Rep. Mary E. Miller

Maddy summaryHR 6285, the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023, requires the federal government to reissue canceled oil and gas leases on six specific tracts (16, 17, 24, 26, 27, and 30) in Alaska’s Coastal Plain. It mandates the Secretary of the Interior to accept the highest valid bids from January 2021 within 30 days and issue leases by December 2024, while blocking new environmental reviews for the program. The bill also nullifies federal actions that paused leasing, including a 2023 BLM rule and a 2021 Secretarial Order, and restricts judicial review of related approvals. This directly affects oil companies that bid on the canceled leases and the Bureau of Land Management, requiring them to proceed under the 2020 Record of Decision.

Maddy summaryThe Apprenticeship Freedom Act removes federal registration requirements for apprenticeship programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It amends WIOA sections to delete the word "registered" from definitions of eligible providers, career pathways, and the YouthBuild program. This change directly affects apprenticeship providers who previously needed federal registration to qualify for WIOA funding or participation. The bill simplifies program eligibility by eliminating the registration mandate, allowing more entities to offer apprenticeships without federal oversight.

Maddy summaryHR 8091 would prohibit federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and related activities, directly affecting NPR and public radio stations that rely on federal support for their operations. The bill bans federal funds for NPR's core activities, including producing, distributing, and acquiring radio programs for noncommercial educational stations, as defined in the bill. It explicitly excludes funding restrictions for the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Defense Media Activity. This policy change would redirect existing federal funding streams away from NPR's program development and content acquisition, altering how public broadcasting receives federal support.

Maddy summaryHR 8053, the "No Propaganda Act," would terminate all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports PBS and NPR. The bill prohibits the CPB from receiving any federal funds after the law's enactment and rescinds unobligated balances from recent appropriations bills. It amends the Communications Act to bar the CPB from accepting federal money, effectively ending its federal budget. This directly affects the CPB's operations, requiring it to seek alternative funding sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities that receive federal student aid to adopt and disclose free speech policies that protect students from political discrimination. It prohibits schools from requiring applicants or faculty to pledge support for specific political views or diversity initiatives, and mandates clear policies about speech, association, and religion. The bill also protects student organizations' rights to form single-sex groups, receive funding without viewpoint discrimination, and have appeal processes if denied recognition. Schools that fail to comply could lose eligibility for federal student aid programs.

Maddy summaryThe EARN IT Act of 2023 clarifies that Section 230 of the Communications Act does not shield online service providers from liability for child sexual abuse material, while specifically protecting providers who use encryption technologies from liability for using those technologies. The bill amends over 50 federal statutes to replace "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" to ensure consistent terminology across legal contexts. It updates the CyberTipline (operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children) to improve reporting of child sexual abuse material, extending the preservation period for reports from 90 days to one year. The law affects internet service providers, law enforcement, and child protection programs by clarifying legal responsibilities around child sexual abuse material.

Maddy summaryHR 7974 would require food manufacturers to clearly label on the front of packages if a product contains insects, insect parts, or insect-derived ingredients. This rule applies to all food sold across state lines and must be visible and prominent to consumers. The labeling requirement would take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law. The bill does not ban insect-based foods but mandates transparency for shoppers about these ingredients.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, requires the Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment and mandates the President to impose sanctions under existing authorities (Executive Orders 13224 and 13780) against Ansarallah and its members, agents, or affiliates. The bill directly affects Ansarallah and any foreign entities linked to it by triggering U.S. sanctions. Key provisions set strict 90-day deadlines for both the designation and sanctions implementation. The law focuses on reversing a prior designation revocation and enforcing existing legal mechanisms against the group.

Maddy summaryHR 5947 terminates specific U.S. waivers and licenses related to Iran, ending a 2023 waiver that allowed funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar. It prohibits the Treasury Department from reissuing similar waivers or licenses for the same purpose and blocks the President from granting Iran access to certain designated financial accounts established under prior laws. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by restricting how Treasury handles Iran-related financial transactions. It enacts concrete policy changes by ending existing authorizations and preventing future approvals for Iran to access specific accounts.