes, or firing areas - *if* the foreign buyer is linked to Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea. The bill eliminates CFIUS’s discretion for these transactions, forcing automatic review. It also ties approval of energy projects near such sites to CFIUS’s conclusion on these real estate deals, requiring the Defense Secretary to delay or block projects if national security risks are identified. This directly affects foreign entities from targeted nations and streamlines security reviews for military-adjacent properties.

Maddy summaryHR 873, the Water Quality and Environmental Innovation Act, establishes a new federal fund to support projects using emerging technologies for water quality protection. The fund, financed by annual EPA fee transfers from 2024-2028, awards grants to U.S. universities, nonprofits, and private companies to implement solutions like AI monitoring, robotics, seaweed farming, or plastic removal systems addressing threats including algal blooms, microplastics, and sea-level rise. All project data must be publicly accessible, and the EPA must report annually to Congress on funded projects and their effectiveness. The bill directly affects water quality initiatives by prioritizing technology-driven approaches over traditional methods.

Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from requiring a financial institution to report the transfers into and out of a financial account. This prohibition does not apply to laws or regulations in effect on January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 998, the 287(g) Program Protection Act, strengthens the federal program allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on immigration enforcement. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter written agreements with any state or local agency that requests them - without arbitrary denial, with 180 days' notice to Congress if denied - and to process requests within 90 days. It gives participating agencies flexibility to choose enforcement models (like jail or task force operations) and prohibits federal programs from replacing 287(g) agreements. The bill also adds strict rules preventing DHS from terminating agreements without compelling reasons and requires annual reports on program performance, including removal statistics and compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor all U.S. Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War (1962-1973). It recognizes their critical role in evacuating nearly 900,000 wounded personnel, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, under extreme combat conditions. The medal, designed with input from the Secretary of Defense, will be presented to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum for permanent display. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs, but the primary action is the commemorative recognition of these crews' service.