Rep. Mary E. Miller

Safe Storage Lockers for House Office Buildings Act This bill permits employees of the House of Representatives to bring certain weapons into House office buildings provided that the employees store the weapons in storage lockers operated by the U.S. Capitol Police. An employee who is authorized by the District of Columbia (DC) to carry self-defense spray, a stun gun, or a firearm may bring the weapon into a House office building if the employee (1) carries the weapon in a manner that complies with DC laws prior to entering the building, (2) enters the building through an external pedestrian entrance, (3) leaves the weapon in a storage locker while in the building, and (4) immediately exits the building after retrieving the weapon. The U.S. Capitol Police must install and operate storage lockers at the external pedestrian entrances of each House office building.

Maddy summaryThe Empowering Parents Act (HR 5327) requires public K-12 schools to obtain parental consent before implementing certain policies or teaching specific content. It prohibits schools from requiring masks, vaccines, or medical screenings for in-person attendance without parental approval, banning instruction on concepts like systemic racism or gender theory, and mandating biological-sex-based facilities (e.g., restrooms, locker rooms). The bill also restricts schools from compelling students to use specific pronouns without parental consent or exposing students to "radical gender theory" or "sexually explicit content." Parents can sue schools for violations within 30 days, seeking injunctions or damages, while schools must protect student privacy under FERPA.

Defending Students' Civil Rights Act of 2023 This bill prohibits federally funded programs or activities from being premised on certain principles relating to race or sex. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for programs or activities that are premised on principles such as that (1) one race or sex is inherently superior to another, (2) the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist, and (3) an individual bears responsibility for the past actions of others of the same race or sex. The bill includes the use of these principles as a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs or activities.

Maddy summaryHR 5326, the Empowering Local Curriculum Act, prohibits federally funded schools from being required to teach or promote specific concepts related to race and gender. It explicitly blocks the mandatory teaching of ideas such as the U.S. being "fundamentally racist," individuals being inherently racist based on race, or meritocracy being racist. The bill applies to institutions receiving federal funds under the Higher Education Act (for colleges) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (for K-12 schools). It does not ban these topics but prevents federal requirements from mandating their inclusion in curricula.

Defending Veterans' Second Amendment Rights Act This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from transmitting personally identifiable information of veterans or their beneficiaries to the national instant criminal background check system utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms solely on the basis that a veteran has a service-connected disability.

Maddy summaryHR 5287, the Veterans Access to Direct Primary Care Act, creates a five-year pilot program allowing eligible enrolled veterans to use a Veterans Health Savings Account (VHSA) to pay for primary care services from non-VA providers through fixed-fee "direct primary care" arrangements. The VHSA covers primary care services, preventive screenings, and medications, but veterans using it cannot receive VA care for those same services during the pilot. The program, funded by existing VA Health Administration appropriations, requires annual reports to Congress and terminates after five years. It directly affects veterans enrolled in the VA patient system who choose this alternative care option.

Maddy summaryHR 5319, the Ban Offshore Abortion Tourism Act, prohibits performing abortions that result in fetal death within U.S. maritime jurisdiction (e.g., international waters under U.S. authority). It targets abortion providers in these zones, with exceptions for life-threatening medical conditions, pregnancies from rape (requiring 48 hours of counseling or treatment first), or pregnancies from rape/incest involving minors (requiring prior reporting to authorities). The bill allows civil lawsuits against providers for violations, awarding triple damages, medical costs, and attorney fees, but explicitly protects women from prosecution or financial liability. It does not restrict abortion access in foreign countries or U.S. territorial waters.

Maddy summaryHR 5285, the Staff Safety Act, amends federal law to clarify that congressional staff (including Members' employees and committee staff) are exempt from Capitol Grounds firearm regulations under the same constitutional protections as Members of Congress. The bill requires the Capitol Police Board to revise its regulations within 90 days to align with this exemption, removing current restrictions preventing staff from carrying firearms on Capitol grounds. This directly affects congressional staff who are currently barred from carrying firearms under existing Capitol Police regulations. The bill bases its changes on Supreme Court rulings (Heller and Bruen) that affirm the Second Amendment applies to public carry outside the home. It focuses on legal clarification, not new safety measures or policy changes for staff.

Maddy summaryHRES 666 is a resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III for high crimes and misdemeanors. It specifically alleges that Austin failed to adequately prepare for the Afghanistan withdrawal, including evacuating Bagram Air Base without securing it and enforcing an arbitrary September 11, 2021, deadline, which contributed to the abandonment of Americans and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. This resolution is procedural - it does not change laws or policies but formally charges Austin with misconduct for an impeachment trial in the Senate. It directly targets the Secretary of Defense as the subject of the impeachment proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 5267, the WILLIS Act, prohibits all federal funding from being awarded to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. It also requires the repayment of all federal funds spent by the office after January 1, 2021, and rescinds any unobligated federal funds previously allocated to it. The bill directly affects only the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Georgia. Its key provision is a complete funding cutoff and reimbursement requirement for federal money used by this specific office. The bill does not create new policy but restricts financial support to one local government entity.